The President’s Message…
September 2009
Dear CEPSA Members and Friends:
I hope you enjoyed our summer break. A large group of us stayed in touch by meeting for lunch July 25 at Johnny Harris Restaurant. A smaller group lunched together on August 22.
By now many of you know about CEPSA’s latest project. Jim Veccia has been our ambassador to several Hilton Head Island Rotary clubs and their fundraiser set for October 3. Polio survivors, including our group, long have appreciated the efforts of Rotary International to immunize children in every country on the planet against polio. Please see Jim’s article on page 4 of the newsletter for complete details. Your executive committee is very excited about this. We need you to join us in our efforts.
Thank you, Jim, for all you are doing.
Kudos to Dan Shehan and the committee which developed the accessibility map for downtown Savannah. Their wonderful project is being publicized by Polio Health International on the PHI web site for survivors across the United States and the world.
I look forward to seeing you at our first fall meeting on September 26. We do not have a speaker scheduled. Many of you know about my dream of having our archives placed at the Georgia Historical Society here in Savannah one day. I have contacted the staff there for details about how we can do this when we are ready. We want our history to be available for those who come after us. At the meeting I will ask you to write at least three things you want the world to know about your/our polio experience. These can be short sentences; this will be a brief exercise. Members can volunteer to read their comments. We will collect your writings, and I will compile them into an article to be published later in the newsletter. Your thoughts, feelings, recollections, and ideas will be preserved for future generations. The polio story must never be forgotten.
Cheryl Brackin
CEPSA’s next regular monthly meeting is on Saturday, September 26th, at 10:30 a.m. in the CandlerHospitalHeart & LungBuilding, second floor, conference room.
The CEPSA Monthly Meeting Minutes, June 27, 2009
Cheryl Brackin, President, called the meeting to order. We had the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
Bob Parkhurst gave the inspiration and shared what the word, “Inspiration” meant, its definition and various meanings of the word, and what are the purposes of inspiration.
Cheryl introduced our speaker, Anne Trees, a Speech-Language Pathologist, and she was to speak on “Swallowing Problems in Polio Survivors.” She gave an informative talk, and answered some questions.
Jim Veccia moved that the Treasurer’s report be approved as presented. Sec. Harvey Varnadoe. Approved.
Care Team Reports: Those not feeling well: Ruth Parham, Junie Parham, Terry Dunnermann, Janet Di Claudio, Lorraine Frew and Tom and Eunice Newcomer. Cheryl mentioned that George Frick had passed away and we need to remember Judy, since she has been his caregiver for a long time. Others with concerns: Dianne Falgiani, Danny Jenkins and Pixi Winters. We also need to remember Gene and Beverly Jarvis. Betty and Gene Goff have been ministering to them. Charlotte Richter’s husband is having knee replacement surgery.
Jim Veccia mentioned that it is necessary for needs to be in the newsletters, but in a timely manner.
Announcements: No July or August meetings, but there will be a lunch fellowship at the Johnny Harris restaurant July 25th at 12 o’clock and August 22nd at 12 o’clock for all who would like to get together.
Hattie Everson spoke to the Blackshear, GA Rotary about polio. We need to continue to seek opportunities to speak about polio.
Harvey then showed off the new brace he has for his leg that he purchased in San Diego, CA. He had met the man who designed this brace at the Post Polio International meeting in April.
There was no further business or announcements. Meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
Adrienne Stallworth
Secretary
QUOTE of the MONTH
“The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.” Vince Lombardi, football coach
SPOTLIGHT ON…JANET DiCLAUDIO
Janet DiClaudio and her family moved from Monroeville, Pennsylvania, to Wilmerding, PA on June 7, 1951. Four days later Janet was a patient in Municipal Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. She complained of a headache, cold symptoms, nausea, and a stiff neck. Her mother gave her an enema. The doctor told Mrs. DiClaudio that he suspected polio or meningitis. A lumbar puncture was done, and the tests on the cerebrospinal fluid confirmed polio.
During her 41-day stay Janet was placed on a rocking bed and treated with the Sister Kenny method, which included hot packs on affected limbs and torso along with passive, then active, exercises. She used leg braces and crutches when learning to walk again. Janet did not want to do her exercises, so staff would get Paul, the therapist on whom she had a crush, to work with her. She would do anything for him. Her family was not allowed to visit her, but she got to see her pastor, Donald W. Moore, once. One day Janet got out of bed to get a drink of water. She knew how to turn off her bed. Janet was going to prove the doctors, who told her she could not walk, were wrong. She fell and was found by one of the nurses on the floor next to the sink.
Janet had outpatient therapy, orthopedic shoes with Thomas heels, and a lordotic brace all ordered by a female doctor named Jesse Wright, who was very large and dressed like a man. The doctor frightened a lot of the patients, including Janet.
Mrs. DiClaudio threw the brace away after her daughter’s shoulders were cut and bleeding for 1 ½ years.
Janet has a BS in Biology, MA in Health Sciences Education and Evaluation, and Certificate in Medical Record Library Science.
Janet began having symptoms of post-polio syndrome in the late 1970’s. She now experiences intolerance to cold, fatigue, muscle weakness, pain, spasms, breathing and swallowing difficulty, and falls easily.
Janet has had an extensive career. She resigned as the Director of Medical Records at Candler Hospital after 10 years to care for her mother. Her Vice President asked her to stay. She became the Medical Care Auditor and retired in 1998. In her retirement she enjoys being a Red Hatter and having fun with her friends. This accomplished woman has served as president, secretary, member-at-large, and hospitality chair of the Coastal Empire Polio Survivors Association. She has served on various committees and made an excellent presentation to us on Medicare policies and regulations. Janet remains dedicated to the work of our group. She states “One of the best things I ever did for myself was joining CEPSA, Inc.”
Written by Janet in collaboration with Cheryl Brackin
Heel to Toe for Polio
CEPSA is teaming up with five Rotary Clubs in Hilton Head and Bluffton to sponsor a walkathon on October 3rd on the beaches of Hilton Head. Most of you are familiar with this project, but some of you who do not have computer access may not be aware of this event. Many CEPSA members will be “walking” in their scooters or chairs, while others will be helping with registering the many walkers that are expected. We will be looking to enroll new members into CEPSA while providing them and others with literature. All the money’s collected will benefit both the Rotary Clubs long standing project of trying to immunize the world against polio and CEPSA will also receive a percentage of all the money’s collected. If you have not been contacted and would like to sponsor a CEPSA member in the walkathon, send a check made out to The Rotary Foundation in any amount and remember the donation is tax deductible. Send check to Jim Veccia, 5 Spartina Point, Hilton Head, SC 29926 no later then September 26th. Remember, CEPSA is benefiting from all money raised. Let’s make this a complete team effort and show everyone at the event that we are a support group that really cares.
Member Concerns
Lorraine Frew Archie Ivey
Dale Merritt Ann Finley
Shirley Johns Larry Richter
Gene Jarvis Velma Underwood
Eileen Boyle Diane Davis
Cheryl Brackin Betty Goff
Tom and Eunice Newcomer
Our Condolences go out to the families of Linda and Richard Graham on the death of Linda’s step-father, Adrienne and Ed Stallworth on the death of their son-in-law and Dale and Harriet Merritt on the death of her nephew.
Happy Birthday …
September
James Smith – 3
Cheryl Brackin – 6
Danny Jenkins – 10
Ed Luck – 11
Betty Johnson – 16
Patrina Johnson – 19
Gene Jarvis – 22
Richard Hall – 24
Dot Parkhurst – 27
October
Billy Ray Washington – 3
Charlotte Richter – 4
Eileen Boyle – 5
Dan Shehan – 6
Hattie Everson – 7
Harvey Varnadoe – 15
Bererly Jarvis – 23
Adrienne Stallworth– 31
Why we must keep up our efforts!!!!
Pakistan resumes polio vaccines halted by Taliban
September 8, 2009
ISLAMABAD — Authorities in Pakistan’s Swat Valley have resumed vaccinating children for polio, a practice the Taliban had banned as un-Islamic before they were beaten back by an army offensive, an official said Tuesday.
The Islamist militants, who began taking over the valley in 2007, had declared a campaign to inoculate against the potentially crippling disease was un-Islamic because it was foreign-funded. Swat Taliban leader Maulana Fazullah said the vaccinations were a Western conspiracy to make Muslim children infertile.
He said Pakistani health officials had to quit their campaign last September after several attacks by the militants. The department made another attempt to restart in January, but that was quickly abandoned after another attack.
“Our staff was beaten, and our equipment was snatched,” Khan told The Associated Press.
Swat resident Yar Mohammad said the people of the valley welcomed the resumption of the campaign.
“The militants have been depriving our children of our basic right. It is our national responsibility to secure our kids against all diseases,” said Mohammad, who lives in the valley’s main city, Mingora.
Polio has been eradicated in most countries. But in Pakistan, Nigeria, Afghanistan and India it remains endemic, according to the World Health Organization.
CONTRIBUTIONS The Coastal Empire Polio Survivors Association is a non-profit corporation which is tax exempt under IRS code 501c(3). We have no paid employees, only volunteers dedicated to helping all polio survivors.
Your financial support is appreciated at any level suggested below:
* CEPSA Member – $15.00 annual voluntary donation
* CEPSA Supporter – $25.00 $50.00 $100.00 $300.00
* CEPSA Memorial or Honor Gift – any amount
* CEPSA Sponsor – any amount
Your contributions are tax deductible and will be acknowledged appropriately.
Please complete this form and mail it along with your check to: CEPSA, Marty Foxx, 23 East 61st Street, Savannah, GA31405.
Name __________________________________________________
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City ___________________ State_____________ Zip ___________
Phone _______________________ E-mail _________________________________
Are you a relative or friend of a CEPSA member, if so _________________________________
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Thank you for your support and encouragement.