i contacted polio in 1951 aged about 15months old it was not diagnosed until my mother noticed my floppy foot and thin leg, i had an oprtation when i was 8years old to straighten my foot and wore a caliper  until i was about 16 years when vanity took over, i have always had to wear laceup shoes as my foot is a lot smaller than my left and i walk with a limp. it has never stpped me doing things in my life and i suppose i have been lucky in some ways as a lot of people were not so lucky. i am now 60years old and over the last few years i have had pain in my hip and knee and wear elastic aids on my ankle and knee. recently i had to have a scan on my left knee and was asked if i had had polio as there was a trace in my left knee as well. when i was growing up i was sad at times as people can be very cruel and say nasty things but i got over that and have led a good life got married and had a lovely family.

I contacted polio at 18 months old in1951, have lead a normal life having had a tendon transfer  at about 8 which freed me from calipers. I was one of the lucky ones my left leg was only affected from the knee down.

I dont believe the doctor diagnosed polio tilll later when the use in my leg had gone, to the best of my knowledge I was never in hospital until my tendon transfer.

If I can answer any questions please contact me

I contacted polio around 1953 at the age of four or five. I was at ham green hospital in Brisol. I vividly remember being in an isolation room for several months before going on to a ward.I don't have pleasant memories I just felt so frightened in isolation with my parents visiting behind a glass door or panel. I can recall the lumber puncture and I was lucky to be mobile but also recall my bed being pushed into a cupboard for a  because I kept getting out of bed. ( I was probably a little horror ). Also the cleaner used to hide any leftover food for me as we were forced to eat all on our plate. Good memories are the yearly polio parties I went to for several years after.

It was good to hear the interview with Monica Young. Monica was friend of my parents, Kathy and Charlie Bradford, who were founder members of the North London branch of the fellowship with Monica. My parents later transferred to the Enfield branch, and some of my earliest memories are of branch meetings. I've written some stories about Kathy and Charlie and posted them at http://poliocouple.blogspot.com.

If anybody remembers them please feel free to contact me: acbradford@btinternet.com

I have read Bryan Rowley's account of his hospital experiences and it brought back a lot of memories for me.  Having contracted polio at the age of 6 in 1949 I spent some months in Harlow Wood hospital, once in 1951 and again in 1957. Dr. Malkin was also my surgeon. We seem to have had the same treatment in having the plaster boots with the heels. 

There were separate wards for boys and girls but the nurses used to pass notes from one ward to the other for us.

I wonder whether Bryan was at Harlow Wood at the same time as myself.

Regards,

Shirley Davies

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