May 2006

The President’s Message:

Happy 9th Anniversary CEPSA …

The celebration, lunch and History Book Workshop were a great success! Everyone seemed to enjoy visiting around the tables as we cut and pasted mounds of information and pictures into works of art for our History Book. Even with twenty-eight people working, there is still more left to do. I am forming a History Book Committee to complete this important project. The committee members are Dot Parkhurst, Betty Goff, Cheryl Brackin, Lavonne Calandra, and Janet DiClaudio. If you would like to help, let me know.

CEPSA would like to thank the people who had a part in making this special event possible.

• Marty Foxx and Richard Graham made the arrangements for the food and cake and also were responsible for pick up and delivery.
• Lorraine Frew and Cheryl Brackin brought the drinks and paper products.
• Dot and Bob Parkhurst helped load the cars, set up the tables and made the coffee.
• Also, thanks to all who helped me compile the pictures and history information! Beverly Jarvis, Janet DiClaudio, Cheryl Brackin, Lorraine Frew, Marty Foxx, Ruth and Junie Parham, and Dan Shehan

CEPSA Website Update … A Work in Progress!

The officers, Jim Veccia, and his son, Jim Jr., are working on the CEPSA Website. So far I have e-mailed Jim information for the Home Page, Calendar of Events, CEPSA’s Purpose, and Sponsors. Sandra Bath also e-mailed him the March and April Newsletters. The other Keys are under construction at this time, but we are off to a great start!

Jim ordered software for his computer so he could make the postings on the Website himself. CEPSA owes both Jim and Jim Jr. a dept of gratitude for helping us get the polio message and CEPSA’s name out there on line. The website opens the door to endless opportunities for CEPSA. Thank you goes to Jim Jr. for donating his time and expertise to design the Website, and to Jim for donating the cost of the Website and software and for coordinating the Website for us.

Look up our new Website! www.coastalempirepoliosurvivors.com

CEPSA’s Historic District Project …

Dan Shehan, the chairman of the Historic District Navigational Guide Project, is already at work. He spoke with Chris Morrill, the Assistant City Manager, who was very helpful. The members of Dan’s committee are Richard Graham, Tom Newcomer, Sher Blackwelder, Marty Foxx and Diane Davis.

Polio Awareness Project …

August is National Immunization Month. Sandra Bath, chairperson, and other group members will conduct activities which will include: working with the Chatham County Health Department Everybody Counts Immunization Coalition; getting articles published in Savannah magazines and newspapers; conducting a poster contest for schools about the polio vaccine and the global eradication project, and distributing flyers to churches and businesses. CEPSA might also offer a screening of The Last Child video at a local theatre.

Health Information Project …

Cheryl Brackin is the chairperson for the Health and Hospital Care Information Project. They will be designing a packet, card and/or bracelet of polio health and other care needs to inform families and physicians of specific health care information in the event a polio survivor is hospitalized. The members of Cheryl’s committee are Janet DiClaudio, Lavonne Calandra, Betty Goff, and Lorraine Frew.

The “Jingle” Project …

This committee will write and produce a jingle for CEPSA. The committee is comprised of Ruth and Junie Parham, Sher Blackwelder, and Diane Davis.

We will be featuring the documentary, “The Last Child,” at our May 27th meeting. This fifty-six minute documentary from American Public Television will be shown as our May program. It tells the behind-the-scenes story of the global campaign to eradicate polio. From the front lines in Nigeria, India, Haiti and elsewhere, you’ll witness the victories and challenges of trying to wipe out a disease worldwide for only the second time in history.

“If you doubt that heroes still walk the earth, you haven’t seen THE LAST CHILD.” – Steve Sternberg, USA TODAY

“A riveting documentary that shatters the notion that polio is a disease of the past.” – Mia Farrow

“An engrossing and moving film.” – Francis Ford Coppola

Be Prepared for Hurricane Season …

The program for our meeting on June 24th will be “Emergency Preparedness Plan.” Our speaker is Misty Bethune from the Chatham Emergency Management Agency.

God Bless…

Diane Davis, President

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Grand Prizes for CEPSA’s Annual Banquet!

We are beginning to receive Grand Prize donations for our Annual Banquet to add to the Peggy Cone painting. Lynda Soss, Diane Davis’, sister is donating a $100.00 Gift Certificate for Premier Designs High Fashion Jewelry to be given away at our Annual Banquet. The winner can choose jewelry from the Premier Designs catalog, which will be included with the certificate. Lynda will deliver the jewelry to the winner as soon as the order comes in. A special thank you goes to Lynda Soss for her generous donation to CEPSA.

Member Concerns …

Please remember those mentioned and their families in your prayers.

• Our Deepest Condolences goes to Dot Parkhurst for the death of her brother, Earnest Rogers. He was 56 and the youngest of nine children.
• Lavonne Calandra’s brother-in-law, Doug Crowe, had a serious heart attack.
• Congratulations to … Doris Phillips, a former independent living coordinator at LIFE, who was recently elected to the LIFE Board of Directors.

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Coastal Empire Polio Survivors Association, Inc., General Meeting Minutes, April 22, 2006

President Diane Davis called the meeting to order at 10:05 A.M., welcomed everyone, and joined the group in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Beverly Jarvis read a 17th Century Nun’s Prayer for our inspiration. The minutes of the March meeting were approved as written, and Marty Foxx gave the Treasurer’s Report.

Janet DiClaudio gave the Care Teams Report, as follows:

• Jim Walker called to thank the group for the card. He will be spending the summer in West Virginia.
• Eunice Newcomer had her surgery and was able to come to the meeting.
• Marty Foxx took flowers from CEPSA to Eunice’s home.
• Dot Parkhurst’s youngest brother, Earnest Roberts, died on April 10, 2006. Marty Foxx delivered flowers to her home.

Janet DiClaudio passed around a sign-up sheet for members who would like to work on one of the four committees (Jingle, Navigational Guide with Chair Dan Shehan, Health Information Packet with Chair Cheryl Brackin, and Awareness Campaign) listed in Diane Davis’ President’s Message last month.

Diane Davis announced that April 22 – 29, 2006 is National Immunization Week. The Chatham County Health Department would like to partner with CEPSA about the importance of the polio vaccine. Anyone interested in being interviewed for TV or the newspapers was asked notify Diane Davis. Janet DiClaudio, Marty Foxx, and Diane Davis are on the list so far.

Diane Davis then thanked the following people who helped put our anniversary party together for the meeting:

• Marty Foxx and Richard Graham for making arrangements for the food and cake,
• Lorraine Frew and Cheryl Brackin for the drinks, plates, and forks,
• Dot and Bob Parkhurst for the set up and coffee,
• Beverly Jarvis, Janet DiClaudio, Cheryl Brackin, Lorraine Frew, Marty Foxx, Junie and Ruth Parham, and Dan Shehan who gave us pictures and information for the history book.

She then requested assistance for cleaning up the room and taking things to the cars after the meeting.

Dan Shehan discussed the navigational guide. He searched several sources for a map that we could use to note accessible areas in the historic district. He found one in a publication that is published by the Savannah Morning News and contacted them. Linda Wittish, editor of Savannah Magazine, was very helpful to him. He stated that we will need several people to survey every block and note the accessible areas on the map. Cheryl Brackin stated that she mentioned this project at the L.I.F.E., Inc. Board meeting.

The program was a History Book Workshop. Diane Davis distributed the information and pictures she collected grouped by year and the scrapbooking supplies she had purchased for the activity. We divided into small groups and each group worked on a year. The activity was a success. There is more to be done so Diane Davis formed a History Book Committee and asked those who were interested to contact her after the meeting.

Diane Davis called a short Board meeting after lunch. The meeting was adjourned after lunch at 12:30 P.M. The next meeting will be held on May 27, 2006 at 10:00 A.M. in the Candler Heart and Lung Building Conference Room #2.

Respectfully submitted,

Janet DiClaudio, Secretary

Attendance at April Meeting:

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Nutrition and You

By Marty Foxx

Healthy eating habits are the keys to leading a healthy life. As polio survivors, we have unique nutritional needs. Our “body mass index” or BMI is hard to figure because of our loss of muscle mass. BMI and Daily Values on food labels form the basis for many dietary recommendations.

If we try to follow diet plans for normal adults, we may not be successful in controlling our weight. For us, “one size does not fit all.” We must develop our own personalized diet plan to manage our nutritional needs and control our weight.

Exercise whatever will cooperate, but never through pain.

Record keeping is tedious but necessary if we want to make changes. I will have some forms to distribute to help you with this at the May meeting. If you want some mailed to you, just give me a call.

Please help me by sharing any success you have found or any recipes that are tasty as well as healthy. If you bring me information to share, I will compile it all into a booklet for us all.

Let’s begin today to eat for healthy living.

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Happy Birthday to …

Ruth Parham, June 14th, and Janet DiClaudio, June 17th

Voluntary Dues of $15.00 may be paid to Marty Foxx; the gift of stamps for mailing your newsletter would be greatly appreciated!

CEPSA Officers for 2006

• Diane Davis, President
• Lorraine Frew, V.P.
• Janet DiClaudio Secretary
• Marty Foxx, Treasurer
• Members-at-Large, Dan Shehan and Jim Veccia

Committees – Chairpersons:

• Publicity – Cheryl Brackin
• Newsletter – Sandra Bath
• Mailing – Beverly Jarvis
• Fund-Raising – Richard Graham
• Hospitality – Tom & Eunice Newcomer, Dot and Bob Parkhurst
• Phone – Lavonne Calandra, Betty Goff
• Videographer – Junie Parham

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Global Case Count: The number of documented cases of polio worldwide from January 1 to May 9, 2006: 309

In 2005, the world moved several critical milestones closer to polio eradication, including the successful introduction of the monovalent oral polio vaccines, visible progress in the hardest endemic areas, and an end to west and central Africa’s epidemic (outside Nigeria).
Only 4 countries are still polio-endemic – an all-time low: Nigeria, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
In addition to the endemic countries, five countries have reported polio cases in 2006 due to importations (Somalia, Yemen, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia).

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Sleep? What’s That?

Sleep is “a period of rest for the body and mind during which volition and consciousness are in partial or complete abeyance and the bodily functions are partially suspended.” Says who? Dorland’s Medical Dictionary.

Now, let’s say that in English, please! It is basically a period of rest when we are free from making decisions and an awareness of our environment. Sounds like peace to me. How does it sound to you? Unfortunately, many polio survivors, including me, experience sleep disturbances, two of which are sleep apnea and insomnia. I have them both. How do you know if you have one of these problems?

First of all, what symptoms, if any, are you experiencing? Do you have a problem falling asleep or waking up in the middle of the night and being unable to go back to sleep? You may have insomnia. Do you snore, wake up with headaches or get sleepy during the day? These are a few of the symptoms of sleep apnea.

There is a Sleep Self-Assessment Quiz on-line at www.talkaboutsleep.com. It is a list of 34 symptoms, and you check off all that apply to you. You get the results almost immediately after submitting your responses. It is only a guide for further discussion with your physician and does not take the place of a medical assessment or diagnostic procedure.

The polysomnogram or sleep study is the diagnostic procedure used to identify sleep disturbances. It measures brain wave activity, eye movement, heart rhythm, respiratory effort, nasal airflow, oxygen saturation, body position, leg movements, and vibrations.

There are leads placed on the scalp, face, chest, neck and legs; a pulse oximeter is attached to the index finger; and a “wire” is placed between the nose and mouth. A low level video camera is used to record the patient’s movements (Polysomnography: Overview and Clinical Application, www. emedicine.com). Some patients have difficulty with all of the leads. They did not cause a problem for me.

The recording is interpreted by a physician specializing in pulmonary diseases and/or sleep disorders. Sleep apnea is usually treated with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) or Bi-Level Positive Airway Pressure (Bi-PAP). CPAP provides a continuous pressure flow of room air during inspiration and expiration. Bi-PAP provides a higher pressure of room air during inspiration than during expiration. Both of these can be connected to a source of oxygen, if necessary.

These two treatment methods solve almost 100% of the problems but are not a cure by any means.

Submitted by,

Janet DiClaudio

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Subject: Annual Physical

I go to the doctor for my yearly physical. The nurse starts with certain basics.

How much do you weigh?” she asks.

“115,” I say. The nurse puts me on the scale. It turns out my weight is 140.

The nurse asks, “Your height?” “5 foot 8,” I say.

The nurse checks and sees that I only measure 5′ 5″.

She then takes my blood pressure and tells me it is very high.

“Of course it’s high!” I scream, “When I came in here I was tall and slender! Now I’m short and fat!”

She puts me on Prozac.

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From Post Polio Assn. of South Florida newsletter, May/June 2006

The Bookworm’s Corner

Lucky One: Making It Past Polio and Despair
By Richard Maus

Contracting polio as an infant, Richard Maus spent years shuttling back and forth between a supportive home and a renowned children’s hospital. He did not feel he belonged anywhere.

It could have ended tragically, but Maus got lucky. He made it past 16 leg operations, 938 days of hospitalization, undiagnosed childhood depression, and flunking out of two other colleges to earn two bachelor’s degrees and a master’s at St. Cloud State College and realize a fulfilling life and career teaching math and physics.

In this touching memoir, Maus paints a simple, but compelling picture of some of the experiences that shaped him. Days spent roaming the family dairy farm with his dog Rex — and pain, tedium, wheelchair games, and friendships at Gillette State Hospital for Crippled Children. Contemplating suicide in junior high and planning to shoot a high school classmate — and combining wheat in Montana and earning a private pilot’s license.

Lucky One will fascinate anyone who is interested in a view of life in small-town Minnesota in the 1940s and 50s and the medical practices of that era, as well as anyone concerned about polio and other preventable medical and social conditions that cripple children and their lives today.

Book description copied from: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0977620506/sr=8-12/qid=1147378264/ref=pd_bbs_12/002-3120104-3960843?%5Fencoding=UTF8

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Some Statistics on Disability

According to the 2004 National Organization on Disability/Harris Survey of Americans with Disabilities:

Only 35 percent of people with disabilities report being employed full or part time, compared to 78 percent of those who do not have disabilities.

Three times as many live in poverty with annual household incomes below $15,000 (26 percent versus 9 percent).

People with disabilities remain twice as likely to drop out of high school (21 percent versus 10 percent).

They are twice as likely to have inadequate transportation (31 percent versus 13percent), and a much higher percentage go without needed health care (18 percent versus 7 percent).

According to the U.S. Census Bureau:

About 54 million Americans — approximately 1 in 5 — report that they have some kind of disability and 26 million of them — 1 in 10 — say they have a severe disability. More than half the Americans with a severe disability were between ages 22 and 64.

49.7 million people in the U.S. age 5 and over in the civilian non-institutionalized population have at least one disability; this is a ratio of nearly 1- in – 5 U.S. residents, or 19 percent.