An article in today’s NY Times has me freaked out furious. But first, a story.
1952. I was about 5 years old. I wanted to come down early Christmas morning - all set to start opening presents with my sister. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t stand up. And I hurt. All over, but especially from the hips through my legs. It hurt a lot. A lot.
My Mom was a nurse. A veteran of WWII. She had seen a lot of pain. But now she was watching her son writhe in agony. I asked her if I had arthritis like Aunt Ginnie who had been crippled since her early teens. No, she said. “Am I going to die?” No, she said. Mom had a suspicion. It was confirmed. I had polio. How could she know I wouldn’t die?
My grandmother traveled to visit us. She and Mom took turns massaging my legs to keep the circulation going. No walking meant less circulation, I guess. It helped a little with the pain. After several weeks - was it months? - the pain did subside gradually. Not entirely, not quickly. But eventually it did. One day, years later, I realized it didn’t hurt anymore!
Next. How to walk? The legs, especially the right one, just didn’t work. The answer was a brace made of metal and leather - to keep me from collapsing. And there was the physical therapy which my mom followed up with at home.
Soon I was clumping around like any kid would if he had a device on. My energy was returning. I felt stronger. I wasn’t going to die. I was going to be tougher!
In some ways, polio had given me something powerful. Nothing that would happen to me for the rest of my life could be as painful or terrifying. I could handle anything after that. Pain? Don’t talk to me about pain…
I was among the lucky ones. I didn’t end up in an iron lung. I recovered in a way that nobody would know that I had been a crippled kid. So lucky and grateful. I didn’t die at five years old. Many did.
Once they became available, Mom made sure we got our polio vaccine shots. Everyone did. The fear of polio was only exceeded by the fear of nuclear war. So perhaps you can FEEL my reaction to the following.
”The lawyer helping Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pick federal health officials for the incoming Trump administration has petitioned the government to revoke its approval of the polio vaccine, which for decades has protected millions of people from a virus that can cause paralysis or death.”
Are you fucking kidding me? Maybe it isn’t incompetence or insanity. Maybe it is just diabolical criminal cruelty.
There is a lot to be frightened and furious about today. The Team of Turds that Trump has nominated for his cabinet are out of a really terrible and dark science fiction movie.
But the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to lead “Health and Human Services” is a very, very sick idea. Today’s article in the NY Times (paywall by passed) hits home for me. His attorney, Mr Siri, is an enemy of children. I can’t contain my rage.
For an in depth discussion of what Kennedy would do for public health, please read this PBS interview.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/13/health/aaron-siri-rfk-jr-vaccines.html?unlocked_article_code=1.hU4.vVJQ.wfiRYS-1d-Qj&smid=url-share
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/the-controversial-changes-rfk-jr-could-make-to-vaccine-policy-as-hhs-chief
Thanks to all who commented here. Thanks for reading. And I encourage you to write or call Senators to stand against such an abomination of a nomination.
Bill..keep spreading your story, because it needs to be heard! I hope that McConnell, as much as I despise him, (and also had polio as a child) actually follows through on his promises with efforts to block this lunatic's attacks and appointment. 😞