John N.
A Polio Story

In 1953, at 10 months old, John came down with polio just six months before the Salk vaccine was widely tested. He was paralyzed from the neck down and hospitalized. Over the course of a year, his mother cared for him and with physical therapy, John was able to finally walk. Throughout his childhood, most people didn’t realize John had suffered from polio. He went on to play sports in high school, but around age 40 began experiencing muscle weakness and fatigue. After two years, he was eventually diagnosed with post-polio syndrome. He is a proud Rotarian and as a passionate advocate, he continues to raise awareness about the importance of vaccination. You can listen to John’s full story on YouTube, courtesy of the PA Polio Survivor’s Network.