24th February 1998

Post-Polio Conference Notification

Sponsored by the Ontario March of Dimes Post-Polio Committee

"Post-Polio Syndrome - Solutions for the Future"

July 10-12, 1998.
Note. The above date is an alteration from that previously advertised as 11th to 13th July.

International Plaza Hotel, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

Just a few of our speakers: Dr. Neil Cashman, Dr. Daria Trojan, Dr. Peter Parker, Dr. Mavis Matheson, Dr. Adam Kuszczynski, and Dr. Graham Van der Linden.

For registration forms e-mail omod@inforamp.net

http://www.dimes.on.ca/ (was http://www.omod.org/

Elizabeth Lounsbury, Chairperson, OMOD Post-Polio Committee.

20th February 1998

Polio Boxer

USA

The Caldwell Theatre company in Boca Raton, FL, will be presenting "The Polio Boxer" on Mon., March 16 and 23 at 2 & 8 p.m. More information can be found on our homepage at http://www.caldwelltheatre.com/

Jim Reams
Director of Publicity
jim@caldwelltheatre.com

3rd February 1998

Cable TV Airs FDR Movie Saturday 7th February

USA

The "History" Channel on Cable TV will show the movie "Sunrise at Campobello" on Saturday, February 7, at 6 pm and 10 pm PT. (Check your local listings for time and channel.)

The 3-hour movie (including breaks and commercials) is listed as a biography / documentary about Franklin Delano Roosevelt's struggle to overcome the debilitating effects of polio and return to politics.

Made in 1960, "Sunrise at Campobello" stars Ralph Bellamy, Greer Garson, Hume Cronyn and Jean Hagen and was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Actress, Greer Garson.

"Sunrise at Campobello" entry in the Internet Movie Database (UK). Alternative sites: IMDb (US ), IMDb (Italy)and IMDb (Home)

Submitted By Tom Walter

Have You Had the Pneumonia Vaccine?

USA

Summarized from: http://www.medscape.com/CPG/ClinReviews/1997/
v07.n09/c0709.03/c0709.03.html
Note: You will have to subscribe to Medscape to read this article but the subscription is free. Cancelling the user-id and password dialogue should take you to "How to Join Medscape" information. LincsPPN Administration.

According to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), an estimated 40,000 persons in the U.S. die each year from Streptococcus pneumoniae.

This type of viral pneumonia is difficult to treat but easy to prevent with a pneumonia vaccination. On the other hand, the vaccine is not effective against bacterial pneumonia; but that is much more easily treated with antibiotics.

Last April, the ACIP recommended the vaccine for everyone over 65 and for others over age 2 who have chronic diseases or compromised immune systems, as most of us with PPS probably do.

Five years after vaccination, antibody levels start dropping, more rapidly in some groups than in others. Routine revaccination is not recommended for those with healthy immune systems. But it is recommended after five years for people with certain underlying medical conditions, for some people older than 65 and for those who are uncertain about their vaccination history.

Clinical experience dating to 1977 has shown the vaccine to be safe. And Medicare has paid for its administration since 1981. So it's surprising that one study showed that only 28% of people over 65 had ever received a pneumococcal vaccination -- compared with 52% who are vaccinated yearly for flu.

Submitted By Tom Walter

CA Support Group Founder in LA Times 30th January

USA

Ms. Lee Seitz, one of our local PPS "saints," was featured in a newspaper article in the Los Angeles Times on Friday, January 30, available for reading online at this Web site --

http://www.latimes.com/HOME/NEWS/
HEALTH/MEDICINE/t000009708.html
The above news item has moved to the LA Times archive for which access is chargable on a per copy basis.

Seitz was one of the founders, 20 years ago, and operates the Reseda California PPS support group and foundation to help other local survivors with necessary equipment they can't afford.

Now at age 70, she is almost totally paralyzed and operates her power wheelchair with her left big toe and answers the telephone with a breath-operated device.

Submitted By Tom Walter

2nd February 1998

"Sister Kenny" author interested in your experiences of the 'Kenny Treatment'

I am writing a fictionalised account of Sister Kenny's life. I have chosen the vehicle of fiction because there are many biographies based on her life but no one has made any attempt to 'flesh out' the her life beyond the mere facts. Moreover she endured rather poor treatment at the hands of the Australian medical establishment and while she is an Australian, is nearly completely forgotten in Australia (somewhat Orwellian).

If any of you can contribute with your experiences in hospital during the forties and fifties where you had the Kenny treatment or may have had it denied. If possible could you please put your experiences down and post them to me to my email address below. I am more interested in your feelings, attitudes and what your observations of family and doctors were at the time.

Donald Rose
drose@novation.com.au

Further reading:
Dr. Henry writes.....about SISTER KENNY: POLIO PIONEER