In the spring of 1953, the polio epidemic hit our Manitoban town and our family. Later, I learned this epidemic was the most severe ever recorded in Canada at the time, with more than 2,300 cases in Manitoba alone – or 300 per 100,000.
My mother, Bessie, unable to breathe, was taken to the local hospital. That night, as Audrey, my older sister, and I watched the rain beating on our bedroom window, she whispered to me that she was not feeling well. Then she too was gone.
My Dad was left in a desperate situation. My brother, Marvin, was only a year old; Irene was five and I was six and a half. Who was going to look after us?
The town folk either had family members stricken with polio, or were afraid to get too close for fear of contracting the disease. People were told to avoid exposure by avoiding crowds, beaches, swimming pools and “strange” children. This disease was mostly confined to the young and most common in summer.
Dad’s sister, who lived in Winnipeg, agreed to take Marvin as she had two older sons and she was not working at the time. That left Irene and me…
The next morning, Irene and I were sent to my paternal grandparents’ house in Beausejour, Manitoba. Even though we lived in the same town, we had rarely seen them.
Dad dropped us off on his way to visit Mom in the hospital. He was back within the hour, this time driving his ambulance, which was part of his funeral business. He was angry. “Those doctors know bugger all. Bessie almost died last night. She couldn’t breathe. I’m taking her into the city for proper treatment. That’s why I brought the ambulance.”
Grandpa questioned him, “Where are you going to get the money to pay for that?”
Dad responded, “I don’t know. We just applied for Blue Cross insurance, but I don’t think it takes effect yet. Don’t worry, though, I’ll see that you get paid for feeding the kids.”
And with that, he and the ambulance were gone.
The polio virus had affected Mom’s throat and bronchial tubes. She spent months in the King George Hospital in an iron lung, our present-day ventilator.
Twelve children grew up in the grandparents’ two-bedroom bungalow, built in the early 1900s. The bed engulfed our small bedroom. Luckily, it had a screened window as the summer was hot and humid. Also, the heavy down comforter made the room stifling at night. Irene loved to curl up and sink into it.
Grandma and Grandpa’s bedroom was off the kitchen, a forbidden area. To the back of the house, beyond the kitchen, was the porch, where, in a gigantic barrel, the slop pail oozed strong nauseous smells. The porch was ominous with its dark and windowless state.
Excitement for that summer was a trip to Princess (Queen) Elizabeth Hospital in Winnipeg to get our polio vaccine shot. This “shot” was apparently in great demand and only available to children. When we got to the hospital, I learned the shot was a needle – and in the bum. Did it ever hurt!
However, Irene and I then got to visit Audrey. She sat in a high, white-blanketed hospital bed. Audrey proudly showed us where she hid the food that she didn’t like to eat. And yes, the hiding spot was under her bed. Audrey gave us some cut-out dolls. I thought she was lucky that she had so many cut-outs that she could afford to give some away.
After our visit with Audrey, we waited outside for Dad as he was visiting Mom in King George Hospital nearby.
The polio virus had affected Mom’s throat and bronchial tubes. She spent months in the King George Hospital in an iron lung, our present-day ventilator.
Aftermath
With the end of summer came the end of our banishment. It also heralded Mom’s homecoming. The last time we saw her, Mom was an attractive, strong woman but…now? We were shocked and repelled by her appearance. She was very thin and fragile with white hair, a lopsided mouth and crooked face. She was only 40 years old.
Because of the paralysis of her throat muscles, Mom had difficulty chewing and swallowing. Even eating baby food was a difficult and slow process as she used her hands to manipulate her jaw. I can still hear the gagging and choking noises she made.
Audrey’s arrival home, weeks later, was less traumatic. Polio had caused paralysis in Audrey’s legs, and left her with one leg shorter than the other. She walked with a limp but, to Irene and me, she seemed normal. However, polio exacerbated Audrey’s scoliosis. She eventually had back surgery which meant more hospitals, a body cast, back brace and more pain.
I have little remembrance of Marvin’s homecoming. He could walk by this time and someone said, “He was so happy to be home, he kissed the floor.” I suspect this was wishful thinking.
Although it was a difficult time for our family, we were blessed to have Mrs. Friesen, a pleasant and capable Mennonite woman, who provide much-needed care and support. Mrs. Friesen was with us for many years.
There was also a financial cost to the polio epidemic. Dad had applied for Blue Cross coverage but because Audrey and Mom were hospitalized prior to the plan’s waiting period, they were not eligible for coverage. From the municipal hospitals (the Queen Elizabeth and King George) there was an outstanding debt of $413.45. The town of Beausejour was owed $413. In addition, the Department of National Revenue assessed $914.81 plus interest for unpaid taxes. I found these bills in 2019 when I was cleaning out documents from my brother Marvin’s estate. He had kept much of my Dad’s business information.
According to my parents, Dad had been mayor of Beausejour at the time of the epidemic. Because he could not pay the town property taxes, he was not allowed to run for a second term. He was very bitter about this. However, years later he again served as a councillor on the town council.
Final thought
Years later, when Mom was talking to a friend, the friend said, “I’ve never heard of anyone having polio in the throat.”
Mom’s answer was, “Because few survived.”
It is now May 23, 2020. I am writing this during the COVID-19 pandemic and have had two months of social distancing and isolation. We survived the polio epidemic and we will survive this pandemic.
This feature was published in the spring 2021 edition of Boulevard Central Island.