Polio and My Paw Paw

I was my Paw Paw's favorite. Everybody knows it. The cousins-first, second, and even the ones twice removed. The man loved me and I loved him. He thought I was brilliant, and I thought he was the coolest grandpa ever! 

He loved routine (as do I,) and followed a strict eating schedule:

8:00 breakfast

10:00 snack

12:00 lunch

3:00 snack

5:00 dinner

8:00 midnight snack 

(this was the best! butter pecan ice cream!)

He was a good man with a large heart. He was also a polio survivor. My Paw Paw is the only person I know personally to be impacted by polio. He was diagnosed as a young boy and the his life was altered forever. His leg never finish growing, his walk was altered, and his shoes "costed an arm and a leg" his whole life. 

Thing is, my Paw Paw had polio in the 1920's. 90 years ago. Would you believe children are still suffering today???

Ugh. What is polio? a highly contagious viral infection. 
Impact? paralysis and often, death.
We are on the brink of something amazing though! In fact, we are close...this close to eradicating polio off the face of the planet! (That sounds so super heroish!)

We can help! Polio is preventable. Vaccines save lives. Vaccines cost money. Visit Shot@Life and make a difference today. Make your own "this close" picture and post it on Rotary's End Polio Now page! We did! $1 vaccinates a child from polio. Do you have a few $ to spare? I hope so! Our goal is realistic-vaccinate 40,000 children by Halloween! That's not spooky, that's exciting!

I don't want to think about my Paw Paw as a child, being wheeled around in carriage or limping as an adult. It makes me sad. My grandfather lived a long, happy life though. I wish everyone could be just as lucky-happy, and polio free. Children in developing countries need us. Let's end polio. Now.