POST-POLIO SUPPORT
on the
Alabama-Florida-Mississippi Gulf Coast

1. Meet Steve Cohen
2. Cholesterol-lowering Drugs & Polio Survivors
3. Exercise:Use It And Lose It
4. The Post-Polio Institute Protein Power "Diet"
5. Is Post-Polio Sequelae All In Our Minds?
6. All In Our Minds? The Rest of The Story

Notes from the October meeting....Vera Moore reporting

     At the October meeting we covered Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas in preparation for our not meeting again until 2007!

     For Halloween we played trick or treat with everyone receiving a Quaker Breakfast Cookie as a treat. For Thanksgiving and Christmas we signed cards for our friends in Iraq and others we thought would appreciate hearing from us with a special Christmas greeting.

     We welcomed Cyndi Thompson, our Goodwill Easter Seal contact who, after listening to our condensed post-polio stories, shared some of her life story. Vera Moore served as facilitator for the meeting.

Attendance October
Patsy Adams ~ Jean Ball ~ Marion Ball ~ Susan Cobb ~ Betty Driscoll ~ John Driscoll ~ George Fassig ~ JoAnn Fassig ~ Julie Ford ~ Rus Ford ~ Barbara Gollott ~ Charles Gollott ~ Vera Moore ~ Clara Norsworthy ~ George Norsworthy ~ Cyndi Thompson ~ Ed Weller ~ Carol Wiese

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Notes from the Christmas Party....Vera Moore reporting

     The Christmas Party, held at Cooper T’s on Airport Boulevard, was a delightful trip. If you’ve traveled on the western portion of Airport you’ve seen the airplane. Well, that’s just the beginning. Inside the restaurant is decorated with everything to make you think you are flying to an exotic destination. The flight attendants (servers) are perfection, serving each course in unison. The meal was as delicious as it was beautifully served.

     Our assignment, as an alternate to exchanging gifts, was to bring some sort of entertainment or Christmas story. Each one shared a personal experience, some funny, some solemn, but all very interesting. Sylvia Bern was the facilitator for the gathering.

Attendance at the Christmas Party
Patsy Adams ~ Sylvia Bern ~ Richard Brown ~ Betty Driscoll ~ John Driscoll ~ George Fassig ~ JoAnn Fassig ~ Julie Ford ~ Rus Ford ~ Barbara Gollott ~ Charles Gollott ~ Sonny Moore ~ Vera Moore ~ Clara Norsworthy ~ George Norsworthy ~ Ed Weller

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Two New Post-Polio Books
Anyone interested in doing a review?

Elegy for a Disease: A Personal and Cultural History of Polio, by Anne Finger, who interweaves her own experiences with polio with a chronicle of the broader cultural and social effects of epidemic polio. She had polio in 1954, when not quite three years old. The book focuses on the experiences of people who had the diseases, and explores discrimination, the disability rights movement, and casts a critical eye on medical treatments.

The Post-Polio Experience: Psychological Insights and Coping Strategies for Polio Survivors and Their Families. Margaret Backman, Ph.D., a Clinical Psychologist in New York City, has written numerous articles and given presentations on the psychological aspects of post-polio.  She has now published a book based on her more than 25 years of experience with those who had polio.

Notes from the October meeting.... Clara Norsworthy reporting

     We met October 21, 2006 with eight people present.

     We discovered that it is very important to watch anti inflammatory drugs for they can cause sever stomach problems.

     Some are working on getting wheelchairs, lifts for cars, and ramps to help preserve their energy they have left.

     We wish a speedy recovery to those who are ill. We missed those who are unable to attend the meeting and hope they will soon be back with us.

Attendance October Meeting
Jane Clark ~ Cyndee Ice ~ Mike Ice ~ Pat Kaderly ~ Ron Kaderly ~ Jim Neil ~ Shirley Neil ~ Clara Norsworthy

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Notes from the November meeting.... Leigh Dethlefs reporting

     Hi Everybody! As hubby, George, says I'm not totally together yet, but I am back. Our speaker for the November meeting was Liz Cravatt from Easter Seals. She is our sponsor and we were very glad to see her. She spoke to the group about what her organization was about. She let us know what service is available and it was amazing what all they can provide. She says if Pensacola doesn't have it, they work closely with the Mobile group and can have it shipped over.

     They were a life saver for Jane Clark when her doctor refused to get her a wheel chair. Easter Seals was able to provide an electric chair for her since she did not have the strength in her arms to push a manual chair. This was provided to her at no cost, since it was a donated chair. She says she will be giving it back when she gets better able to get around on her own. This is the second bone she has broken from a fall. This can happen to anyone.

     I fell out of a hospital bed and broke my hip on my bad leg. Right now I am stuck if I don't have my brace on. My polio leg will not lock in the knee so I can't stand without the brace. The doctor doesn't know why. May possibly be a new weakness or just swelling from the break and surgery. Will have to wait and see what happens. I want to say thank you to all for keeping me in your prayers. It was a rough month for me since I went in to hospital with colitis and came out with a heart problem and a broken hip.

     We want to say hello to Jim Hazuga who is recovering from a hospital stay. We will also keep Pat Kaderly in our prayers for a speedy recovery. She had to have a stress test and a heart catheter with stints being put it. She was trying to get ready for a hip surgery, but had to postpone it for January.

Attendance November Meeting
Jane Clark ~ Liz Cravatt ~ Pat DeLorme ~ George Dethlefs ~ Leigh Dethlefs ~ Cliff Martin ~ Kay Martin ~ Clara Norsworthy

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The Christmas Party

     The Christmas Party was held Saturday, December 2. A good time was had by all with lots of good food and a very Naughty Santa!

Attendance at the Christmas Party
Marie Amundson ~ Jane Clark ~ George Dethlefs ~ Leigh Dethlefs ~ Jim Hazuga ~ Kay Hazuga ~ Theresa Inge ~ Pat Kaderly ~ Ron Kaderly ~ Clara Norsworthy ~ George Norsworthy ~ Dean Phillips ~ Denise Phillips