by  Juliana Lazzari ~ daughter of a polio survivor

The experience of one doctor who had worked with polio-affected patients enabled Thea’s gait to be diagnosed as typical of post-polio. Up to this point and over several years Thea was undiagnosed and had what she thought was a weak knee that would inexplicably collapse. This ‘weak knee’ had resulted in falls and two fractures.

Thea had known that she had had polio in one leg as a small child but was unaware that the condition manifested in older age – for Thea this was in her late 60’s and early 70’s. However, once the post-polio effects were diagnosed, Thea understood the risks, and changes were made in her home to help her live with this ongoing and debilitating condition.

While many of the aids available to post-polio sufferers have been unsuitable for Thea, not only in application but also the high costs, the knowledge of a local group of other post-polio sufferers has given her a level of comfort in knowing that she is not alone.

Polio in Australia – a dormant presence … awakening.

by  Juliana Lazzari ~ daughter of a polio survivor