Hi, I’m Jinny i live with Polio

Jinny
Jinny Online Community Member Posts: 8 Listener
edited July 2024 in Housing and independent living
I was born in 1940 and had polio in 1941.  There wasn’t another case of this in the area at the time, so we have often wondered where it came from.   The hospital didn’t know how to treat me but an old Uncle told me of a gentleman who he thought could help.   I went regularly for treatment for 16 years, during which I developed an arm.   It wouldn’t have grown otherwise, so I am very lucky!!   (Please can I add more later).  I’m so slow lol

Comments

  • Adrian_Scope
    Adrian_Scope Posts: 11,750 Online Community Programme Lead
    Hi @Jinny and welcome to the community! 
    I've been really interested by your story. From my (admittedly limited) knowledge of Polio it's highly contagious so it's very strange you were the only case in the area. Looking forward to talking more with you. :)
  • Ami2301
    Ami2301 Online Community Member Posts: 7,877 Championing
    Hi @Jinny welcome to the community! I too, am intrigued to hear more of your story! :)
  • michfinch
    michfinch Online Community Member Posts: 173 Empowering
    Yes, please tell us more!
  • Connie00
    Connie00 Online Community Member Posts: 249 Empowering

    Hello @Jinny            :) 

    Hello My Name is Connie00

    I am one off the community Champion’s here at Scope.  it’s really nice to meet you.

    A very warm welcome to the Community.

    Thank you for reaching out to us.  I trust you are having a good day today.

    We are always here to lend support, help, and advise where we can,

    Wow Polio, that's a blast from the past, I have read up so much on that a very cruel condition, so as I understand the condition is highly contagious, and being born in the 1940s things were not as sanitized as they are now.

    Its was at the time suspected that you could only get infected by being in contact with another person with the virus,

    Now this is not entirely true. we know about this condition today,  It could have been passed on by an infected person many miles away, many areas had bad sanitation back in the 40s this would be a good starting point for the virus to enter into the water by faeces, even by a person prepping or handling food, lets face it we were not as hygienic as we are now,  we didn’t have the knowledge that we have today, we didn’t have the standards that we have today, we were to busy fighting the 2nd World War,

    Would love to know more about you, like where you were Born your Parents, it must have traumatized them , their poor Baby Girl , thank goodness for your Uncle,  and how very brave you are to have overcome this,  thank you so much for sharing your story you really are a wonder, and I hold my hat off to you. Very nearly 80 years old and here you are telling your tale.

     

     

     

    If we can be of any assistance to you please don’t hesitate to contact us

     

    Have a good day

     

     

    @connie00   :) 


  • Jinny
    Jinny Online Community Member Posts: 8 Listener
    Good morning....it’s me!    Episode 2.  My parents had a friend who was in the RAF, stationed in Canada.  He wrote often to them and always drew a cat on the bottom of the last page for “his little sweetheart “.  One letter said that there was an outbreak of Infantile Paralysis there in Canada.  I had held the letter to look at the cat, and we have always wondered if it could have been transmitted that way.  Of course we were told that it wasn’t possible, but we’ve still wondered.    Mum was the first person to pick up on it as I used to suck my fingers, and they slipped out of my mouth.  I had a fever too.  I have a diary of Mums for 1941 which describes how she and Dad reacted to this. Bless them!  They were wonderful!! “more to follow”.
    Thank you for your lovely welcomes.  I look forward to getting to know you all!
  • Jinny
    Jinny Online Community Member Posts: 8 Listener
    Episode 3
    I just want to bring it to the present day!    Three years ago I fractured my left ankle which went on to be seriously infected.   The consultant told me that I was very lucky to still have my leg.  A few months ago I fell in the car park here and damaged the ligaments etc in my right knee.   I bought a forearm walker so that I could get around a little.   Two days after receiving it, I fell in the bedroom and fractured my collarbone.   I haven’t been out at all for 14 weeks.  Can’t use new walker, or scooter because of shoulder which is “resting” lol.   It’s very difficult just using the one hand, the good one, which has had four surgeries on the elbow.  I’m so pleased not to have any more limbs lol.
    I go back to see the Consultant on the 29th, and I’m hoping to get the OK to start using my equipment.   I can’t hang around any longer. I need the great outdoors! I have no family at all!   Just my little dog, Alfie.   I’m unable to walk him now.  I have good neighbours who will see to his needs, but I can’t wait to take him for an outing on my scooter.  He sits between my feet and is very Happy.  I also have a lovely ‘dog walker’ twice a week?
    Well, that’s all for today.    I get carried away on here and don’t know when to stop.   Believe it or not, I’m really a quiet person, with a sense of fun!   I can see the funny side of most of my mishaps. LOL
    See you later and thanks again!
  • Chloe_Alumni
    Chloe_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 10,506 Championing
    Welcome to the community @Jinny and thank you for sharing your interesting story with us all!

  • Ails
    Ails Online Community Member Posts: 2,237 Championing
    Hi @Jinny and welcome to the Community.  It is nice to meet you and thank you for sharing such a fascinating life story with us.  I really enjoyed reading it and look forward to reading more posts from you.  I'm sorry to hear about your falls and fractures and I hope you are recovering well.  I'm sure it won't be long before you are out again with Alfie.  I hope you enjoy your time on the Community and am sure you will make lots of new friends.  It is a great Community with lovely, friendly people on it.  If there is anything we can help you with meantime then please just let us know.  All the best.   :)
  • pollyanna1052
    pollyanna1052 Online Community Member Posts: 2,015 Championing
    Hi Jinny, well I must say, how interesting I found your posts. I`m a chatterbox too and would be pleased to chat to you. I`m a newbie here and a grandma with too much time on my hands. I have a little dog too.xx
  • Richard_Scope
    Richard_Scope Posts: 3,742 Cerebral Palsy Network

    Welcome to Scope's community! It's great to have you here.  Just to get you started we have our Community Guidelines and How to Guide you can see all the latest posts here, jump in and get involved and don't worry we are a friendly bunch!   
    If you need anything, just let us know. 

     


  • pollyanna1052
    pollyanna1052 Online Community Member Posts: 2,015 Championing
    Hi Jinny, how are you doing?x
  • emmarenshaw
    emmarenshaw Online Community Member Posts: 697 Empowering
    Hello @Jinny welcome to the community and thank you for sharing your story. If you need any assistance navigating the community, or have any questions just let us know and we will be happy to help .
  • Jinny
    Jinny Online Community Member Posts: 8 Listener
     Hi,I’m sorry to have been away so long.  I seem to have been busy with different matters, but I’m cooling off now.   I saw the Consultant last week and was told that my collarbone hasn’t heeled yet, but if I’m sensible (Im not lol) and dont overdo it I can use my walker and scooter. Yeah!
    So far I’ve just made it along the corridor here, which is a great achievement. It’s a long corridor ?
    I hope you are all doing well, and I’ll be around more now.
    Jinny
  • Adrian_Scope
    Adrian_Scope Posts: 11,750 Online Community Programme Lead
    Hi @Jinny, it's great that you're able to use your walker and scooter again but sorry your collarbone hasn't yet healed. Please be sure not to overdo it! 
    Looking forward to reading more of your posts. :)

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