POLIO SURVIVORS, CONT.

John Nanni (10.03.2013, reply) "I am a polio survivor and suffer from severe post-polio syndrome (PPS). At the age of 10 months old in 1953 (months before the Salk vaccine was widely distributed), I was paralyzed from my neck down for 6 months. After the polio virus did its damage, my mother performed (on me) extensive PT developed by Sister Kenny, an Australian nurse, which stopped my muscles fro atrophying.

I recovered and now lead a "normal" life. I played baseball, basketball and football as a teenager. Forty years later, I started to have renewed weakness, pain and severe fatigue. After 2 years and 10 different doctors, I was finally diagnosed with severe PPS.

Under my PPS Dr. care, I have learned how to best deal with PPS and how to preserve my ability to walk. To do so, I am now in a wheelchair for most of my mobility needs outside my home. I am limited to under 900 walking steps per day. I do deep water running to help keep my muscles active without damaging them. I eat a high protein diet because I like it and protein helps reduce fatigue.
I joined Polio Network of New Jersey (PNNJ) in 1992 to learn more about PPS In September 2012,
I was appointed to their board of directors. PNNS is a wonderful organization dedicated to help polio survivors deal with PPS.

I joined RI in 2010 after being a guest lecturer at the Rotary Club of Hamilton Township (Mercer Co., New Jersey). I have been appointed to the Rotary District 7510 Polio Plus committee and was part of the Polio Plus delegation to the UN General Assembly's special session on September 27, 2012 with world leaders and Bill Gates meeting to "Unite Against Polio" (endpolio.org/blog/polio eradication/2012/10/03/un.event-inspires). RI has played a major role from 1985 when they started their Polio Plus project to "End Polio Now". Rotary has helped reduce polio cases from 350,000 per year in 1985 to only 223 WPV cases in 2012.

My polio goals are: (1) To play a role in helping RI and Global Eradication Initiative (GPEI) eradicate polio worldwide in three remaining countries: Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria,(2) To help other polio survivors and their families learn how to best deal with PPS, (3) To help educate doctors and other medical personnel about PPS, (4) To advocate for greater accessibility for the handicapped."

Sincerely in Rotary Service,
John Nanni