Staying Positive in the Face of Adversity | My Time Inside an Iron Lung

[@jenford7078]

My mother used to say that being a mother before the polio vaccine was the most stressful time in her life, every complaint of headache, every fall, any muscle complaint sent her into panic. It probably didn't help that she worked in a hospital in the late 40's and quit to try and reduce our risk. Mothering is a tough job! Thomas has a remarkable life story, looking at his life in photos was a treat, from sick little boy to strong, handsome man taking on life. 💞

[@leiseman1971]

Like you, I've had polio since I was 4 years of age. I am now 55. Thank you for your crutch tip designs that have made ambulating alot more safe for me.

[@AlanLewine-pb6bn]

I used to live in Philly and I love the Mutter. And I also love Tom as a human being as well as the inventor and distributor of the best damned crutches and tips in the world, but more important a beautiful man and a friend. I’ve heard some of his stories, but never in this detail. Beautifully done. Thanks Mutter and Thanks Tom.

[@cathrinewhite7629]

What a wonderful little film!🙏🏼 Tom seemed so innocent of the situation he was put into...he had no expectations of fear and pain, so he embraced it almost as an adventure. And it made him a better, more inquisitive human. Would that we all could see the challenges put in our paths, just like Tom!😊

[@judithpevy]

What a fascinating story. Tom is a great storyteller

[@steveeb9567]

Thanks Tom for sharing your story. Love your crutch tips !

[@Thetimecapsuletx]

Why don’t they use iron lungs today instead of respirators? The seem a lot more gentler on the body while keeping you breathing. My father in law and his mother both had polio. He was fine but she ended up in a wheelchair.

[@johntoe6127]

My story is much like Tom's. I caught polio in 1954, just before the vaccine came out. I was only 1 year old, and ended up in K.C. polio cottage in an Iron Lung. My left leg was affected, and I've spent a lifetime on crutches. I went to regular school, and ended up with two Master's Degrees, and a 40 year career at at&t. The last 20 years I've used a pair of Tom's custom made titanium crutches. Something I will say has helped greatly, since the old aluminum ones only lasted me about 8 months. I too wonder how my life would have been different without Polio. They say that Polio Survivors are often more successful than average. We were told at a very early age that the harder we worked, the more we could overcome our disability. We're proof that hard work and perseverance pays off.

[@guandjs]

Thanks for sharing your story and for designing crutches and tips. I got polio when I was 3 in India and I am now 54. I got your titanium crutches over 10 years ago and they are wonderful. I also get the large crutch tips each year as they make walking much safer especially when ground is wet.

[@morriganwitch]

Inspiring xxx

[@mystic_bat8442]

#ProtecttheMutter

[@mlipp54]

thank you for sharing your story. I too had polio but as a toddler in 1954. I know what you mean about the optimism that comes with it. I was raised by people who always wanted the best for me and were nurturing towards me. So that translated into me becoming a preschool teacher teaching at a vocational high school. I am currently playing tennis in a wheelchair as well as pickleball in a wheelchair.(number 2 in the US) I can walk with crutches and only use the wheelchair to play those games in my sports chair. I am 70 now and have had an incredible life. No post polio symptoms yet fingers crossed.

[@johntoe6127]

I too caught polio in 1954 at only 1 year old. Polio most commonly struck kids after about 4 years old. Unknown at that time, Maternal Immunity to polio was passed from mother to child through breast feeding, and it took several years to wear off. Right about that time, in the early 50's, baby formula became popular. Many women that worked, gave up nursing, and used baby formula. Thus, the baby missed out on the immunity to polio. This, I believe, is what happened to me. I would be interested to know if your mother used baby formula? The crazy thing is, if I had had maternal immunity in 1954, I would have made it to the vaccine and never contracted it at all.

[@mlipp54]

@@johntoe6127 formula fed but can’t blame that in itself..

[@tomservino6721]

Thank you for sharing your story. We shared a lot of similar experiences, some of which I had forgotten, some of which I repressed. The hardest was, as you experienced, being in the iron lung and not being able to touch and hug your parents. In later years, when I became a parent I had the realization of what that must have been like from the other side of the wall. I wouldn't go so far as to say that polio was the best thing that happened to me in my life but it did give me empathy at an early age for those less fortunate than I. We could use a whole lot more empathy in this world today. Best of luck in the future Mr. Fetterman.

[@mumzy996]

Thank you so much for this! Ever since I studied it in highschool I've been very interested in the lives of those in Iron Lungs. I love childcare and similar causes and this brings me so much motivation. Its nice to know while battling depression that maybe I can be of some help to the world and make others smile during my career path of childcare.

[@cathrinewhite7629]

Wow it seems that society was much more functional back then. I was born after the vaccine was invented- (I remember the sweet pink dropper of syrup we lined up for in first grade).

[@piscesinblack]

Has this been edited?

[@stephaniecollins6052]

That is some difficult cursive

[@ametatsu]

Let the museum be as it has always been before this new leadership came in to ruin it

[@jimurrata6785]

Not sure what the idea is here. Really disappointing. Perhaps im old enough, it's time to go.

[@steveeb9567]

It's history. The polio epidemic was seventy years ago and many today know nothing about it. What's there to be 'disappointed' about ?

[@jimurrata6785]

@@steveeb9567 The changing narrative of an institution!

[@steveeb9567]

@@jimurrata6785 Do tell !