I spoke with my mother and grandmother about their memories of the 1950s polio outbreak, and their stories were strikingly similar.
In 1976, while flipping through old photo albums, we stumbled upon a picture of me at five years old in Montevideo, Uruguay, during 1955. “Everything shifted when your friend Anna passed away,” my mother recalled. “It was a sunny October day when the school called to announce that we had to send all the students home due to polio. Several children had been diagnosed. When I came to pick you up, I thought surely it was a mistake. Then the next day, Anna died and my world felt like it was crumbling. They told us it was a virus with no cure, and we had to keep you isolated from others. You couldn’t play with your friends, and I had to constantly watch for any symptoms. I was filled with fear, and no one seemed to know what to do. I just kept looking at your cheerful little face, worrying endlessly.”
My grandmother added, “The moment I heard the fear in your mother’s voice, I rushed right over. We all stayed together at your home for weeks. Each day brought news of another tragedy.”
I had a vague recollection of these events but had never heard them described in such detail. “You had a favorite dress that didn’t fit anymore, but you insisted on wearing it,” my mother reminisced. “During that time, I let you wear whatever you wanted. You were so thrilled and wanted us to take photos. Here’s one of you beaming in that tiny pink pinafore.”
Coping with Fear and Isolation
Curious, I asked them, “How did you cope with the stress, the fear, and the isolation?”
My mother turned to my grandmother, allowing her to share. “I reminded your mother of the typhus outbreak in Poland in 1928. She was just five then. People were dying, and we didn’t know where the virus came from. All we could do was stay home. We were terrified. My mother-in-law supported us, and we were isolated for weeks, nursing your mother back to health while trying to avoid the virus ourselves. The entire town was in quarantine. We couldn’t leave our houses except for essentials. Supplies in stores were dwindling but just enough to get by. Eventually, your mother recovered, we learned what caused the illness, and gradually, life outside resumed.”
I was amazed at how both had faced similar struggles with illness and isolation.
“It was frightening, yes,” my mother affirmed, “but we discovered something valuable. In times like these, life continues. Initially, we did nothing but wait and watch, but then we realized it was essential to embrace life rather than let fear overshadow it.”
My grandmother nodded in agreement. “My mother-in-law always said the worst thing we could do was act like we were dead while still alive. She filled our days with songs and laughter. We enjoyed tea together and shared stories of the past. Life doesn’t stop just because you’re stuck inside.”
“We were fortunate you didn’t fall ill,” my mother continued. “After a few weeks, we ventured out again, and you started playing with other kids. Slowly, my fears eased. Looking at your photo, I don’t see loss; I see how I learned to truly live.”
Lessons for Today
Fast forward to 2020, and I find myself reflecting on these stories during our current tumultuous times. While I’m staying home, I’m filled with anxiety about what lies ahead for myself and my loved ones. Many of us are isolated, and it often feels like time is slipping away. But it’s crucial to remember: the only time lost is when you forget to embrace life, a lesson passed down from my great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother.
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Conclusion
In summary, through the experiences of my mother and grandmother during the polio epidemic, I learned that life persists even amid fear and uncertainty. Their resilience teaches us to cherish every moment, regardless of our circumstances.