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REMEMBER – NO JULY or AUGUST MEETINGS
September 16th
-- To Be Announced
November 18th
--
January
20th, 2002 -- NEW YEAR’S
LUNCHEON
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Reprinted from The Daytona Beach News-Journal,
May 20, 2001
POLIO ERADICATION GOAL
WITHIN REACH
GENEVA (AP)-- The worldwide prevalence of polio has hit an
unprecedented low, with the number of cases cut in half between 1999 and 2000,
World Health Organization scientists said Friday.
As a result of an intense push to
eradicate the last remnants of the crippling disease, the number of countries
where polio is endemic plummeted to 20 from 50.
“We have forecast that by the end of
this year, less than 10 countries will remain endemic for polio virus and
within two years we will be down to zero,” said Dr. Bjorn Melgaard, director of
vaccines and biologicals at WHO.
“We already may have eradicated one of
the three virus types causing polio,” Melgaard said. The type II polio virus was last detected in October 1999. After a year of silence, a virus type is
usually considered to have died out, experts say.
Type II is far more likely to lead to
paralysis than other polio virus types, said Dr. Bruce Aylward, coordinator of
WHO’s polio program. While the other
two types give polio-infected children a one in 1,000 and one in 200 chance of
becoming paralyzed, type II paralyzes about one in 100 children it infects, he
said.
The eradication initiative is a joint
project of WHO, the U.N. Children’s Fund, Rotary International and the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It aims to certify the world polio-free by 2005.
The effort, launched in 1988, was
intensified in 1999. The number of WHO
staff working in polio-stricken countries swelled from 200 in 1999 to about
1,600 in 2000. There were more national
immunization days and health workers went door-to-door with vaccines.
Polio is a highly infectious disease
that usually strikes children under 5.
It damages the spinal cord and brain, causing paralysis and sometimes
death. It is transmitted by ingesting
food or water contaminated by fecal matter of an infected person.
Since the effort to eradicate polio
began, cases have fallen from 350,000 in 1988 to 2,870 in 2000, a reduction of
99 percent. Success is particularly
apparent in India, historically one of the worst places for polio.
“In India, we are certainly very
close,” Melgaard said. “In 1998 nearly
2,000 cases were identified, basically all over the country. In 1999 this got more concentrated to the
very populous states. In 2000, only 265
cases were reported and so far this year, with an extremely top-notch
surveillance system, only 10 cases have been reported.”
However, WHO officials said it will
take another $400 million to stamp out the disease, which still lurks in
Southeast Asia, the eastern Mediterranean and Africa.
On Thursday [May 17th], WHO officials
disclosed the first polio cases in Europe since 1998, both in Bulgaria. One victim, a 13-month old baby, was
diagnosed in April and the other, a 2-year old girl who suffered paralysis of
both legs and her left arm, was identified on Tuesday. Both children are members of Roma, or Gypsy,
communities.
“The funding gap is the most critical
inhibitor to a successful eradication at this point in time,” Melgaard said.
One of the major challenges is to
reach children in war-torn countries.
On Friday [May 18th, 2001], the office of the U.N. Coordinator for
Afghanistan called for a cease-fire in Afghanistan to allow the next polio campaign
to go forward over the weekend. About
5.7 million Afghan children have yet to be vaccinated, officials said.
Editor’s
Note:- Bracketed dates in
article were put there by me so that the time-line would be easily noted. Also, the Rotary International group made a
video in 1998 of the work they have been doing in India. The video shows just how rampant the polio
virus is/was there. The degree of
paralysis on the children is far worse than anything you can ever imagine.
****************************************
Reprinted from The Daytona Beach News-Journal, May
28, 2001
TORTURED
BY ANXIETY
Stress disorders take a toll on both the body and
mind.
By Alyce
Klein, News-Journal Correspondent
We have
all experienced it -- that “heart-in-the throat” feeling after a near-accident,
butterflies in the stomach approaching the podium of tension after an argument.
For
some, however, these anxious feelings never quite go away, even though the
stressor has long since passed.
The
first thing to remember, experts stress, is that anxiety can be a positive
driving force in a person’s life.
“Eustress” -- the type of stress that causes us to study
harder, run faster, and perform better
-- can motivate us to cope and
stretch our potential.
On the
other hand, distress or negative stress can be destructive. Over time, anxiety may become disruptive to
our lives and deteriorate into a debilitating illness, called an anxiety
disorder. People living with these
disorders may suffer from a constant feeling that “something is wrong,” while
others live with deep emotional pain and even terror.
Signs of
anxiety can be both mental and physical.
Some of the physical feelings that acute or chronic anxiety causes
include seating, heart pounding, tightness of the chest, rapid breathing,
weakness all over, muscle tension and achiness, numbness and tingling and
dizziness. Some of the mental responses
to anxiety are fear of failure, unhappiness, feeling trapped or confined,
confusion, feeling that you are having a heart attack or that you will faint.
Over
time, these symptoms can lead to many physical and psychiatric problems,
including depression, head-aches, neck and back pain, frequent bathroom trips
or even nausea and vomiting, trouble sleeping and generally feeling out of
reality.
The fact
that some people are able to handle anxiety without developing chronic,
sometimes serious disorders, may be a combination of genetics and learning,
according to Karen Weiss, a psychologist whose practice is in DeLand.
“Problems with anxiety and
worry often start in childhood,” said Weiss.
“The possible inherited part of anxiety dies-orders becomes apparent
when a concerned parent brings in his or her child and the child tells me he
can “hear” his parents worrying -- what is going on in his parent’s head. The child really can tell you which of the
parents is anxious.”
The
problem of severe anxiety goes back several generations for Diane Zeidwig, a
licensed marriage and family therapist who also practices in DeLand.
“In my family, we can trace
anxiety disorders as far back as my grandmother. She had panic attacks and was told that she was insane. My mother, on the other hand, was told to go
to her room to get her act together.
When I began experiencing anxiety attacks, they were just figuring out
what this disorder was, but when it happened to my daughter, she was
appropriately diagnosed and there was medication available to help her.”
Causes
of anxiety are also smoking and caffeine, or other stimulants, according to
Weiss.
“People who are anxious
before they smoke do not realize that the anxiety may be caused from nicotine
withdrawal,” she added. “They think
they are calming their anxiety by smoking when they are actually taking in a
stimulant. This can lead to more
feelings of anxiety -- compounded when they have been consuming
caffeine from soft drinks, coffee, tea or other sources throughout the day.
The
first thing that a person suffering from an anxiety disorder should do is take
a look at his diet, explained Zeidwig.
Eliminating caffeine, nicotine and other stimulants, along with a well
balanced diet and regular exercise, usually aids in eliminating chronic
problems with anxiety. However, for
those for whom this does not work, the treatment of choice is often medication,
because the problem is genetic and neurochemical, meaning that it is caused by
chemicals in the brain.
Experts
agree that it is important to combine medication treatment with cognitive
behavioral therapy.
“When
the therapy is working and the right medication has been prescribed, I have had
clients say that it is like a veil has been lifted,” said Zeidwig. Group therapy is also a helpful adjunct to
private therapy and medication.
There
are several types of anxiety disorders, according to the National Institute of
Mental Health:
v
Panic
disorder, which effects approximately 2.4
million adult Americans and is twice as common in women as in men. The affected person has feelings of terror
that strike suddenly and repeatedly, with no warning -- even during
sleep. Zeidwig said that these attacks
often last about 15 minutes, and it is important for the sufferer to keep this
in mind when an attack occurs. Symptoms
can include sweating, dizziness, flushing and chilling, and feelings of losing
control or even of having a heart attack.
v
Obsessive-compulsive
disorder or OCD is a disorder involving
anxious thoughts or rituals that the affected person cannot control. Often the person with an OCD engages in
rituals to help decrease the feelings of anxiety. Approximately 3.3 million adults are afflicted with this
disorder, with about one-third first noticing symptoms during childhood.
v
Following a terrifying event, such
as an accident, rape or other serious trauma, some people develop a post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. About 5.2 million
Americans suffer from PTSD. The
disorder causes severe anxiety because the person repeatedly relieves the
trauma in the form of nightmares or disturbing recollections triggered during
the day.
v
Phobias, or irrational fears related to certain objects or things, also are a
serious cause of anxiety for as many as 50 million Americans. Fears can become so severe, in fact, that
the person never leaves home.
v
Generalized
anxiety disorder, or GAD, is a chronic
problem that fills the affected person’s day with worry and tension. There is an estimated 4 million Americans
who have this problem. Afflicted people
usually anticipate a myriad of potential disasters, not only dwelling on
worries during the day but also throughout the night. The disorder can become so debilitating that the person finds
day-to-day activities difficult.
There
are ways to cope with an anxiety disorder.
Begin with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Depending on the type and severity of the
disorder, therapy may be needed for a few weeks or over many years. It is important to develop support systems
and to have the understanding of family and friends, as these problems can also
be difficult for them.
“Relaxation
techniques and visualization help many people to gain control when the anxiety
seems to be too much to bear,” said Weiss.
With practice, these mental mechanisms are mastered over time. They are taught in books, on audio and
videotapes and in therapy. Learning
more about the disorder and how to specifically deal with it is another
important part of coping.
Many
people who suffer from an anxiety disorder remain undiagnosed for years. Symptoms bring them to their physicians
frequently only to hear that there is nothing wrong with them. If you fear that you or a loved one may have
problems related to one of these disorders, seek the advice of a professional
who is experienced in helping people with anxiety disorders.
(For more information on anxiety, visit the National Institute of Mental
Health on-line at www.nimh.nih.gov/anxiety/anxiety/index - or call 1-888-826-9438.)
Editor’s Note:- I thought this article would be of interest
to us because so many of us are under stress in one way or another. Also, stress has been deemed one of the
leading causes of post-polio syndrome problems. We know that trauma (either physical or emotional) causes many of
our post-polio problems, so it goes without saying, or so I feel, that stress
is also a major problem for us.
****************************************
The Size of your Heart
It isn't the size of your house as such
That matters so much at all.
It's the gentle hand and its loving touch,
That make it great or small.
The friends who come and the hour they go,
Who out of your house depart,
Will judge it not by the style you show,
But rather by the size of your heart.
It isn't the size of your head so much,
It isn't the wealth you found.
That will make you happy -- it's how you touch
The lives that are all around.
For making money is not hard --
To live life well is an art:
How people love you, how they regard,
Is all in the size of your heart.
****************************************
Reprinted from Polio Deja View, Central VA
Post-Polio Spt Grp, June-July 2001
TO EXERCISE OR
NOT TO
EXERCISE
From
the Desk of Henry Holland
Many of us with PPS have had to
address the advantages and disadvantages of exercise. Some of us are prescribed various types of exercise by our
physicians. Most of us follow the
advice of our physicians because we trust their training, experience, and
expertise. Most physicians want to help
and to do what is best for their patients.
After surviving acute polio and much painful physical therapy, most of
us were advised to exercise in order to strengthen our polio-damaged
muscles. In most cases this advice
proved beneficial as many of us regained considerable muscle use in the first
two years after acute polio. Some of us
were probably overachievers in various exercise endeavors. Others of us probably did a lot of
involuntary exercise in trying to do many physical tasks that were more
challenging and difficult than before acute polio.
What is exercise? Exercise is a form of exertion made for the
sake of training or physical fitness.
We live in a time when exercise is almost epidemic in our society. Health clubs, aerobic programs, working out
with weights and machines, jogging, power walking, and even stretching
exercises for the elderly abound. It is
not uncommon for individuals to have a personal trainer. This person may be as important as a doctor,
lawyer, accountant, broker, or hairdresser/barber in a person’s life. I live near the University of Richmond –
joggers and walkers of all ages pass by my house all year round, but this time
of year, they are almost constantly in sight.
Exercise and working out is therapeutic for most people. Almost every system of the human body seems
to benefit. The cardiovascular,
pulmonary, musculo-skeletal, and central nervous systems probably benefit the
most.
Thus, it would seem logical to
conclude that polio survivors would benefit from exercise and working out just
as we did years ago. If exercise helps
the able bodied, it should also help us.
It also seems logical that we should condition our bodies in order to
aid our own cardiovascular, pulmonary, musculo-skeletal, and central nervous
systems.
In view of all that I have written
above, my main concern is that too many pos polio people are being advised to
exercise when exercise may increase the pain, fatigue, and weakness of
PPS. I would like to offer some
guidelines about exercise for people with PPS.
The following is only my opinion and is based on reading the literature,
talking and sharing with PPSers, and from my own experience.
v
1. There is more
medical literature that advises some form of exercise for PPSers than
literature that cautions against it.
However, most of this literature contains a lot of qualifying
statements. It is my opinion that many
of us should be very mindful of these qualifying statements.
v
2. If your muscles hurt in a more sustained fashion
after engaging in exercise, you should probably not be doing that
exercise. If your muscles recover and
the pain subsides in a twenty-four hour period, then the exercise is probably
not harmful, but still might become harmful over time.
v
3. If the
effort of exercise
results in fatigue that lasts
beyond twenty-four hours, then the advantages of the exercise must be evaluated
against the increased fatigue and the exercise should at least be temporarily
halted.
v
4. Muscle
strengthening exercises for polio-damaged muscles have little chance of increasing
strength. Muscle strengthening
exercises for muscles unaffected by polio may improve strength, but also may
contribute to a pattern of well-established overuse and can possibly be an
adverse endeavor.
v
5. If the activities
of daily living such as dressing and undressing, maintaining personal hygiene,
transferring from one position to another, and getting about are the maximum
achievements of your daily effort, then exercising will likely be an added
drain on a precarious personal energy balance.
You would be wise to make an intelligent choice on what is more
important to you.
v
6. Trying to
maintain some form of physical conditioning is important. In addition to the activities of daily
living, it is advisable to avoid weight gain, maintain a relatively high
protein diet, sustain good hydration, control blood pressure, get restful
sleep, try to get intermittent down time during the day, and use your mind.
v
7. Passive movement
of a stretching type and gentle massage can be helpful to body and mind. Many PPSers find that extremity movements in
a heated pool are therapeutic. However,
if the effort to get out of the pool and get dressed leaves you exhausted,
again you have to make an intelligent choice as to what is more important to
you.
v
8. Polio survivors
may tend to be a little masochistic.
Because many of us have lived with some pain most of our lives, some of
us identify more pain as being a sign of some gain or progress. This type of thinking is no longer
valid. When we have more pain, our
bodies and minds are telling us that we are doing something wrong or that
something is wrong. Show proper respect
for pain. Don’t indulge in it.
v
9. Mental
stimulation such as reading a good book, enjoying family and friends, observing
nature, using a computer, and spiritual searching can be a form of conditioning
that cannot be easily measured in its overall benefit. Nevertheless, I believe the benefit is
there.
v
10. If life with PPS
is a daily struggle, why add to that struggle with voluntary exercise? Because of this daily struggle, we may
already be at risk for a cardiovascular event such as a heart attack or
stroke. Before attempting any form of
exercise, get the opinion of a physician who is very knowledgeable about
PPS. Usually a physical medicine and
rehabilitation specialist is most likely to be the best informed about
PPS. Dr. Jane Wootton of the Sheltering
Arms Post-Polio Clinic here in Richmond is one such physician.
Keep in
mind that many polio survivors have spent much of their lives in trying to
overcome
physical limitations, physical barriers, and cognitive challenges. To exercise or not to exercise is really
your choice and not something that you have to do in order to overcome PPS.
Editor’s
Note:- Way back in 1966
when I first moved to Long Island, I looked for a doctor who knew something
about polio (even then they were getting hard to find) as I felt that if and
when I had a problem, I wanted someone who was familiar with polio. When I started having post-polio problems in
the early 1980’s, it was, oddly enough, not with my very obviously polio
paralyzed right leg, but with my left arm which had never been diagnosed as
being affected. It was several years
before my leg started giving me problems – weakening and becoming more and more
valgated (tending to go toward the left leg [knock-kneed]) ---- so, back to my
years). My doctor, Dr. Joseph Farrell,
was most instrumental in persuading one of the local hospitals – one that had
actually been “the polio hospital” during the epidemics – to open a Post-Polio
Clinic (it only took us four years).
When I went him with my right leg, he confirmed that it was weakening
and when I asked about doing some exercising to strengthen the leg he told me
that “it would be an exercise in futility as there were no muscles there to
strengthen.” This is something many of
us refuse to realize – if our limb is really and truly deemed “paralyzed” there
is NOTHING we can do to bring back those muscles.
Remember that “No pain – no gain” rule
NO LONGER applies to us. We now have to
“CONSERVE IT and PRESERVE IT”
****************************************
(Reprinted
from Raritan Valley Post-Polio Support Group – NJ, February 2001) - Reprinted from The Sunshine
Special, Post-Polio Spt Grp of Palm Beach County, May 2001
A REMINDER ABOUT DRUGS
POLIO SURVIVORS SHOULD
AVOID OR USE WITH CAUTION
You should consult your physician
about polio history before taking these or any other drugs. If any surgery is planned, your polio
history should be known and understood by all involved in your care.
n
Beta Blockers such as Propramolol, i.e., Inderal, Cardinol
Ceralin.
n
Muscle relaxants such as Orthenodrene, i.e., Norgesic,
Norflex, Diazepam, Valium.
n
Benzodiazapams such as diazepam, i.e., Valilum.
n
Depressants, Central Nervous System, such as Phenobarbital
Chloral Hydrate, and other sleeping aids.
n
General Anesthetics.
n
Antibiotics in the flourquinolone class, sold under the
brand names CIPRO, FLOXIN, MAXAQUIN, NOROXIN and PENETREX.
n
Cholesterol-lowering medications such as LOPID or MEVACOR
(The muscle breakdown of a polio survivor may be accelerated rapidly by
these drugs.)
n
Curare (or curare) has been known to cause muscle paralysis
in post-polios. This drug would only be
used by an anesthesiologist and they should be advised to use an alternative
anesthetic.
Aspartame
(NutraSweet, Equal) Searle, the manufacturer of Nutra Sweet claims any adverse
affects by their product is “just anecdotal.”
The company feels that because so many millions of doses are being taken
every day and that the number of
reactions are so few (relatively) that Aspartame is safe as a sugar
substitute. The facts are that
Aspartame is 200 times as sweet as sugar with no calorie count. That is why it is in demand. The basic problem is that each part of the
three part compound may have a different adverse reaction to each person who is
susceptible. Aspartame may trigger
or mimic PPS. Another trigger is
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Lupus, and there are many more. Finally, some people notice nothing until
they give it up; then they feel marvelous.
Editor’s
Note:- Please be
sure to double-check with your physician with respect to any medication that
may be prescribed for you, as to what, if any, difficulties your post-polio
syndrome difficulties might trigger.
Also, if you are do have to have surgery, we have an article that should
be given to your doctor and your anesthesiologist, by Dr. Selma Calmes, an
anesthesiologist herself, which we will gladly send you – all you need do is
give us a call.
****************************************
Reprinted from Daytona Beach’s Senior’s
Today, May 25, 2001
PROTECT
YOURSELVES
FROM
IDENTITY THEIVES
From the Volusia County Sheriff
Ben Johnson
The growing problem of identity
fraud is back in the news as the Florida Legislature
debates
the possibility of increasing the penalties for this criminal offense. That’s good news for law-abiding citizens
throughout the state. However, the best
way to combat identity fraud is to learn how to protect yourself from becoming
a victim in the first place.
An identity thief is someone who
steals personal information from other people in order to perpetrate a financial
crime or fraud. In the wrong hands,
your personal information can be used for everything from obtaining credit
cards and applying for loans to renting an apartment and writing checks, all in
your name. And it’s easier than you
might think. All that’s needed to steal
your identity is your Social Security number, birth date, and other identifying
information, such as your address and phone number. With this information and a phony driver’s license, the imposter
is ready to begin the crime.
Identity thieves can get your personal
information from a variety of sources.
They can sort through your trash for discarded receipts and financial
statements, steal from your mailbox, take your wallet, or spy on you to get
your PIN number when you use the bank ATM machine. Also, much of your information is readily available on the
Internet as well as public documents.
How can you avoid becoming a victim of
identity theft? Here are a few
precautionary steps that you can take to safeguard your personal information
and prevent it from getting into the wrong hands.
·
To minimize the amount of information a thief can steal, do
not carry extra credit cards, your Social Security card, birth certificate, or
passport in your wallet or purse, except when needed.
·
You can limit the number of pre-approved offers of credit
that you receive in the mail by removing your name from the marketing lists of
the three credit reporting bureaus.
These pre-approved offers usually are discarded in the trash and are
potential targets of identity thieves who use them to order credit cards in
your name.
·
Shred charge receipts, bank statements, credit applications,
and other forms that contain personal information before discarding.
·
When ordering new checks, don’t have them sent to your home. Pick them up at the bank instead.
·
When you pay bills, do not leave the envelopes containing
your checks at your home’s mailbox for the postal carrier to pick up. If stolen, your checks can be altered and
then cashed. If stolen, credit card payments
contain all the necessary information an identity thief needs. It’s best to mail bills and other sensitive
items at the post office rather than from your residence or neighborhood drop
boxes.
·
Never give out your credit card number or other personal
information over the telephone unless you have a trusted business relationship
with the company and you have initiated the call.
·
Always take credit card and ATM receipts with you. Never toss them in a public trash container.
·
Watch the mail when you are expecting a new credit card that
you have applied for or a re-issued card that has expired. Immediately contact the issuer if the credit
card does not arrive.
·
When creating passwords and PINs, do not use the last four
digits of your Social Security number, your birth ate, middle name, mother’s
maiden name, address, consecutive numbers, or anything else that could be
discovered easily by thieves.
·
Memorize all of your passwords and PINs. Don’t record them on anything in your wallet
or purse.
·
Shield your hand when using your PIN at a bank ATM or when
making long distance phone calls with your phone card.
·
Carefully review your credit card statements and phone bills
for any unauthorized charges or fraudulent use.
While nothing is foolproof practicing these safety tips will greatly
reduce your chances of becoming the next identity theft victim.
Editor’s
Note:- I’d like to add
another precautionary step….. now that
you can pay for your gas purchase with your credit card at the gas pump, many
of us get receipts right at the pump. I
have found many receipts left when the person who purchased gas before me
“forgot” to take it out of the receipt slot – this can be very dangerous as
many of the receipts print your full name as well as your credit card number. Whenever possible, I tell the machine that I
don’t want a receipt, thereby not having one printed. Some automatically print them though – if that’s the case, or if
you want a receipt, PLEASE make sure that you take it with you.
Another item are the “scam” calls that
we get over the telephone --- someone calling saying that you won something but
that they need some personal information from you in order for you to receive
it. Again PLEASE be careful and
make sure that you really did win whatever BEFORE giving out personal
information.
****************************************
DUES FOR 2001:- Please take a look
at your mailing label - on it you’ll see the month and year we
received your 2000 dues, i.e., 01/2000 means it was received in January 2000,
so your 2001 dues was due in January 2001. If your mailing label has the year
first and then the month, i.e., 2000/01 it means that you indicated to us in
January 2000 that you wanted to receive the newsletter but paid no dues. That’s OK as we still believe that anyone
who wants information should receive it – but we do need you to return the tear
sheet with either the “Dues” box checked or the “Keep me on the Mailing List”
box checked.
Your dues covers the supplies we need to send out the information packets to all inquiring about Post-Polio Syndrome, any other correspondence we do, and postage for publicity and for the out-of-country (33) newsletters that we send out. We’re fortunate in that the “Free Matter for the Blind and Physically Handicapped” status takes care of the postage for the over 450 newsletters sent out within the United States. We network with approximately 60 other support groups throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand – some 40 of these reciprocate by sending us their newsletters. We receive as many dues checks from our out-of-state members as we do from our Florida members. So, please check your mailing label and return the tear sheet if your date is due. We really need your support now more than ever. Just to keep you advised, in addition to the previously mentioned countries, our newsletter goes to Brazil, England, France, Germany, Israel, Panama, Portugal, Lebanon, Sweden, Taiwan and Wales.
****************************************
WHEN YOU MOVE PLEASE be sure to send us your new
snail mail address – or e-mail address. Sometimes the post-office will return
the newsletter to us with a “forwarding period expired” notice on the front
with your new address but most of the time they are just returned to us with
“address unknown” on it. SO, if you
want to continue receiving the newsletter it is UP TO YOU to make sure we have
your new address.
****************************************
IN MEMORY OF DAVID
FRANCY
Over the past eight
years that we have been a Support Group dear members have passed away. Our sympathies and condolences have always
gone out to their families. This time,
however, we have to extend our sympathy and condol-ences to the family of
someone who has been an integral part of our support group.
David was not only
our Treasurer, but his was the name and phone number I left when I went
north. He was always there with a
helping hand.
Not only was he active
in our post-polio support group, but David was President of Handicapped Adults
of Volusia County (HAVOC) for the past three years and was a strong advocate of
the Americans with Disabilities Act.
He was on the
Transportation Disadvantaged Committee for VOTRAN (our public transportation
system) making sure that the disabled could utilize not only the fixed route
buses, but, in particular, that the paratransit buses were up to par.
David will be
sorely missed. We were most fortunate
to know him.
****************************************
This
article was taken right off the internet – thank you Carl Cortez for posting it
for us. From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer website.
Many polio
survivors are facing new danger
Syndrome marked
by muscle weakness, pain and fatigue
Tuesday,
June 5, 2001