Polio Survivor Lives Fulfilling Life Despite Disability
John Breach contracted poliomyelitis as a baby in the mid-1950s, and went through a period of painful therapy, including several surgeries, and wore a leg brace.
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January 11, 2010
John Breach contracted poliomyelitis as a baby in the mid-1950s, and went through a period of painful therapy, including several surgeries, and wore a leg brace. Today, he still needs orthopedic shoes, but says he has never let the disease keep him back from living a normal life.
According to York Daily Record, Breach even managed to play baseball as a teenager, thanks to the team's willingness to put a runner in for him. Today, he thrives as a project manager for commercial properties in the construction business.
The 54-year-old credits his mother and wife for his determination to overcome the odds. "Having strong women in my life has been a good thing for me," the father of three and grandfather of two told the news source.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, polio has been eradicated in the U.S. and much of the world due to the vaccine first developed in 1955, but there is still a handful of countries where its circulation has never been interrupted. As a result, up-to-date vaccinations are recommended for those travelling to select countries in Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, including Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan.
In the U.S., those living with the aftermath of polio contracted during childhood may consult the resources of Post Polio Health International, which accepts donations.
John Breach contracted poliomyelitis as a baby in the mid-1950s, and went through a period of painful therapy, including several surgeries, and wore a leg brace. Today, he still needs orthopedic shoes, but says he has never let the disease keep him back from living a normal life.
According to York Daily Record, Breach even managed to play baseball as a teenager, thanks to the team's willingness to put a runner in for him. Today, he thrives as a project manager for commercial properties in the construction business.
The 54-year-old credits his mother and wife for his determination to overcome the odds. "Having strong women in my life has been a good thing for me," the father of three and grandfather of two told the news source.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, polio has been eradicated in the U.S. and much of the world due to the vaccine first developed in 1955, but there is still a handful of countries where its circulation has never been interrupted. As a result, up-to-date vaccinations are recommended for those travelling to select countries in Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, including Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan.
In the U.S., those living with the aftermath of polio contracted during childhood may consult the resources of Post Polio Health International, which accepts donations.
