Polio in the Modern Age

The Truth behind my work as a supporter of seen/unseen disability & mental health.

When brought from Moldova to the United States, the my Doctor at Children’s Hospital Boston concluded I had polio. At age 12, I had leg-lengthening surgery to reconcile the 2 inch leg discrepancy (external fixator & x-rays to prove it!)

They say it’s a miracle I have enough strength to walk.

I have only met one person who has polio. People often question the validity of my claim, on the rare occasion the topic comes up (typically, when I park in a handicap spot or ask for the elevator).

So, just a reminder to be kind and never assume the extent or situation surrounding one’s physical disability — or disability of any kind.

Thankfully, all has healed — a medical victory that outweighs the difficulties that come with the resulting reduced mobility.

While there are many physical things I cannot do and likely will never do — I can try, and, no matter what, I can always paint.


Did you miss Seen/Unseen Exhibition & Fundraiser? Click Here!


Per World Health Organization:

Polio is a disease you read about in history books. Does it still exist? Is it curable?

Compared to polio cases that result in paralysis on either one side of the body, from the waist down (or more) my case was less severe, as the effects had isolated itself to only my right leg.

"Polio does still exist, although polio cases have decreased by over 99% since 1988, from an estimated more than 350 000 cases to 22 reported cases in 2017. This reduction is the result of the global effort to eradicate the disease. Today, only 3 countries in the world have never stopped transmission of polio Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria).

Despite the progress achieved since 1988, as long as a single child remains infected with poliovirus, children in all countries are at risk of contracting the disease. The poliovirus can easily be imported into a polio-free country and can spread rapidly amongst unimmunized populations. Failure to eradicate polio could result in as many as 200 000 new cases every year, within 10 years, all over the world.

There is no cure for polio, it can only be prevented. Polio vaccine, given multiple times, can protect a child for life.

Text Excerpt from: https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/does-polio-still-exist-is-it-curable