Dr Jacquelin Perry, pioneer of Gait, who aided polio survivors

30/11/2006 0 Comments read Disability, Gender, Health & Science, Poliomyelitis

By Neena Bhandari

St Louis (Missouri, USA): For the growing number of polio survivors facing new challenges with the onset of post polio syndrome, world renowned polio specialist Dr. Jacquelin Perry says, “Listen to your body. Feel the aches and pains. Don’t Push. Control your destiny”.

Infantile paralysis or polio epidemics struck America from the 1920s to late 1950s afflicting 1.8 million children. The disease killed some and disabled others.

“The effects were like spatter paint. If you had a lot of paint, you had a lot of damage, while others were just touched lightly. Polio is a nerve disease that damages or kills anterior horn cells. The survivors were left with a damaged neuro-muscular system”, explains Dr Perry.

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Cryonics, will science fiction become fact?

02/10/2006 0 Comments read Health & Science

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 02.10.2006 (DNAIndia): Some people love life too much to ever let go. Australian biologist Philip Rhoades is one of hundreds of people, who believe in Cryonics. It is the practice of suspending normal decay processes in people, who have been declared legally dead, by storing them at low temperatures in the hope of future medical re-animation.

As a boy, growing up in the western suburbs of Sydney, Rhoades’ favourite pastime was reading science fiction. He was particularly drawn towards John Wyndham’s `logical fantasy’ novels.

“I liked The Chrysalids most and I had assumed that by the time I would grow old; science, medicine and technology would evolve a way to keep us alive forever”, says 54-year-old Rhoades, who is establishing Australia’s first Cryonic Centre.

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The Phases of Polio – Past, Present and Future

15/12/2004 0 Comments read Disability, Health & Science, Poliomyelitis

By Neena Bhandari

Canberra, 15.12.2004 (IPS): As developing countries move closer to polio eradication, the developed world is battling with ageing polio survivors experiencing post polio syndrome (PPS).

Many of the 40,000 Australians, who survived the polio epidemics of the twentieth century, are facing the threat of new disabilities. While they initially recovered and made the most of life with disability, today they are battling with profound fatigue, increasing muscle weakness, joint and muscle pain, increased sensitivity to cold temperatures and sleeping, breathing or swallowing difficulties. These are all linked to the late-effects of polio or PPS.

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