Christina Homer – living with Polio

Christina Homer, who lives with Post Polio Syndrome, shared her powerful and inspirational story with the Twin Bridges Rotary and several other clubs from District 7190. 

This is the first time that Christina has shared her whole story publicly.  We thank her for her courage, her frankness and for being such an inspiration to so many.

Christina was stricken with polio at the age of 4 months. She was hospitalized in a polio ward until the age of 5 where she spent most of her time in an iron lung. During this time period,  parents were urged not to maintain contact with their children, so the most Christina ever saw of her parents was an occasional face in a window. She received no human contact nor affection from her care givers and she was not taught anything, not even how to speak. When she finally appeared to be cured of polio at the age of 5 she became a “polio poster child.” 

Christina suffered criticisms from her peers growing up.  She was always “different”.  She later attended high school and college and lived a few decades of a “normal life”.  She beat the odds!  She was told she’d most likely not survive to see 40 nor ever give birth.  She acheived both and now lives with her loving husband, remains active in the Polio Survivors community as well as the arts.

You can help Rotary International erradicate Polio from the planet.  We have 4 countries to go. 

• Gates Foundation:  $200 Million Dollar Challange
• Global Polio Eradication Initiative spearheading partners
• Help Eradicate Polio by Giving now

Below is a small clip from today’s presentation (turn up your volume).