What is Post-Polio Syndrome … Lyn Robertson’s Story
Lyn lives in the Papanui area and suffers from Post-Polio Syndrome. She contracted polio as a child living in the North Island when she was about 4 years old when polio was an epidemic in the Raumati region.
Lyn and her family were immediately put into isolation for a period of six months where she went through intensive treatment at the Douglas Bader Centre. Her symptoms paralyzed her legs so the water therapy and swimming strengthened her leg muscles. She attended these sessions every day for 18 months.
She was in a wheelchair for about a year and started school with callipers on her legs which was extremely hard as she became the butt of jokes and bullying. Lyn had to use callipers for about 3-4 years at primary school which was not an easy experience for a small child.
Her outcome was successful and although she has shrunken leg muscles and her legs are very thin she has learnt to live with what she calls “her weird shaped legs”. Lyn was one of the lucky ones back then but with age she now experiences episodes where her legs begin to feel very heavy and she suffers from severe aches and pains. This is Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS).
Luckily her episodes come and go but other sufferers can experience these symptoms constantly and there are a lot of people in Christchurch who suffer from PPS.
PPS is usually diagnosed 20 to 40 years after the initial polio infection but not everyone who has had polio will develop PPS. In New Zealand it is estimated that there are 3000 to 5000 polio survivors of whom between 25% and 50% will suffer from PPS.
Polio is a virus spread person to person and usually appears in children 5 years and under. It attacks the nervous system and, in some cases, leads to paralysis. Although there is no cure, there is a safe and effective vaccine – one which Rotary and its partners use to immunize over 2.5 billion children worldwide.
Rotary uses its members’ skills and passion to build awareness, fundraise and encourage governments to donate and support polio eradication efforts. Over 1 million Rotary members have volunteered their time and resources to help end polio.
Rotary partners with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which is the largest private funding source and matches all donations to Rotary for Polio 2 to 1, up to $ 34million per year.
Rotary also partners with the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF and WHO to manage, monitor, provide technical support and distribute the vaccines worldwide.
Since 1988 when Rotary began this journey polio has been reduced by 99.9% worldwide.
Today there are three endemic countries, Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan where 18 cases have been reported between them to date this year.
Rotary’s goal is to eradicate polio worldwide and we are really close.
Donate today via www.rotary.org or contact our Rotary Public Image Coordinator from the Papanui Rotary Club lizcourtrney.lc@gmail.com.