I remember standing on line in my elementary school awaiting a sugar cube placed in a small paper cup. I didn't realize the magnificence of this life-saving measure. Of Dr. Jonas Salk, his memory is a blessing. Thank you, Dr. Peter Salk, for your part in furthering your father's contribution to humanity.
Thank you for clarifying, Ken. I can remember a conversation with an elder dear cousin, now deceased, sharing memories of how she received the polio injection, and I, the sugar cube. My misunderstanding was that both were contributions of Dr. Salk. I have a vivid childhood memory of a family friend whose young son used crutches to navigate his polio paralysis. At times, I’ve wondered about Jimmy and where he is today. This “250 to 250” post, and your comment, reawaken my curiosity about the vaccine. Still, I remain grateful for Dr. Salk's discovery, and his son’s commitment as foundational to the vaccine's development and implementation across the globe, until today.
I also want to remember Dr. Peter Salk’s words: [A]nd the disease no longer poses a threat in the U.S., as long as children remain vaccinated.”
For those who hold “anti-vax” sentiment in our families, communities and country, may they come to realize this. And given the dramatic cuts to USAID, I fear what it means for polio vaccine access around the world.
The piece today on polio, Dr. Salk, and the circumstances surrounding the developmen of the vaccine, was one of "the best pieces" so far. Thank-you, Hank
I was a resident when Bill Norwood was perfecting his 3 stage procedure for correction of “heart plumbing” for the congenital cardiac defect known as univentricular heart disease and since the left ventricle (pumps blood to the periphery) is what he was “repairing”, it was left hypoplastic heart syndrome. A brilliant, skilled surgeon of few words - mostly grunts, stomps, explosive throwing things outbursts.
The first stage repair often threw the tiny babies into pulmonary edema failure which was brilliantly if not painfully treated with a negative pressure ventilator (drinker ventilator, iron lung that “sucks” air into the lungs by moving the entombed chest with a vacuum cleaner like action while the tiny head is in the room and air is drawn into the lungs) as opposed to the modern day positive pressure ventilators (forces oxygen into the lungs via a tracheal tube allowing that extra oxygen to travel to one or both lungs as needed).
I can hear those ventilators to this day. They were noisy. One could barely make rounds and share information about other ICU patients over the din. A noisy vacuum, mechanical clink, release of vacuum involving valves yet the thunderous whir of the vacuum persists ready for the next breath action.
We had to do “neck rounds” on these babies. There was a rubber seal that encircled their tiny necks. The vacuum raised their chest but also pulled their little bodies into (toward) the machine. The constant movement, moisture always caused a ring around the neck that became macerated, weeping and often infected with yeast. There were ports where you could push supplies for the body through and gloves you could insert your hands to work with the baby but that method would take all day to change a diaper so that it became a game show to turn off the ventilator and a team of doctors and nurses would take care of assigned tasks in about the thirty seconds you had before the blood oxygen level of the patient declined. It was kind of a clunky ballet.
I wish these vaccine deniers could experience this. You would never pass up the opportunity to avoid polio and the iron lung.
Some whose accomplishment has affected all of us. Remembering the pin pricks, and later the sugar cube placed in my mouth on the playground by a kind nurse in 1956.
I remember going with my mother and younger brother to a school gym where we all received this vaccination. The whole neighborhood went together, women with children in tow, or in baby carriages and strollers. It felt like going to a parade. the atmosphere was cheerful and optimistic.
Later, I remember being given a box, shaped like a single-serve milk carton, labeled “March of Dimes”. When we visited family I went around to all my relatives, shaking that box of dimes, as I asked for their donation. I was proud and they were generous.
An amazing and important piece about the strength of the American people. Remember Dr. Salk's message though,"...as long as children remain vaccinated!"
I do remember lining up to get our shot. My older brother was a ‘Polio Pioneer. I was so jealous! It’s tragic how ignorance has negated mankind’s greatest life saving achievements!
Dr Salk took no profits from this vaccine. He just wanted to save children. A man recently died here after spending his life in an iron lung. Vaccines save lives.
I received the vaccination in the 1950s. We all knew schoolmates and neighbors who had been affected by this frightening disease. Even as kids, we knew and revered Jonas Salk.
I never knew it was funded by the March of Dimes! Kudos to this organization and to the American people who donated. We the people.
Learning of the team Dr. Salk created from one of its members , many decades after their work developing the vaccine , is a gift of a life time. They were foundational in allowing our young family to thrive in the 1980's. .
A shining example for the necessity of vaccines … I remember it well from my childhood. We knew people with polio… some survived, and are still living today. And the rest of us were protected by Salk’s vaccine. The so-called “anti-vaxxers” really should educate themselves on actual hard data and massive evidence as to how vaccines have saved lives over many generations now.
I remember standing on line in my elementary school awaiting a sugar cube placed in a small paper cup. I didn't realize the magnificence of this life-saving measure. Of Dr. Jonas Salk, his memory is a blessing. Thank you, Dr. Peter Salk, for your part in furthering your father's contribution to humanity.
The sugar cube was not the Salk vaccine, which was injected. It was a later vaccine developed by Dr. Sabin.
Thank you for clarifying, Ken. I can remember a conversation with an elder dear cousin, now deceased, sharing memories of how she received the polio injection, and I, the sugar cube. My misunderstanding was that both were contributions of Dr. Salk. I have a vivid childhood memory of a family friend whose young son used crutches to navigate his polio paralysis. At times, I’ve wondered about Jimmy and where he is today. This “250 to 250” post, and your comment, reawaken my curiosity about the vaccine. Still, I remain grateful for Dr. Salk's discovery, and his son’s commitment as foundational to the vaccine's development and implementation across the globe, until today.
I also want to remember Dr. Peter Salk’s words: [A]nd the disease no longer poses a threat in the U.S., as long as children remain vaccinated.”
For those who hold “anti-vax” sentiment in our families, communities and country, may they come to realize this. And given the dramatic cuts to USAID, I fear what it means for polio vaccine access around the world.
So do I.
The piece today on polio, Dr. Salk, and the circumstances surrounding the developmen of the vaccine, was one of "the best pieces" so far. Thank-you, Hank
I was a resident when Bill Norwood was perfecting his 3 stage procedure for correction of “heart plumbing” for the congenital cardiac defect known as univentricular heart disease and since the left ventricle (pumps blood to the periphery) is what he was “repairing”, it was left hypoplastic heart syndrome. A brilliant, skilled surgeon of few words - mostly grunts, stomps, explosive throwing things outbursts.
The first stage repair often threw the tiny babies into pulmonary edema failure which was brilliantly if not painfully treated with a negative pressure ventilator (drinker ventilator, iron lung that “sucks” air into the lungs by moving the entombed chest with a vacuum cleaner like action while the tiny head is in the room and air is drawn into the lungs) as opposed to the modern day positive pressure ventilators (forces oxygen into the lungs via a tracheal tube allowing that extra oxygen to travel to one or both lungs as needed).
I can hear those ventilators to this day. They were noisy. One could barely make rounds and share information about other ICU patients over the din. A noisy vacuum, mechanical clink, release of vacuum involving valves yet the thunderous whir of the vacuum persists ready for the next breath action.
We had to do “neck rounds” on these babies. There was a rubber seal that encircled their tiny necks. The vacuum raised their chest but also pulled their little bodies into (toward) the machine. The constant movement, moisture always caused a ring around the neck that became macerated, weeping and often infected with yeast. There were ports where you could push supplies for the body through and gloves you could insert your hands to work with the baby but that method would take all day to change a diaper so that it became a game show to turn off the ventilator and a team of doctors and nurses would take care of assigned tasks in about the thirty seconds you had before the blood oxygen level of the patient declined. It was kind of a clunky ballet.
I wish these vaccine deniers could experience this. You would never pass up the opportunity to avoid polio and the iron lung.
Some whose accomplishment has affected all of us. Remembering the pin pricks, and later the sugar cube placed in my mouth on the playground by a kind nurse in 1956.
I remember going with my mother and younger brother to a school gym where we all received this vaccination. The whole neighborhood went together, women with children in tow, or in baby carriages and strollers. It felt like going to a parade. the atmosphere was cheerful and optimistic.
Later, I remember being given a box, shaped like a single-serve milk carton, labeled “March of Dimes”. When we visited family I went around to all my relatives, shaking that box of dimes, as I asked for their donation. I was proud and they were generous.
An amazing and important piece about the strength of the American people. Remember Dr. Salk's message though,"...as long as children remain vaccinated!"
I do remember lining up to get our shot. My older brother was a ‘Polio Pioneer. I was so jealous! It’s tragic how ignorance has negated mankind’s greatest life saving achievements!
My favorite ‘250’ so far - We the People can change the world!
My mother, as I’m sure mothers across America, thanked you! I remember her fear all too well. Thank you Dr. Salk!
America at its best. Let’s re-learn its lessons.
Dr Salk took no profits from this vaccine. He just wanted to save children. A man recently died here after spending his life in an iron lung. Vaccines save lives.
I wonder if Secretary Kennedy knows this.
I received the vaccination in the 1950s. We all knew schoolmates and neighbors who had been affected by this frightening disease. Even as kids, we knew and revered Jonas Salk.
I never knew it was funded by the March of Dimes! Kudos to this organization and to the American people who donated. We the people.
A little bit of fun history, the name "March of Dimes" was coined by comedian Eddie Cantor. (Pun intended.)
https://www.marchofdimes.org/about-us/mission/history/origin-our-name
Learning of the team Dr. Salk created from one of its members , many decades after their work developing the vaccine , is a gift of a life time. They were foundational in allowing our young family to thrive in the 1980's. .
I remember going to get a sugar cube too. Goodness that picture of the large room full of iron lungs!
A shining example for the necessity of vaccines … I remember it well from my childhood. We knew people with polio… some survived, and are still living today. And the rest of us were protected by Salk’s vaccine. The so-called “anti-vaxxers” really should educate themselves on actual hard data and massive evidence as to how vaccines have saved lives over many generations now.