Liz Jamieson introduced our guest speakers, polio survivor Darlene Davis and Rotary Club of Calgary North member, Laverne Bissky. This tag-team presentation was a great story-telling production that delivered a comfort of delivery format with an abundance of information and education.

Just so everyone knows, both Darlene and Laverne will be presenting a more in-depth presentation at the upcoming District Conference in Banff on May 25-27, and you are encouraged to register for the conference at www.Rotary5360.com.

Laverne opened with some history and understanding of polio worldwide and specifically here in Canada. Darlene then told her story as a polio patient and survivor from a young age of 18 months through to today as a senior citizen. And then Laverne wrapped it up with the linkage to the Rotary Polio Plus program, and how important the eradication of polio is and how close we are to achieving it.

It was interesting to learn that 60% of the room could remember the polio epidemic when it hit Canada in the in the 40s. As all agreed, the big issue of the day was the fear of polio and its devastating results in Europe and also in Canada. By 1955, a vaccine was discovered and the spread of polio was contained.

Polio tends to strike children under five, but can affect anyone. What once was an epidemic worldwide; polio today has been contained to just four countries. Today, polio only exists in Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. But until it is completely eradicated, we are all susceptible. Like Darlene noted, she caught the virus from someone who had polio and rode on the same bus as her. Just as easily, an infected polio person could be on a plane and in Canada tomorrow and pass on the disease. This is why it is so important to eradicate.

As Laverne noted, in 1985, RI decided they would undertake a project to ensure that children all over the world had the chance to live a polio-free life by providing vaccinations to children worldwide. By 1988, the World Health Organization joined forces with Rotary to set a goal to eradicate polio from the face of the Earth. By the early 90s, the western hemisphere was polio-free and, as noted, today just four nations today have active polio virus.

Over the past 20+ years, Rotarians have committed over one billion dollars to this project, and, most recently, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation challenged Rotary and Rotarians to push even harder and eliminate polio in these last four countries. They committed $350 million and Rotary was to raise $200 million (of which over $190 million of our pledge is complete) to make the final push.

Laverne then illustrated the "why" eradicate polio very succinctly. First, it was the right thing to do. And second it makes economic sense. With this horrendous virus eliminated, those impoverished families that today are still stricken by it, dedicate hours and time to caring for the family members versus being productive members of the community. If all those people could be going to school, working jobs and participating in the community, these nations could also grow as could our global economy.

Darlene then enthralled all of us with her stories and real life experiences. Her recall from being a small child, and being separated from her mother for three months while in "hospital isolation", to the situation of her and her mother being asked to leave the family home as her family did not want a polio person in their house; to the laying of scalding cloths on her arms to "rejuvenate" the muscles, was incredibly moving and emotional for all of us to hear.

She spoke of the stigma side and how she had to wear those ugly black oxford shoes, while all the other girls got pretty black patent shoes. She talked about today, how few people that she meets in the younger generations even know what polio is, or that it was an epidemic here in Canada as well.

Furthermore, people don't even think about polio survivors. As she noted, those that overcome polio and survive are not fully off the hook. In many cases, including with Darlene, it comes back in many forms. Post Polio Syndrome affects walking and respiratory systems and, today, Darlene carries a fold-up cane in her knapsack for when she needs it. But, as she pointed out, when she went to some rehabilitation classes, the other participants would ask her; "What are you here for? Do you have MS or MD?" And when she would reply that she had polio they were shocked. It is the forgotten disease and, as she noted, until these "dinosaurs" are gone, it is a real scare still.

Darlene delivered an amazing message to us as a polio survivor. It was one of determination. She was determined not only to survive polio, but she persevered through life. Polio taught her to never accept "no". It taught her to know she could overcome anything, from sports to black oxfords, job opportunities to life in general. As a polio survivor, there was no obstacle that could ever stop her.

Kurt Schurer thanks our speakers and presented both with a Boltman.

reported by Brent Barootes