Polio Strikes Three In One Iowa Family

PAUL

Posted By: Karen Brewer (email)
Date: 10/26/2010 at 22:03:10

Reading Eagle, Reading, PA
December 27, 1952

Polio Strikes Three In One Iowa Family

Osceola, Iowa, December 27 (U.P.) – A husband and wife and their 11 year old child lay in lonely isolation wards today – the victims of polio attacks that came just as the holiday season began.

The three members of the Marvin Paul family can’t even see each other or friends until they pass the contagious stage of the crippling ailment. The disease struck first when Mrs. Paul, 30 was taken to a Des Moines, Iowa hospital. The rest of the family including four children went ahead with holiday plans.

But on Christmas Eve. Polio visited the family for the second time, and 11 year old Kay went to the same hospital. Then her father also 30, was found to have polio yesterday.

Kay was dismayed because she had been waiting a visit from Santa. She didn’t get to see any of her toys

Three Other Children

The other three children are staying with their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Paul.

“They felt a little lost, even when they were playing with their new toys,” he said.

The grandfather said, “the polio attacks were not so awfully serious,” and hoped the family would be together again soon. “We still had a good Christmas,” he said.

Note: The Pittsburgh Press ran this story on December 26, 1952 and the Beaver Valley Times ran the story on December 29, 1952.