The Survivor Newsletter: Spring 2009
Inside this issue:
WHAT DO WE THINK AS A GROUP?
CONFERENCE 2009
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
POLIO & THE OSCARS
and much more…
HEAD OFFICE STAFF:
Tel: 01 8898920
Fax: 018898924
Website: www.ppsg.ie
CHIEF EXECUTIVE:
Eamonn Farrell
Email: ceo@ppsg.ie
SERVS/INFO CO-ORDINATOR:
Lillian McElvanny
Email: sic@ppsg.ie
BOOKKEEPER/ADMIN. ASSISTANT:
Ursula Treacy
Email: info@ppsg.ie
OUTREACH WORKER
Margaret McCarthy
Email: fsw@ppsg.ie
REGIONAL SUPPORT OFFICER
Ann Shanahan
Email: rso1@ppsg.ie
BOARD MEMBERS
Hugh Hamilton: (Chairman)
Tel/Fax: 01 289 4800
Mobile: 087 255 3012
Email: hamsalem@eircom.net
Joan Bradley: (Deputy Chairperson)
Tel/Fax: 01 454 9237
Email: amjbradley@eircom.net
Paula Lahiff: (Secretary)
Tel/Fax: 071 9164791
Mobile: 086 322 4402
Email: secretary@ppsg.ie
John McFarlane (Treasurer & Newsletter Editor)
Tel: 057-9353552
Fax: 057-9353558
Email: jmcfarlane1@iolfree.ie or
newsletter@ppsg.ie
Anne Burns (Board Member)
Tel: 01 453 4150
Email: boyneabu@eircom.net
Hugh Conlon: (Board Member)
Tel: 091 751 750 (H) Mobile: 086 803 6145
Email: hcon@eircom.net
Jim Costello (Board Member)
Tel/Fax: 01 260 0099 (H) Hos: 01 620 6154
Email: jjcos@indigo.ie
Clara Dunne (Board Member)
Tel: 01 672 1601 (W)
Fax: 01 672 1650
Tel: 01 833 5524 (H)
Mob: 087 227 6202
Email: clara.dunne@caceis.com
Bridie McMahon (Board Member)
Tel: 094 954 0285 Mob: 087 958 0567
Email: smcmahon70@eircom.net
Eamonn Porter (Board Member)
Tel: 01 8455827 (W)
Mobile: 086 225 3551
Email: eporter@aspire-wealth.com
Seamus O’Cinneide: (Board Member)
Tel: 01 496 1133 (H)
Email: seamus.ocinneide@nuim.ie
Evelyn Wainwright (Board Member)
Tel/Fax: 021 4847313 Mobile: 086 8829267
Email: evelyn99911@hotmail.com
Hugh Weir: (Board Member)
Tel: 061 927 030 Fax: 061 927 418
Email: hughweir@ballinakella.com
Comittees
Fund Allocation Committee
Joan Bradley (Chair), Hugh Conlon, Seamus O’Cinnéide, Róisín Nolan
Fundraising
Hugh Hamilton (Chair), Anne Burns, Evelyn Wainwright, Eamon Porter, James Kinahan
Governance and Nominations
Hugh Conlon (Chair), Jim Costello, John McFarlane, Seamus O Cinnéide, Hugh Weir
Social Support
Anne Burns (Chair), Paula Lahiff, Evelyn Wainwright, Hugh Weir, Barbara McDonagh, Tom Gallery, Bridie McMahon
Regional Reps
Paddy Fitzpatrick (HSE Midlands), Tom Clifford (HSE Mid West), Evelyn Wainwright (HSE South), Povl Thim (HSE South East), Barbara McDonagh (HSE West), Paula Lahiff (HSE North West), Jackie Minnock (HSE North East)
Social Support Convenors
Ann Barrett, Tom Clifford, Brian Crummy, Susan Dowling, Paddy Fitzpatrick, Nuala Harnett, John Mangan, Bridie McMahon, Paddy Moyles, Sean Mulligan, Charlie Smith, Povl Thim, Evelyn Wainwright
Ring Ring Phone Project Leaders
Peggy Brennan, Joan Bradley, Leo Dempsey, Muiris O Chriostóir, Anne Shanahan, Sheila O’Sullivan, Tom Gallery, Christina O’Connor, Susan Dowling, Shirley Martin
FROM THE EDITOR
1948 was a year worth remembering, for a start the year I was born, but more importantly it saw Andrew Wyeth, a noted American painter exhibit “Christina’s World”. It depicts his neighbour Christina in a field looking at farm buildings on the horizon, an extract of the painting forms this edition’s front cover. Why should it have significance – Christina was a Survivor of paralytic polio and it is one of the first instances of polio featuring in the modern artistic world. This year at the Oscars polio is mentioned in two films, “The Final Inch” and the world acclaimed “Slumdog Millionaire”. More on of all these later in this edition. The worst of the winter may be passed and the snowdrops and crocuses are out, but the worsening world economic situation will have an impact on us all, Hugh Hamilton tells you what the Group is planning and how it will continue to look after Survivors. All the details of the 2009 Conference and AGM are here as well – come along and join in the fun! There is much more to grab your interest, many of the pieces have been inspired or requested by members, for instance “YOUR GP & YOU”. Many others are directly contributed by members. A new occasional series that looks at the achievements of polio Survivors profiles Mary de Bunsen who overcoming all odds and disability was a successful pilot
in the 1940s. These and plenty more are here to inform, provoke, and entertain. So let me know what you want and I will see what can be done about it. See you at Conference in May.
In the meantime you can contact me through:
Tel: 087-2029830
Fax: 057-9353552
Email: newsletter@ppg.ie or jmcfarlane1@iolfree.ie
A mesage to al from the chairman, Hugh Hamilton
As I said in my letter to all members before Christmas, 2009 will bring severe cutbacks from the Government. However, I want to stress that these cutbacks are very definitely intended to concentrate on us cutting expenses, rather than cutting the benefits to members. This has been taken very much to heart, and so far significant progress in making savings in administration expenses on a number of fronts has been made. There is some way to go, but I assure you we are doing all we can to avoid limiting benefits to members in 2009. Whilst we cannot, as yet, give an absolute commitment on grants, I would encourage you to apply (on the enclosed form & return in the envelope provided) to the office if you have a need for ongoing therapies such as Physiotherapy, Chiropody etc. as if too long a gap in treatment is left, there may be a therapeutic deficit. Of course, fundraising contributes significantly to benefits to members, and this is going to be more difficult than ever this year. Once again, we will do our best to raise as much funds as possible, and you can see elsewhere in this Survivor how we are intending to expand our fundraising activities, so please do contact us if you are prepared to help in this regard With best wishes Hugh Hamilton
Thought of the Day
I have learned to use the word ‘impossible’ with the greatest caution. — Wernher von Braun
MISSION STATEMENT
Our Mission is to create awareness and to provide information regarding the late effects of polio among Polio Survivors, statutory agencies and the wider medical profession, and to ensure that the needs of Polio Survivors relating to their condition are met to enable them to live with dignity
What do we think as a Group?
We can all, thankfully, think and work out our own opinions. Do you ever wonder what the Group, as a whole, thinks? Is the Post Polio Support Group view the same as yours? You may remember filling out a sheet at the back of the last Questionnaire. When the Questionnaire arrives at the office the first thing that is done is to tear these sheets from the remainder and keep them for future study. The remaining Questionnaires are filed to help Lillian meet your needs. The sheets torn from the Questionnaires have no names on them so each person’s opinion is as valuable as the next.
Results
So the four factors that all of you, as a Group, think are most important are, in order:
- Having a good health service to deal with medical problems
- Having a Doctor who understands the problems of living with Post Polio Syndrome
- Advocacy that helps Polio Survivors get their entitlements
- Knowing that research is being carried out on Post Polio Syndrome
Are you surprised or is this what you think?
The thrust of our work has to be to continue to press the Government to improve health services and to obtain better facilities for Polio Survivors. We have to continue to promote understanding of Post Polio Syndrome amongst medical professionals, including GPs. Remember your work delivering the Blue Book to them. We still have copies if you need more, just ring Ursula or phone her at the office. There are new people in the health system all the time! The four factors that all of you, as a Group, think are very important are, in order:
- “The SURVIVOR” the Newsletter of the Post Polio Support Group
- Advocacy that helps Polio Survivors get their entitlements
- Getting booklets and leaflets on Post Polio Syndrome
- Having my needs dealt with promptly and competently
The SURVIVOR is obviously a very important means of communication with you all and you enjoy getting information on the condition: we need to keep it flowing to you all. Advocacy is there, again, as very important to the Group.
Dealing with needs is also very important and while we cannot always deliver immediately, we continue to streamline things as much as possible. By the way if your needs change drop a note to Lillian or ring her at the office.
We also asked what was important? Way out ahead was:
- Going to social support meetings followed by
- Going on outings or attending events
- Having contact with the Directors of the Post Polio Support Group
- Visits from Occupational Therapists
Obviously, the social element is very important and the Social Support Committee chair, Anne Burns, is very conscious of the need to develop this part of the Group’s work and build on the work Margaret has done in Dublin and Anne Shanahan around the country. It is good to see the recognition that the work of the occupational therapists gets from you.
Summary
Most important to the Group is the availability of good and improving treatment and entitlements. That is why we went to the Dáil in 2008 and thanks to all of you who spoke to or wrote to your TDs and Senators. Very important is information flow to you all: general information, details of entitlements and efficiently meeting your needs. Important is social contact with other Polio Survivors and development of peer support. Advice from occupational therapists is also of great assistance. It is interesting to see how popular the other supports the Group supplies, working with the HSE, are, in order (the top three being very close):
- Getting aids to help with the activities of daily living
- Appliances to help with mobility
- Getting Physiotherapy
- Receiving chiropody services
- Getting respite breaks
- Getting Assistive Technology to help manage my livingn conditions more easily
So well done all of you for providing the information and thanks to Maggie from the Bray group for all the patience and dedication it took to analyse all the sheets and compile the answers. It is a great piece of work and a great guide for the Group’s future planning.
I would love to hear any comments from any of our readers about the results-Ed
YOUR GP & YOU
How many times have you been to the doctor, come out after a consultation and thought “I forgot to mention this or that” or are not sure exactly what your GP, or consultant for that matter, has said. So how can you get the best from your GP in those few precious minutes that you are face to face – here are a few tips.
Making an Appointment
Most GP’s have abandoned the old, familiar but in many cases inefficient drop in surgery. These days you need to make an appointment in a health service that is under stress from increased demand and funding shortage. So before you pick up the phone, ask yourself do you really need to go to the surgery? Remember your local pharmacist is a good and trained source of advice for the simpler ailments and complaints as well. Then do you need to see the doctor or could you see the practice nurse instead? Nurses often run their own clinics for conditions such as asthma, or diabetes, and if you want a standard health check, it is probably both quicker and more appropriate. Very often, if you have a stable condition and need a repeat prescription this can be arranged by phone with the receptionist or practice nurse, they will tell you if you need to see your doctor. Sometimes a phone consultation with the doctor may be all that is needed, and if medication is required, the prescription can be left for you to pick up afterwards.
Before your Appointment
If you are going for a regular appointment, i.e. health check, review of blood pressure, cholesterol check, do you need to see the nurse the week before for a blood test? That way the doctor will have the results when you go along. Remember some surgeries will only be able to send off samples once a day, so make sure you go at the most appropriate time. It may be that the tests were done at the hospital - so check when your GP should have the results and check with the surgery that the results have arrived. If they have not, there is no point in dragging yourself out and someone else will be able to use what would otherwise be a wasted appointment; it also avoids frustration for both you and the doctor. If you think you may need longer than the average appointment, they usually last about 10 minutes, let the receptionist know when you book. It might mean you may have to wait a little longer to see the doctor of your choice, but if it means you have confidence and reassurance – it is well worthwhile.
Whilst you are there
Unbelievably when in medical school, and through experience, doctors learn that the vast majority of diagnoses made are based on what you say. Therefore, it is vital that you can tell your GP what the symptoms are, if necessary make some notes before you go. You will not be thought silly; rather it will more often than not be appreciated. If you are worried or scared about what is wrong with you tell the doctor, more often than not you will get the reassurances you need. The last thing your doctor needs is a scared patient, extra stress leads to extra illness. If you have made notes or a list of things wrong with you show the doctor right at the start of your appointment, it saves times, leads to less confusion and a better outcome for all. Hopefully it means you will get better quicker! Research has shown that we only take in about 20% of what we are told during a consultation, so why not take along a friend or relative. After all, as the old saying says “two pairs of ears are better than one”. Added to that the person with you may remember something vital you forget! The internet has spawned millions of “medical web sites”. If you are going to go away and look up your condition ask the doctor for some reliable ones – you can scare yourself (unnecessarily) with the greatest of ease as there is a lot of false and misleading information out there; as well as remedies that are not only useless but in many cases downright dangerous to your well being.
Referal to other disciplines
If you need to see a specialist, your GP will refer you. If you think you need to see one ask your doctor, then they can discuss it with you, even if they think it unnecessary. If you need to see a consultant, you will be sent to the best one to deal with your problem. The referral you need might also be for physiotherapy, chiropody or something else. In any case if you are to be referred and do not understand why – ask. Your doctor wants you to understand, be reassured and content.
Last but not least
If at the end of the day you find that appointment is not needed cancel it, someone else will always fill it – even if at only a few minutes notice. Next time it could be you who desperately needs to see the doctor.
PLEASE REMEMBER THE POST POLIO SUPPORT GROUP IN YOUR WILL, OR REQUEST DONATIONS TO POST POLIO SUPPORT GROUP IN LIEU OF FLOWERS…. BE ASSURED ALL BEQUEST AND DONATIONS WILL BE PUT TO GOOD USE THANK YOU
HAVING AN OPERATION – be prepared
With thanks to Polio Australia Network – Victoria
A question that was raised at the Sligo Conference about any special arrangements or questions that Polio Survivors should have or raise before surgery prompted the following. G. Jegasothy is the Senior Physiotherapist at the Late Effects Clinic at the Western Australia Post Polio Clinic and comments:
“For a start you need to be well prepared to give your caring medical professional, whether GP, surgeon, or a therapist all the information you can so you can help them to help you. Then you need to ask the right questions and have all the information you need before an operation."
Before an operation or surgical procedure:
- Ask the doctor about the length of bed stay required?
- Inform the doctor/surgeon that inactivitywill only weaken your muscles.
- If bed rest is required should bed exercises be given and if so who will do this?
It is not often obvious to others how Polio Survivors have adapted to self-care task like getting in and out of bed, getting on and off a toilet, showering, dressing, etc. Activities of daily life such as cooking, cleaning, shopping
- How are these going to be affected in the recovery stage?
Ask the doctor/surgeon:
- About the length of bed stay required?
- The length of time you may need a walking aid, stick, frame, etc?
- How much weight you can put on the joint or limb?
- What angle of movement will you be allowed (will this cause problems with your way of getting in and out of bed, walking or other self care activities)?
Tell your doctor about your daily activities and ask how any operation will affect them. If the operation is to the joint of your arm ask:
- How long before you will be allowed to move the joint (how is this going to affect caring for yourself and your daily living)?
- What sort of splint or support (if any) will you need?
- Will you be able to remove and get any splint or support on and off by yourself (especially relevant if the operation is to the stronger arm)?
- If the hand to be operated on is the stronger, will you be able to use a walking aid or stick with the weaker?
- What might it do to your shoulder joint if you land up putting extra stress on it?
- When can you start to carry things again in the hand, and what weights are allowed to start with?
If the operation is to the leg:
- Will you need a walking aid – who will provide it? (Do you have enough space in your house to use a walking or mobility aid; are there carpets or loose mats that could cause problems?)
- Are your arms and joints strong enough to take the stress?
- When can you put weight back on the leg (assuming it was weight bearing before)?
- How far will you be allowed to bend your knees, or flex your ankle (this may have a direct affect on chair and toilet seat heights, if you have steps into or in your house, these might be difficult, the height of your bed may need to be adjusted temporarily, you may need a shower chair)?
Think about the following:
- If you use the momentum of the lower part of your body to assist your gait, your independence may be affected.
- Also in the same vain if momentum helps you in and out of bed you may need a bed rail as you might need to solely rely on arm strength for a while - once again who will provide it?
- Will your return to driving be affected – ask the question, you need to know.
- You might need help with looking after the house, cooking, cleaning, getting to the shops
- You might want to ask for an Occupational Therapy home assessment before you are discharged to get assistive devices (grabbers, rails, etc.) for the post operative period until you are fully functional again.
- What about physiotherapy after you are discharged to help regain your strength and movement – you want your independence back”
Above all when you go to see the doctor / surgeon about your operation take written questions, take a copy of this piece with you. If you want take a relative or friend as well, they may well remember things a little easier as the operation will not be on them – hence less stress. Remember we all get anxiety problems when facing hospital, perhaps some answers to these questions might give you a bit more piece of mind.
REGIONAL ROUND-UP
Bray Group
Location: Ramada Hotel, Bray
Area: Sth. Dublin; Nth.Wicklow.
Convenor: Nuala Harnett
Dep.
Convenor: Maggie Gillespie
(primary contact)
Tel: 01 2862859 or 086 8582406
E-mail: tonygarrow@eircom.net
Meetings: Meets at 8 p.m. on the first
Tuesday of most months from March to
October
If you live in this area and would like to attend these social meetings, please give Maggie a call.
On Tuesday December 2nd the Bray Group met at the Ramada Hotel in Bray for their Christmas celebration. It was a relaxed and enjoyable evening and the time passed all too quickly. The hotel looked after us very well giving the group our own festively decorated private dining room; the meal was delicious and the staff were friendly and attentive and in fact contributed greatly to the enjoyment of the evening (see below). After- dinner entertainment was provided by two of our own members, Therese O’Connor with Serendipity, a Ladies Barber Shop Choir, and Joe Doyle on the uillean pipes. Therese and Joe had entertained the group at our summer dinner and everyone had enjoyed their performances so much that they were prevailed upon to entertain us again at our Christmas dinner. Thank you to both Therese and her ladies and REGIONAL ROUND-UP to Joe. Goodwin Furlong was the MC for the after dinner activities and kept us entertained in his inimitable style presiding over the raffle, very ably helped by one of the hotel staff who had taken a liking to us and had decided to join the party. The raffle was a mixture of pulling names out of a hat and members performing party pieces allowing those who wished to showcase their talents. Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to the success of the evening.
Maggie Gillespie
Castleblayney Group
Location: Glencarn Hotel ,
Castleblayney
Area: Monaghan; Cavan; Louth.
Contact: Jim Murphy
Tel: 042-9371266
E-mail:
Meetings: Meets four to five times
yearly on Mondays at 2.30 p.m.
If you live in this area and would like to attend these social meetings, please give Jim a call.
The 1st meeting of this new group was held in the Glencarn Hotel, Castleblayney on Monday 20th October at 2.30 p.m. Some members travelled quite a distance and all were delighted with the opportunity of forming a new social support group in the region. This was a very friendly and informal gathering. We were glad to have Jackie Minnock present, as she was able to give us the benefit of her experience of working with support groups.
It was decided to hold a Christmas lunch on Monday 8th December also at the Glencarn Hotel. An excellent meal with all the trimmings was enjoyed. This was followed by a raffle and a few singers were persuaded to start a sing-song. Sr. Celine, director of the Iontas Centre and Olive Bolger of the Blayney Blades called to say hello to everybody and wish us all the best with our new group. Sr. Celine invited us to avail of the wonderful modern facilities at the Iontas Centre and Olive kindly offered to help our group with local information or secretarial or other assistance. Jim Murphy answered the call for a volunteer to help organise the next meeting which will be on Monday 9th March at 2 p.m. Joan O’Donnell of DFI will attend this meeting and will facilitate a discussion about the future of the group and help us to decide on an itinerary for the year ahead.
Anne Shanahan
Clare Group
Location: DPOC Ennis
Area: Clare
Convenor: Tom Gallery
Tel/fax: 086-3251251
E-mail: tgallery@eircom.net
Meetings: Meets four to five times
yearly on Wednesdays at 8 p.m.
If you live in this area and would
like to attend these social meetings,
please give Tom call.
The Clare group held a very enjoyable Christmas lunch at the Abbey Tavern, Quin, Co. Clare on Saturday 6th December.
Cork Group
Location: Vienna Woods Hotel, Cork.
Area: Cork; Kerry.
Convenor: Evelyn Wainwright
Tel/fax: 021- 484 7313 or 086-882
9267
E-mail: evelyn99911@hotmail.
com
Meetings: Meets four to five times
yearly on Wednesdays at 8 p.m.
If you live in this area and would like to attend these social meetings, please give Evelyn a call.
On January 21st 2009, a social gathering of the Cork branch of the PPSG took place in the Vienna woods Hotel, Glanmire, at 8 p.m. Despite the very poor weather conditions, a large crowd attended. As usual, Evelyn had a very interesting speaker lined up for us in Sgt. Tony Davis from the Crime Prevention Office of An Garda Síochána. Tony spoke to us on personal safety and Home Security. In the area of Personal Safety, Tony gave us advice in carrying our cash and credit cards, parking our cars in well lit areas, being wary of strangers of calling to our home and keeping the back door locked when answering a call to the front door. In the area of Home Security he talked about:
- Outside lighting.
- Intruding alarms i.e. what system is best for you, understanding and using the alarm system.
- Fitting security locks and a safe for your valuables.
- Being a good neighbour by reporting suspicious behaviour.
Information sheets on Crime Prevention were made available to the meeting. After a short break, we divided into groups of four to discuss ideas for the coming year. While lots of ideas like Painting, the Theatre, and visiting various areas of interest were discussed, it became very clear that the annual Chill Out Day in September is a must. In this economic climate, our thoughts turned to our finances, fund-raising, Evelyn had a few boxes, and these were taken by some to be put in our local shops.
Sunny informed us that she intends to have a garage sale in the future so all saleable goods will be greatly appreciated. A Quiz night will be held on the 13th May. This will be open to the public. Tables of 4 for €20.00, so please gather your friends and family for this night.
We welcome Gerry as a new member to our group and hope to see him in the future. The gathering concluded at 10 p.m. with everyone looking forward to our big night out on Saturday 31st at Curraheen Park, known to us Corkonians as the Dog Track.
We thank Evelyn for all the organisation, Geraldine & Michelle for all their help and support. The next social gathering will take place 11th March.
Phil O’Reilly
Night Out at the Greyhound Track 31st January ‘09
A large attendance of our members for our annual post Christmas night out at the Dogs!! There was a lot of betting and chat and eating and drinking, not necessary in that order.
A very knowledgeable crowd there
this year. Great questions such as:
- Is there a new rabbit used for each race?
- Is the dog that pees before the race nervous?
- How do the dogs know when they have passed the winning post?
- Does the winning dog get to eat the rabbit?
Raucous cheering at the start of every race and colourful language at the end, some surprise was expressed at the source of this language. It was the first time that I heard a dog called a Langer!
Silence descended on the crowd after the fifth race - the food had been served. Probably the only time that the PPSG can be silenced!
A big thank you to the Wainwright family for organising the event and all the extras provided on the night. This ensured that there was not a dull moment.
Cathryn & Tom
Brian meets the Girls
Brian Bermingham the Lord Mayor of Cork wishes God speed to Sunny Osbourne, Dolly Lawler, Sheila O Sullivan, Evelyn Wainwright, Rose Russell O Donovan and Peggy Brennan as they wait for the start of the Cork Mini Marathon. Go easy on that bag of sweets Sheila!
The dates for our next two meetings: 11th March and 13th May. We are having a fund-raising quiz night cost is €20.00 per table for four. All these are taking part in Vienna Woods Hotel Glanmire. Have not sorted out the July outing yet. September Chill Out Day is booked for the 5th September.
Funding
The Mercy Solidarity Fund Southern
Province assists social support in Cork
and Kerry.
Dublin All Hallows Group
Location: All Hallows College,
Drumcondra
Area: North Dublin
Contact: Eddie Roycroft
Tel/fax 087-2800010
E-mail:
Meetings: Last Wednesday of the
month. Daytime
If you live in this area and would
like to attend these social meetings,
please give Eddie a call.
The All Hallows Group has been meeting since February 2008 on the last Wednesday of every month. This is a lively friendly group with a good distribution of men and women who have a wide variety of interests. There is a focus on mutual support and new members are very welcome.
Over the year, the group has been involved in pursuing different issues. Activities included drama, guided meditation, entitlements, benefits, and mental health, submission to the Dáil health committee and Arts and disability.
In October, Adr ienne Crowe, renowned potter and yoga therapist visited and gave a demonstration of chair yoga. There was a visit to the Botanical Gardens in early July and many trips that are more informal are in the pipeline. In July, there was a meeting of the larger group and in November, there was a social evening in the Skylon Hotel that was attended again by the wider membership. On October 15th the larger group had a guided tour of the houses of the Oireachtas. This coincided with Budget day but the visitors missed the excitement of the demonstration that took place on the following Wednesday!
The group organised a Christmas dinner for themselves that took place in early December in the Regency Hotel. One of our dear members, Carmel McGuire, died shortly before Christmas. The group extends sympathies to all those whom Carmel left behind. We will miss your presence and may you rest in peace. (Carmel’s obituary is carried later in this edition.)
Margaret McCarthy
Dublin South/West Group
Location: Maldron Hotel, Tallaght.
(Formerly The Tower Hotel)
Area: Dublin south and west.
Contact : Anne Shanahan
Tel: 01-2953630 or 086-8832892
E-mail: Anne.Shanahan@ppsg.ie
Meetings: 1st meeting to be held on
Tuesday 24th March 2009 at 2 p.m.
If you live in this area and would like to attend these social meetings, please give Anne a call.
As this is the first meeting to be held in the Dublin South/West area, we are hoping for a large attendance. All welcome. Joe Flynn, Bridget Quigley O Brien, Jimmy Furlong and Mary F Dublin
Dublin South/West Group
Location: Maldron Hotel, Tallaght.
(Formerly The Tower Hotel)
Area: Dublin south and west.
Contact: Anne Shanahan
Tel: 01-2953630 or 086-8832892
E-mail: Anne.Shanahan@ppsg.ie
Meetings: 1st meeting to be held on
Tuesday 24th March 2009 at 2 p.m.
If you live in this area and would like to attend these social meetings, please give Anne a call.
As this is the first meeting to be held in the Dublin South/West area, we are hoping for a large attendance. All welcome. Joe Flynn, Bridget Quigley O Brien, Jimmy Furlong and Mary F Dublin
Dublin Swords Group
Location: Carnegie Court Hotel
Area: North Dublin
Contact: Joseph McGee
Tel/fax 086-8137195
E-mail:
Meetings: Monthly. Daytime.
If you live in this area and would like to attend these social meetings, please give Joe a call.
The Swords Group has been meeting since March 2008. After the initial traverse between Drumcondra and Sutton, the group settled in the Carnegie Court Hotel. This is a very welcoming group with diverse interests, united in shared experiences and support of other members. In June last, members attended with the wider membership at a presentation by Ciara Fraser of Assist Ireland and Richard Ryder of Access Ireland. Some of the members participated in classes at the Art squad in Finglas and others attended a series of writing workshops. In October, the group organized a presentation by the Head gardener at Ardgillan castle in Balbriggan. This consisted of a slide show followed by a question and answer session and some lively discussion. Members also attended a social evening at the Skylon Hotel at the end of November and organised a Christmas Dinner in the Carnegie Court Hotel in early December.
Some members are organizing a Cultural group that would provide a network of information on and accompaniment to exhibitions, talks and other art events with an emphasis on taking advantage of the free events and classes that are presently on offer in the North Dublin area. The group continues to meet and have plans and ideas for the coming year and look forward to hearing from other members who are interested in joining.
North Dublin – Working Members and Joint Activities
While All
Hallows
and Swords
groups meet
in the daytime,
a g roup of
working
members met in June to discuss issues
of concern to them and to share mutual
experiences. These issues are presently
being followed up to devise the best
methods for addressing them. From
February, there will be regular informal
evening gatherings around the North
Dublin area taking in Balbriggan, Swords,
City Centre, Donycarney, Raheny,
Finglas, Donaghmede, Blanchardstown,
Glasnevin, etc. These gatherings are to
provide a link for working members and
locally based to minimize travel. For an
update on this please contact Margaret
at 087-9761562 or 8898920
Margaret McCarthy
Ann Wendland (Swords Group) account of a visit to the Dáil
Our visit to Dáil Éireann
On the 15th of October Margaret
McCarthy, our Field Support Officer,
arranged for a group of us to visit
the Dáil. We met up at Government
Buildings at 2 p.m. and we were taken to
the Dáil Bar for refreshments by a very
friendly Tour guide. It was quite aweinspiring
and exciting to be sitting there
in the most famous Bar in Ireland. We
are all of an age when we have out own
memories of the various government
parties in power over our lifetimes and
the many new stories we have read about
and heard coming from this famous
meeting.
Our guide then took us to the Gallery and we saw the House in session – although it being day after the famous Budget – there were not many members there. We then had a fantastic tour of the House and its history; it was very interesting and well presented by the guide. We did see a few ‘famous’ faces around the place. We ended the trip in good spirits and we all enjoyed it immensely. Thank you Margaret and the PPSG.
Ann Wendland
Enniscorthy Group
Location: Riverside Hotel ,
Enniscorthy
Area: Sth. Wicklow; Wexford;
Waterford.
Convenor: Povl Thim
Tel: 053-942 1857 or 086-810 7598
E-mail: povlthim@gmail.com
Meetings: Meets at 8 p.m. on the first
Monday of most months
If you live in this area and would like to attend these social meetings, please give Povl a call.
Here in the Enniscorthy Group, we held our Christmas Lunch on Sunday 7th December in the Riverside Park Hotel in Enniscorthy. A total of fifteen members, spouses and guests partook in the festivities, and enjoyed a very pleasant few hours in the afternoon. The Hotel had arranged the tables for us in the main part of the restaurant, but as there is a couple of steps to get up, it would it have excluded our wheelchair users. When we made the staff aware of this problem, we were given apologies and a new table arrangement was organised where we could sit together at one large table, and without problems for our wheelchair users. The meal was good, even though we had to do without the traditional Ham, due to the Dioxin scare, but as mentioned everyone enjoyed the afternoon.
Galway Group
Location: Menlo Park Hotel, Galway
Area: Galway; Sth. Mayo.
Convenor: Bridie McMahon
Tel: 087-958 0567
E-mail: sbmcmahon70@eircom.net
Meetings: Meets four to five times
yearly on Wednesdays at 8 p.m.
If you live in this area and would like to attend these social meetings, please give Bridie a call.
Mayo/Galway Christmas Gathering
Mayo/Galway areas held their Christmas
Dinner in Day’s Hotel, Castlebar, in Co.
Mayo on January 3rd. Bridie extended a
Céad Míle Fáilte to all who had travelled
to Castlebar this year. There was a great
turn out which included new members.
The weather conditions were excellent
for travelling. A very enjoyable evening
was had by all. Some of us took in the “Lord of the Dance” show in the
Traveller’s Friend Theatre before going
to Day’s Hotel. Members enjoyed the
social aspect of the evening, meeting
up again, exchanging information and
networking.
Bridie updated the group on the programme of work of the PPSG and the difficulties that may be experienced this year due to financial cutbacks nationally. The Malone family were acknowledged for their generous contributions and members and their friends who had helped with fundraising during the year.
The group acknowledged the financial support of the PPSG towards the Christmas dinner and thanked Barbara and Bridie for organising the event and the hotel staff.
Bridie McMahon. Convenor for Mayo/
Galway Regions.
Barbara McDonagh, Regional Rep.
Kilkenny Group
Location: Days Hotel, Kilkenny
Area: Kilkenny, Waterford, East
Tipperary
Convenor: Susan Dowling
Tel: 059-9726998
E-mail: dowlingsl@eircom.net
Meetings: Meets four to five times
yearly on Mondays at 7.30 p.m.
If you live in this area and would like to attend these social meetings, please give Susan a call.
Following the first meeting of the group in September, a Christmas Meal took place at the Days Hotel in Kilkenny on 3rd November 2008. A total of 36 members and their guests came to the function that gave people an opportunity to chat and get to know one another. Susan welcomed Anne Burns, Chairperson of the Social Support Committee and Anne Shanahan, Regional Support Officer whose position is funded by a grant from the Dept. of Community Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs. Anne Burns spoke about some of the work of the PPSG.
We enjoyed a lovely meal which, followed by a raffle. The first prize of a two night stay for two people at a Days Hotel was won by Sean Bennett of Lismore in Co. Waterford: the second prize of a book token to the value of €30 went to Mary McGrath of Ferrybank, Co. Waterford: the third prize of a tin of chocolates was won by Maureen Flynn of Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. A great night was had by all and ended up with a spontaneous sing song in the lounge/ bar area!
The next meeting of the group will take place on Monday 23rd February 2009 at the Days Hotel in Kilkenny at 7.30 p.m. P.J. Cleere from the Disability Federation of Ireland will be present at the meeting and will lead a discussion about the future of the group and assist in deciding on an itinerary for the year ahead.
Susan Dowling
Letterkenny Group
Location: Letterkenny
Area: Donegal; Derry
Convenor: John Mangan
Tel: 074-9137465
E-mail:
Meetings: To be arranged
If you live in this area and would
like to attend these social meetings,
please give John a call.
Limerick Group
Location: Greenhills Hotel, Limerick
Area: Limerick; East Clare; Nth.
Tipperary.
Convenor: Marie Boland
Tel: 061-417928. 086-87771400
E-mail:
Meetings: Meets four to five times
yearly on Mondays at 7.30 p.m.
If you live in this area and would like to attend these social meetings, please give Marie a call.
The Limerick group held their Christmas
dinner on Monday 1st December at the
Greenhills Hotel. The hotel looked after
us very well. The room was just the right
size for our group; it was beautifully
decorated for Christmas; the meal was
superb; the service excellent and we
were very thankful to receive a voucher
for the raffle.
Evelyn and Terry came from Cork and their cheerful friendly personalities helped everyone to relax and enjoy themselves. After Evelyn had said her “cúpla focail”, we prevailed on her to start the sing song. Needless to say, her “Limerick you’re my Lady” nearly brought the house down! Most people had a song or a poem to contribute but none could match Simon Graham’s rendition of “Three Crows”. Molly Prendergast, who is a friend of our convenor Marie Boland, provided the musical entertainment. We are very grateful to Molly for entertaining us with festive music and accompanying the many eager singers.
The next meeting will take place on Monday 2nd March at 7.30 p.m. at The Greenhills Hotel. Our CEO, Eamonn Farrell will attend this meeting. He will bring us up-to-date on the services and supports available to members and briefly outline the progress of PLAN2010.
Anne Shanahan
Mayo Group
Location: The Courthouse Hotel
Area: Ballina; Belmullet; Westport.
Convenor: Bridie McMahon
Tel: 087-9580567
E-mail: sbmcmahon70@eircom.net
Meetings: Meets twice yearly on
Wednesdays at 8 p.m.
If you live in this area and would like to attend thesesocial meetings, please give Bridie call.
Bridie McMahon
Midland Group
Location: Cregan Cour t Hotel,
Athlone
Area: Westmeath; Roscommon; E.
Galway
Convenor: Sean Mulligan
Tel: 087-2053821
E-mail: j2smulligan@eircom.net
Meetings: Meets twice yearly at 8
p.m.
If you live in this area and would like to attend these social meetings, please give Sean call.
Midlands PPSG meeting held in Moate, Co. Westmeath, on 10th October 2008. This meeting was held in the Carmelite Pastoral Centre, Moate. The main item on the agenda was the hand-over of a cheque, the proceeds of money raised from the women’s Mini- Marathon by members of the Midland Group. A very sincere word of thanks was expressed to Jimmy Kinahan, who organised the ladies from the Midlands and the bus that took them to Dublin, to participate in the Mini Marathon. Well done Jimmy, the big effort paid off.
Hugh Conlon, a Board member, a native of the area, who now lives in Galway, and a past-pupil of the Carmelite College, accepted the cheque on behalf of the Organisation. In doing so, Hugh made a detailed presentation to the large attendance, using a PowerPoint in the process to great effect in an informative and thought provoking manner.
He outlined the history of polio in Ireland and the late effects of polio. The founding of the Post Polio Support Group in 1993 so that survivors could help each other in different ways to overcome their disabilities. He went on to tell the meeting of some of his own experiences, the means by which members are kept informed as are the Medical Profession, by means of publications, which are done on a regular basis. Hugh also outlined to the meeting of a presentation made to the Dáil Committee for Health last July and how receptive the Committee was to the presentation and how well informed the Dáil members are.
Another feature on the night was readings taken from the book “Polio & Us” by different people present. The stories selected were very well presented and brought home clearly and forcibly to those present of what Polio people had to endure at the time of contracting Polio and subsequently.
Sean Mulligan, the local Convenor for the Midland Region, ended proceedings by thanking Jimmy Kinahan for the big effort he put into ensuring a successful outcome in getting people to take part in the Mini-Marathon. He also thanked all who took part and all others who had fund raising events. Sean assured all, the money would be put to good use in assisting Polio Survivors.
Sean Mulligan
Midland Christmas dinner
The Christmas meeting and dinner of the Athlone PPSG was held at the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone on the evening of 21st November 2008. Twenty members attended and there were four apologies.
Sean Mulligan, the
local convenor, extended
a warm welcome to all
present and then called
on Anne Burns, a Board
member of the PPSG and
Chairperson of the Social
Support Committee to bring us up to
date on the current happenings in PPSG.
Anne gave a comprehensive report on
membership, new groups, the financial
situation and grant supports. We then
proceeded with our meal, which was
most enjoyable.
As is usual for this group, everybody took par t in a wonderful night’s entertainment of singing and story telling. It is just amazing the extent and variety of talent in the group. Sean Mulligan closed the meeting by thanking H.Q. for their support and wished everybody a very Happy Christmas. The next meeting will be: Friday 6th March 2009. Venue: The Creggan Court Hotel, Athlone. Agenda: Main item is Alternative Medicine Presentation. Presenter: Pharmacist Clare Kinahan, Moate. Sean Mulligan
Newbridge Group
Location: Keadeen Hotel,
Newbridge.
Area: Carlow; Kildare.
Convenor: Paddy Moyles
Tel: 059-914 1283 (Evenings)
E-mail: Meetings: Meets three to four times
yearly at 8 p.m.
If you live in this area and would like to attend these social meetings, please give Paddy a call.
The Christmas outing was again held in the Clonard Hotel, Athy on 14th December and was attended by 18 members and friends. The preparations, layout and meal were excellent and were enjoyed by all. We started at 2 p.m. and finished at 4.30 p.m. with a few members staying on for a drink and chat afterwards.
Sports and recreation
In conjunction with the Kildare Sports
Partnership, the Newbridge group
are in the process of arranging for our
members to access local authority
swimming pools that are due to open
to the public at the end of February
2009. The swimming pools are located
in Naas and Athy, Co Kildare. This is a
wonderful opportunity for people with
disabilities to participate in swimming
for sport or leisure purposes. The
facilities will be fully accessible with
specially designed changing rooms and
chairlift from the pool into and out of
the water. The facility can be accessed
by disabled people privately if preferred.
What the Kildare Sports Partnership is
offering is an agreed time slot where
people from different disability groups
including the PPSG can meet up and
avail of the facilities on offer under
the umbrella of the KSP. The KSP will
facilitate the meeting by agreeing date,
timing and funding for the meeting. To
date we have had a good response from
our members who would like to avail
of this opportunity and we are looking
forward to the first meeting to be advised
by the KSP.
We have been advised that similar arrangements will be put in place, at
some stage, covering other counties.
Interested PPSG members in other
counties should contact their local Sports
Inclusion Disability Officer.
Vincent Scully
Portlaoise Group
Location: Heritage Hotel, Portlaoise.
Area: Offaly; Laois; Nth. Kilkenny.
Convenor: Paddy Fitzpatrick
Tel: 0505-46738
E-mail: paddyfitz@eircom.net
Meetings: Meets four to five times
yearly at 8 p.m.
If you live in this area and would like to attend these social meetings, please give Paddy a call.
The Portlaoise group held their Christmas party on 21st November at Spago’s restaurant in the Heritage hotel. Twenty members attended and everyone enjoyed a fine meal, good company and plenty of lively conversation. The February meeting was a great success, in spite of the cold weather there was a great attendance.
Paddy Fitzpatrick
Sligo Group
Location: City Hotel, Sligo
Area: Sligo; Sth. Donegal; Nth. Leitrim;
Nth. Roscommon.
Convenor: Brian Crummy
Tel: 071-9160404
E-mail:
Meetings: To be arranged
If you live in this area and would like to attend these social meetings, please give Brian a call.
Tralee Group
Location: Manor West Hotel, Tralee
Area: Kerry; West Limerick
Convenor: Dolly Lawlor
Tel: 066-718 5475 or 087-2043795
E-mail:
Meetings: 1st meeting to be held on Sunday 19th April at 2.30 p.m.
If you live in this area and would like to attend these social meetings, please give Dolly a call.
As this will be the first meeting in Tralee, we are hoping for a large attendance on 19th April.
Thought for the Day
Men, said the Devil, are good to their brothers: they don’t want to mend their own ways, but each other’s. - Piet Hein
OBITUARY
Carmel McGuire
1939 – 2008
When we read Carmel’s Story in the autumn 2008 issue, I am sure no one expected to be reading her obituary in the next issue. Carmel was so alive, so vibrant, so interested in everyone and everything, it is impossible to realise she is no longer with us.
Those of you who read Carmel’s Story will have learnt how she coped with life, having got polio at the age of eight. What you may not have fully realised was the fantastic person she was, her positive outlook on life, her optimism, her cheerfulness and her courage.
Anyone who knew Carmel never saw the wheelchair – or indeed the oxygen. We never felt she was disabled – partly because she did not think of herself as disabled. She never allowed the polio to dominate her life. She played a pivotal role in Bord Fáilte, rising from Grade 1 to Grade V during her years there. She undertook some very responsible tasks there – such as organising trade workshops, supervising the reservations unit with up to 30 staff – activities that would have fazed many an able-bodied person. Then, as I said, in her own mind Carmel was not disabled.
In her earlier years in Dublin, before the Post Polio Syndrome struck, Carmel regularly visited the theatre – climbing the 365 steps to the gods in the Queens Theatre (no mean feat when one has limited mobility!) or queued for ages outside the cinema. She certainly lived life to the full.
She read voraciously, got very involved with debates on the radio (often arguing heatedly with the opinions being expressed), and was extremely interested in the lives of all, especially the young people she met. She loved people coming to visit, or better still, to stay for a weekend.
If you rang Carmel, you would be struck by the fact that she never wanted to talk about herself and her health. Her normal response, when asked how she was, was “I’m fine. But how are you?”
We will miss her love, her hospitality and her concern for all.
May she rest in peace.
Carmel O’Neil
CONFERENCE & AGM 2009
The next Post Polio Support Group Conference and AGM will be held on the 9th May 2009. We have made a final selection of a venue. We have booked the Maldron (formerly Tower) Hotel, Tallaght. This is a modern hotel, with car parking, located on the Tallaght by pass near the LUAS terminal. It is beside Woodie’s shop and the new Shamrock Rovers Stadium and is close to the Tallaght Shopping Centre.
A task force has been working on the event. The members are Bridie McMahon from Mayo, Ann Dinneen from Cork and Bridget Quigley O’Brien and Paul McKee from Dublin. The theme for the conference is “Positive Approaches to Living” and an exciting programme is being prepared for you all.
The staff in the Maldron is very proud of having hosted the accommodation for the European Wheelchair Basketball Championship that was held at the nearby National Basketball Arena in 2007. This does not mean you have to play basketball, but more than 90 wheelchair residents made no complaints about accessibility of rooms or any other aspect of the hotel. Certainly an achievement! They have six rooms with fully accessible bathrooms. Four of these can be shared with an adjoining room if that is acceptable to all involved.
The LUAS service joins Connolly and Heuston Stations to the Tallaght terminus and is fully accessible. If you are travelling to the LUAS terminus and need some assistance getting to the hotel, let us know and we will try to make arrangements.
The Group is in a position to subsidise the accommodation for the conference and AGM
OPTION (A) Day attendance, including light lunch, is free. Attendance at the dinner on Saturday will cost €30 per person.
OPTION (B) You can choose to take this as your respite care break which will cover 2 Bed and Breakfasts, normally Friday and Saturday, light lunch on Saturday and two dinners for one or two persons. There will be no charge for taking this respite care break.
OPTION (C) 1 Bed and Breakfast, light lunch on Saturday and one dinner. There will be a charge of €50 for each person, €100 for a couple.
OPTION (D) 2 Bed and Breakfasts, normally Friday and Saturday, lunch on Saturday and two dinners for one or two persons. There will be a charge of €165 for a single booking and €255 for a twin/double booking.
There is a restriction on numbers for the conference and for accommodation so it is important to book early!
The hotel can provide an evening meal option on Friday for €20. No booking necessary.
FILL IN THE BOOKING FORM ENCLOSED TODAY AND RETURN IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED – NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED
NOMINATIONS FOR BOARD MEMBERS
Just a reminder that if you would like to nominate someone for election to the Board of the Group. Please do so in writing to the office no later than 5 weeks before the Annual General Meeting that will be held on Saturday 9th May 2009.
You must get the Agreement of the person you are nominating (in writing) and they will be required to let us have a short résumé and a recent photo for circulation with the AGM notification.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS & A GREAT DEAL FOR POLIO SURVIVORS
Annual subs for 2009 are now due. The cost of membership remains at €10 per year so that it stays within the reach of all. However, if you cannot afford €10, we will understand, but on the other hand, if you would like to make a donation of more than this amount please do so and be assured that it will be put to good use. Subscriptions can be sent to the office by cheque or postal order (no cash through the post please!) or made by credit card through PayPal on our website at www.ppsg.ie – or here is
A great deal for Polio Survivors!
Many people ring the office asking, “Have I paid my subscription for this year?” Well, now the Board has a solution for anyone who wants to get rid of this problem for once and for all. A new category of life member has been created and for a once off payment of €50, you can register as a life member (form enclosed).
If you wish to continue to pay yearly, that is still welcome as ready cash is always put to good use. Therefore, everyone can choose a one off payment of €50 or continue with a €10 subscription. If the €10 is a problem, do not worry about it. A certificate will acknowledge all life memberships.
All subs are used to assist Polio Survivors, the administrative costs being fully covered by the HSE. If you have already paid your sub for 2009 and want to upgrade to a Life Membership – just send the difference and we will do the rest. Either way use the envelope provided – we pay the postage!
New Blue Badge Parking Bay
We consistently point out to Dublin City Council that there is a need for us to have Blue Badge parking near the office to facilitate any of you driving to the office in the Capel Building. We are getting a new place on Little Strand St (near the rear entrance to the building).
This means that traffic coming up the quays to the office should turn left at the Morrison Hotel and take the next left on to Great Strand St. Carry straight on towards Capel St and the last bay on the right is designated parking for People with Disabilities. If this is full carry on straight through the lights to Little Strand St. and there is another one, again on the right where the street begins to curve to the right. If you are approaching down Capel St there are two blue badge bays outside Slattery’s pub.
NEW RIGHTS FOR DISABLED PASSENGERS
European Commission adopts new proposals on bus and maritime passenger rights
On the 4th of December, the European Commission adopted two proposals for regulations on the rights of bus and maritime passengers, long awaited by the European Disability Forum as passengers with disabilities of these transport modes still do not enjoy similar rights as air and rail passengers do.
Both proposals include specific rights for passengers with disabilities, which is particularly welcome by the European Disability Forum.
The proposals apply in principle to all domestic and international services. Both modes of transport will raise quality standards and will offer better protection of passenger rights. Passengers will be better informed of their rights and how to enforce them in an effective way. Passengers in general and people with disabilities or reduced mobility in particular will be protected from any form of discrimination.
The proposals include requirements to provide assistance free of charge to persons with disabilities on board the bus or passenger ship as well as in ports and terminals. Transport operators cannot refuse to accept reservation, issue a ticket or board on grounds of disability or reduced mobility unless safety regulations or the size and facilities of the vehicle or ship make it physically impossible to embark these passengers.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
National Physical and Sensory Database (HSE)
I would like thank all “The SURVIVOR” readers who responded to my article in the autumn edition. There was a fantastic response from the members of the Post Polio Support Group to register their details on the National Physical and Sensory Database.
All the reply slips have been distributed to the database teams in the Health Services Executive area where you live. The Database staff from the Local Health Offices will make contact in the near future to arrange to complete the Database Form or to review and update details for those already registered on the National Physical and Sensory Database.
I would also like to thank the Editor for his support of this work.
Ann McEwan
Disability Database Development Officer
Galway Annual Dinner
Dear Editor
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Barbara McDonagh and Bridie McMahon for organising a very enjoyable Annual Dinner for the Western Region in Day’s Hotel, Castlebar on 3rd January. We were about 17 people in all, and we had a lovely meal in good company. Some of us went on to see “Lord of the Dance” in the nearby Royal Theatre afterwards, while the rest stayed in the hotel to chat. These occasions take a lot of organisation, as I know very well, and I am very grateful to Barbara and Bridie for a job well done. The same goes to all the Convenors for organising their Annual dinners, your assistance is much appreciated. Thanks as well to Anne Shanahan (Regional Support Officer) and Anne Burns (Chair of Social Support Committee) for all their work in this regard.
Paula Lahiff
Is there anything on which you want to have a say, make a comment, praise or rant? If so, forward your letter to:
Editor, “The Survivor”, Post Polio Support Group, Unit 319, Capel Buildings, May’s Abbey, Dublin 7
By email to:
newsletter@ppsg.ie or jmcfarlane1@iolfree.ie
The Editor reserves the right of publication and may edit the contents to fit available space or for legal reasons.
PROCEEDS OF “CANTABILE” CD TO BENEFIT GROUP FUNDS
A beautiful selection of hymns was launched on CD on Sunday 21 December last at Christ Our Light Church in Ballincollig, Cork with the active encouragement of Fr George. The CD is entitled “Cantabile” and contains some well known and loved hymns, some perhaps not so well known and Irish airs.
Member Sheila O Sullivan who organised this fundraising project for the PPSG said she was particularly moved by the choir’s singing of “Here I Am Lord”. She added that she found it hard to pick a favourite as the choir had done a magnificent job and it was a wonderful act of kindness for them to help Polio Survivors in this way.
At the launch Sheila said “I hope you enjoy this CD and I would like to thank all those who gave their time and talents to produce it.” “All the money raised by this voluntary effort goes directly to the Post Polio Support Group” she said, “the Group will speedily purchase items and services essential to the lives of Polo Survivors.”
The CD is available for purchase at €10 each inclusive of postage and packing.
Enquiries can be made to: Sheila at 021 4871700,
or
Evelyn Wainwright at 021 4847313 or 086 8829267 E-mail evelyn99911@hotmail.com
or
Post Polio Support Group Unit 319 Capel Building Mary’s Abbey Dublin 7
Tel 01 889 8920 Fax 01 889 8924 E-mail info@ppsg.ie
Web www.ppsg.ie
Thought for the Day
Once you can laugh at your own weaknesses, you can move forward. Comedy breaks down walls. It opens up people. If you’re good, you can fill up those openings with something positive. — Goldie Hawn, actress & comedienne
ANOTHER BUMPER YEAR
As you will see shortly in the accounts, fundraising did very well in 2008 thanks to the efforts of a large number of members. While acknowledging that result, it is only good housekeeping and common sense to see where we can improve things so as there are more benefits for our members. With the downturn in the economy, it has made us think even harder, and this is what we are going to do.
We are dividing the country into 3 areas--East, West and South--about a third of the country in each area. Anne Burns is leading the Eastern area, Evelyn Wainwright the South, and Bridie McMahon the West. Each of the leaders will have her own group of members / volunteers and they will join together to organise whatever fundraising events appeal to those members. Some will prefer collections, some may prefer card parties or pub quizzes, and some may be willing to contact their local businesses or shops to raise money. In this way, costs can be kept to a minimum, and volunteers can have a pride in doing a great job for polio survivors in their own area.
In recent times, our fundraising depended to a substantial extent on corporate donations, but unfortunately this is going to diminish substantially, if not disappear, so it is imperative that we should spread our wings and explore as many new avenues as possible. So, if you are prepared to help, please contact one of our area heads(contact numbers in front of Survivor) or contact me or Eammon in the office, and we would welcome all helpers or suggestions
Hugh Hamilton
PEOPLE IN NEED MONEY
Paula Lahiff writes “We have recently heard that we have received €5,000 from the People in Need fund, towards the design and publication of a companion to “Polio and Us”, featuring the works of Art which were exhibited at the 2008 Sligo Conference / AGM. So now, we have to get down to bringing this Project to fruition without incurring any extra costs to the PPSG. Watch this space! I also received a donation of €700 from our local Leisure Centre in the Clarion Hotel, Sligo - the proceeds of guest tickets at their Christmas party. Why don’t you write to your local Leisure Centre and ask to be put in the pot for consideration as a beneficiary of their annual fund-raising event – it just might yield results!”
EU LOOKS TO FUTURE OF DISABILITY EQUALITY
The European Commission is looking at how it can tackle disability discrimination after the European Disability Action Plan – the current programme for the EU’s activities in the disability sector - comes to an end in 2010.
The Equal Opportunities Commissioner, Vladmir Špidla said, “More than 50 million Europeans have a disability. At the European level, we already have legal protection against discrimination based on disability in the workplace, but – in reality – the situation often remain difficult for disabled people. There is no Community level legislation to protect disabled people from discrimination in other areas of life, outside the workplace”
“That is why the Commission came forward in July 2008 with an ambitious proposal which would protect against discrimination on the grounds of disability, age, religion and sexual orientation in access to goods, services, social protection, social advantage, education and health care. This is an ambitious proposal and I call for the active support of the disabled community to help us get this proposal agreed as soon as possible”.
LYONS TEA CHARITY GIVEAWAY 2008/9
Many of you entered for the Lyons Tea €10,000 monthly charity giveaway during 2007 and 2008 for the PPSG. Many thanks indeed. They had a closing date of end Sept. 2008 for this promotion. Further information has come to hand that the campaign is to continue to the end of August 2009.
Entry requirements have been simplified and you can enter as often as you like. All you need do for each entry is send one token from any box of Lyons Tea with the name of your favourite charity, (the PPSG naturally), your own name, address and phone no. and send to: Lyons Charity Promotion, PO Box 10850 Dublin 2; or you can enter on line at www.lyonscharitygiveaway.ie (If you enter on line have to hand the code quoted on the bottom of the Lyons Tea box).
RYANAIR The No Frills Airline
Ryanair is Ireland’s favourite airline – well according to Michael O’Leary it is. It is certainly Europe’s largest carrier, frills or not. However, it is attempting to offset a €100m loss and the latest weapon is its armoury is a charge of €30 for carrying those purchases that we all make at the airport. You know the chocolates for auntie, a bottle or two filled with whatever. The charge applies to those things that will not fit into your hand luggage, and this new charge joins those already in force for check in at the airport €5 (on line) or €10 at the airport and a baggage charge of €10 (on line) or €20 at the airport for the first bag per one way flight.
Remember also that if you have a disability Ryanair only allows 4 disabled passengers per flight. Passengers requiring special assistance or who are of reduced mobility must pre-advise their condition and pre-book any assistance (if required) through the Ryanair Special Assistance Line numbers detailed below. Reports suggest that if you do not pre-advise you may be refused boarding and lose your money.
| UK: | 0871 2460003 - Calls cost 10p per minute from a UK land line |
|---|---|
IRELAND: |
01 2480858 |
FRANCE: |
+39 0269300302 – International call cost |
BELGIUM: |
0902 88007 (Fre) or 0902 88009 (Eng) - €1.00 per minute |
ITALY: |
+39 0269300302 – International call cost |
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So before you fly do some research: there are other good deals out there and despite all that is said some are cheaper than Ryanair, even on Aer Lingus. The motto is look at the total price not just the headline grabber.
Thought for the Day
As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain; and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality.
— Albert Einstein
OSCARS – Feb 22, 2009
This year’s Oscars have two films that deal with the issue of Polio and hope to raise awareness around the world of its existence.
“The Final Inch”, is one of those nominated for an Academy Award in the best documentary short subject category. It chronicles the confrontations that the health organizations and governments face during the final stages of polio purge. The film follows health workers as they immunize Indian and Pakistani children, explaining how they rise above the cultural misinterpretations that make some parents cautious of the oral polio vaccine. Several scenes show Rotary club volunteers administering vaccine to children in Uttar Pradesh, India.
The worldwide surprise hit movie “Slumdog Millionaire“ is the second film nominated to address the issue indirectly. The film graphically portrays the conditions that allow the poliovirus to flow through India’s slums, including poor sanitation, contaminated water, and overcrowding. It has already won 7 BAFTA’s including best film & Director in London earlier this year.
Jonathan Majiyagbe, chair of the Rotary Foundation, which oversees Rotary’s polio eradication program said “The Final Inch shows us why it’s critical to win the hearts and minds of the parents whose children are at risk, and if you view Slumdog Millionaire with polio in mind, you will see how easily the virus can spread from child to child in an environment of extreme poverty. Taken together, these two films show us some of the cultural and physical barriers we must overcome in order to achieve a polio-free world.”
THE JET – WHATTTT???
In 2008, Internet superstore Allegro Medical unveiled a jet-powered concept wheelchair, illustrating that the sky is the limit when it comes to making your chair “beautiful”. The wheelchair finally meets the Jet Age in this aggressively styled, ‘weekend warrior”- type mobility device.
The image of the super charged wheelchair—complete with jet engine, fat run-flat high-pressure tires, a rear airfoil, windsock, and curb feelers (for easy parking)—is part of an advertising campaign to encourage savvy wheelchair users to “pimp their ride.” The wheelchair is listed at $387,568 (marked down from $755,000) and is reported to go 0—300mph in 4.2 seconds. A safety helmet and fire-retardant underwear are recommended.
This jazzed up wheelchair illustrates that you can make your wheelchair your own! Is it real, sadly no, but here’s wishing
WHAT’S THE RIGHT WHEELCHAIR FOR YOU?
By John R McFarlane
Apart from being the Editor of The SURVIVOR, and in fact predating that by a couple of decades I have been involved with and working inside the disability industry on all manner of products for those with physical disabilities. As you can imagine this has led to an accumulation of “knowledge” so I thought I would look at that thorny issue about what is the right wheelchair or powered mobility product. Indeed is there one that will do or do we need different and differing solutions at various states of our lives and for different situations?
At one time, not that long ago, persons with disabilities were prescribed mobility product on the basis that the “professionals” knew best and you should be grateful for what you were given, as indeed most were. However, this approach paid little or no heed to the lifestyle, hopes and aspirations of the user. Thankfully, for the most part this has now changed with the decision on mobility products being a joint decision between the user and the providing or prescribing body. Historically the user was not consulted; today they are active participants in what suits them, their lifestyle and needs. In point of fact I have known users who could not find exactly what they needed on the open market go out and develop it themselves, often leading to successful enterprises that have benefited others. The choice used to be manual wheelchair, then manual or powered wheelchair, then the scooter appeared and the choice exploded!
These days more and more people are blending features from manual and powered products to give them a chair that enables them to conserve energy, avoid overuse of joints and fits in with their lifestyle; all considerations important to those with Post Polio Syndrome (PPS). One thing proven by extensive research is that those who use manual wheelchairs are at greater risk of arm and shoulder problems as well as repetitive strain injury (RSI) of the hands and wrist. Observations have shown that the assessment procedure that occur under clinical conditions can differ enormously from the actuality of the real world, we all develop our own techniques in handling devices, whether they be crutches, callipers or wheelchairs. I have often seen Occupational Therapists cringe when they see the methods I have developed over the years – but each to his or her own.
In reality choosing a wheelchair, like the rest of life can end up as a compromise, but you do need to consider many factors, among which are:
- How are you going to look in a wheelchair? Many people think a power wheelchair makes them look too disabled. In this case, would a scooter be better?
- Do you like to exercise or prefer to let something else take the strain? Will tiredness from using a manual wheelchair all day affect your energy levels so much so that you lose quality of life?
- Is this your first chair? If so, you want to be able to experiment. After all just acknowledging you need to use one is a major step in your life.
- Are there additional medical factors that could affect the choice of chair , for example:
Diabetes decreases circulation and can cause skin irritation when seated all day. You need to be able to move about so not to cause pressure points.
Obesity - pushing a manual chair takes more energy than a powered one, but not enough to provide sufficient cardiovascular exercise for weight loss. Therefore, even if you have good arm strength, but are a little overweight you may be better off by having a powered mobility product to protect the shoulder and arm joints. - If you are unable to walk or even stand unaided, are you able to transfer from a manual or powered wheelchair safely on your own? Remember we still need to get into and out of bed, and go to the toilet. Some chairs may suit you better than others in the stability stakes.
- Could you push yourself up a ramp into your home unaided? Is the area around your house paved or gravel – it makes a difference as to whether you can access your garden or just get to a car.
- If you need a powered product, wheelchair or scooter, will it fit in your home, is there room to manoeuvre, will you need to rearrange furniture or adapt other facilities – for example bedroom, bathroom etc?
- Will whatever you get fit into your car, or a vehicle in which you can go out and about. No point in being highly mobile at home if you cannot get out and enjoy life to the full, leads to frustration (been there, done that).
- Maybe there is public transport running near you, is it accessible (many routes in Dublin are).
- What sort of hobbies do you have, the sedentary ones like reading, watching TV, computer maybe – or do you prefer the great outdoors, or a mixture of both. (Perhaps you need two wheelchairs to suit your lifestyle – there is a radical thought!)
One thing I have learned over all these years in working in the disability industry and with people with all types of disabilities is that there is no one answer in the manual v. power argument. The most important thing to remember, think everything through as thoroughly as possible – you will still forget something obvious. When either buying or being provided with a mobility product make sure it does what you need and want – its your life – we only get one so enjoy it!
BOOK CLUB
with Anne Shanahan
**€50 GIFT VOUCHER**
First name out of the hat is…..Madeline Goacher
CONGRATULATIONS Madeline (Voucher on its way to you by post)
The following are titles that have been recommended by members:
1. Recommended by Jackie Minnock.
Book: The Fifth Woman (translated from the original Swedish)
Author: Henning Mankell
Type: Detective Thriller
The idiosyncratic Swedish Detective Inspector Kurt Wallander is home from an idyllic holiday in Rome, full of energy and planning for the future. Autumn settles in, and he prays the winter will be peaceful. However, when he investigates the disappearance of an elderly bird-watcher he encounters a meticulously planned and gruesome murder; another man is then reported missing. Wallander’s life goes on hold as he and his team work tirelessly to find a link between the series of vicious murders.
I loved Mankell’s style of writing and the, at times, slowness of the translation despite the swiftness of the story. I have only recently discovered this author but am delighted to have done so. His novels can be gruesome but then again they do reflect a society we wish we didn’t live in. His words paint a wonderful picture of the landscape of Sweden and make you wish you could travel there, if only to see all the places mentioned and described so beautifully. Enjoy!
Jackie Minnock
(Ed. Note – First 3 in Wallander series broadcast in Autumn 2008 on BBC1 – more to come)
2. Recommended by Bridget Quigley-O’Brien.
Book: The Book Thief
Author: Narkus Zusak
Type: Novel
This novel is a fantastic read, very thought provoking and stays in the conscience for a long time. The story set in Germany during WW2 centres around the character Liesel, a nine year-old orphan girl and interactions she has with her neighbours.
The narrator of the story is “Death” making it even more intriguing and interesting. A story that will make you ask questions about human existence and why we can be good one minute and monsters the next. It is about love, friendship, ignorance, hate, and the effect these emotions have on human lives. Well written in easy to read language but with a strong message.
Bridget Quigley-O’Brien
3. Recommended by Catherine Lloyd
Book: Secret Diary of a Demented Housewife
Author: Niamh Greene
Type: Diary
If you watch Desperate Housewives, this book’s main character is a cross between Susan Meyer and Lynette Scavo. This book is written in a diary format, which makes it really easy to read.
Funny and light. Mothers will identity with the narrator’s struggles.
Catherine Lloyd
Povl Thim’s reviews “Kerrigan’s Copenhagen” by Thomas E. Kennedy.
The author, Thomas E. Kerrigan was born in New York and has lived in Denmark since 1976. He has a BA in English language and literature and is a very prolific writer with several novels, short stories and essay collections to his credit.
This novel is very well researched and gives us a tour of Copenhagen’s many small and cosy ‘watering holes’ with descriptions of the interiors, the décor and history of the places in question. Everything in this novel could form the basis of a serious anthropological study of life in the pubs of Copenhagen. The timeline is spread over four to five weeks, most of the time in Copenhagen, but also including a short trip to Dublin and Temple Bar. The subtitle; ‘A Love Story” gives us the red thread which ties the story together as a whole.
I found it an easy read and it is proof that if you want to learn about a city and its citizens then the pub is a good starting point as any.
Povl Thim
Therese O’Connor’s reviews “Holes” by Louis Sachar
I absolutely loved this powerful, quirky and original little book. The prose style is simple, but make no mistake, the story packs a punch. It is the sad, funny, generous tale of Stanley Yelnat, one of life’s losers, whose life is turned upside down due to a miscarriage of justice. We are on Stanley’s side from the outset. This is a story of friendship, endurance and a search for the truth.
All will be revealed during the course of the story, including the reason for the unusual title. Do read it.
Therese O’Connor
A personal journey
By Paula Lahiff
Having come to terms with my diagnosis of Osteoporosis (Ed - see last Issue), last August I took myself aside and gave myself a good talking-to. The time had come to take some front-line action on my health and well-being and LOSE WEIGHT.
I was tipping 18 stone on the scales – ouch! My low energy levels, high pain levels, much reduced mobility, and a self-esteem that was crawling along the ground, was something that I thought I would have to live with forever.
I had tried to lose weight many times before with varied success. I did Weight-Watchers, Uni-Slim, Dr. Atkins, The Food Pyramid, The Combining Diet, The F Plan Diet, and any other faddy diet that was fashionable.
Then I heard that Dr. Eva Orsmond was opening an Obesity clinic (yes, – “Obesity” with a capital O!) in Sligo. Dr. Eva had come to fame on Operation Transformation (RTE 1) as the GP who specialises in obesity. So I looked up the number, lifted up the phone and took that first step – an appointment. I knew that I would need some help to keep me mentally tuned to this task and asked a good friend – a Life Coach – to support me along the way, to help me deal with cravings, and to understand the reason why was overweight in the first place.
First came the assessment with Dr. Eva, a full blood count was taken, my blood pressure and medical history was recorded and then the dreaded weigh-in where I was told that not only was I obese, but my Body Mass Index (BMI) showed that I was Morbidly Obese with a 50% likelihood of developing Diabetes. As Dr. Eva put it, if you were told that you had cancer and could die, you would do something about it, similarly, being obese to that level can also kill, so I HAD to do something about it.
As regards the diet – it was tough in the beginning and there is no point in glossing over it – that is the truth. It was easier to tell you what I could eat. Essentially, I could eat protein (meat, fish and eggs) and lots of green vegetables – but no onions, carrots or potatoes. I could not eat any dairy products, no carbohydrates, and alcohol had to go too! I chose to go on a Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD) that involved eating products that she gave me – protein based pancakes, omelettes, and fruit drinks, all of which were fortified by the necessary nutrients, calcium, minerals, vitamins etc. There were also some Soya-based biscuits, which were just great to calm the cravings for sugar. I could eat as much vegetables as I liked and home-made vegetable soup whenever I felt hungry.
The good news was that I could have a dessert spoon of olive oil every day and this could be used to make a salad dressing, or to roast vegetables, to in a stir-fry. This diet, by cutting out all sugars, would bring me into ketosis and as a result, protein would burn fat.
It took two to three days to get to the ketosis state – days with bad headaches as all the toxins left my body. I had to eat 5 times a day, so my body would not go into “survival mode” and start to store the fat.
Breakfast was a special protein pancake with mushrooms or any other veggies left over from the night before. Mid-morning break was a piece of fruit with herbal tea with a snack biscuit; lunch was a green salad with tin of tuna or hard-boiled egg, or slice of meat (I used my olive oil allowance here in a dressing); mid-afternoon was cup of coffee with snack biscuit, and dinner was 200g of meat or fish with two different types of veggies, or one portion of cooked veggies and a salad. I also had to drink 2 litres of water a day. It was very hard to change the habits of a lifetime, and cut out potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, milk, and any carbohydrates from my diet, but I stuck with it and the weight started to fall off me.
All during this time, I was in constant touch with my Life Coach friend, both by email and text. We had a few face-to-face meetings where she gave me tips on how to beat the cravings, and we had some insightful discussions as to my relationship with food – some of which related to my times in hospital as a child. She really helped me to stay on the right path. Another friend said that she would give me a gift for each stone I lost, and she was good to her word, with a small present arriving for every milestone reached. I have some very good friends and great family, without whose help this programme would have foundered in the first month.
So now, six months later, I am edging towards my goal of 14 stone (another 5 lbs to go at time of writing) – a weight loss of 4 stone. I just don’t know myself! My energy levels are up and I don’t have to rest in the afternoons any more, my pain levels are down from a ratio of 7 on a 10 point scale to 3. My BMI shows that I am no longer morbidly obese, no longer mildly obese – just overweight!
Moreover, a bonus, my cholesterol level is down from 7.2 to 3.5. I can now walk around the supermarket without having to take out my scooter and best of all, I am 4 sizes down in clothes and can wear “normal” clothes, rather than hiding out in the “Large Size” section of the shop. Everyone says I am looking great, and I feel like a feminine lovely woman for the first time in ages!
So, when you are in the right frame of mind to take that first step on the road to better health through weight-loss then I would say – GO FOR IT! No matter what diet you decide to follow, make sure that you are medically assessed and follow an approved weight loss programme. Moreover, you have to keep it up for at least three months, before you can say that you have changed the habits of a lifetime. Of course, if your significant other does the diet with you, it does help. My better half has also lost 3 stone, looks, and feels great. I would like to get down to 12 stone – so my journey continues, but one thing is for sure, I will never ever go back to being the unhealthy, unhappy, morbidly obese person I once was.
Editor: Please note never go on a diet without taking medical advice before commencement.
MARY de BUNSEN Member of the Weaker Sex – NEVER!
It is the 1940s; men have gone off to fight in Europe, Africa and the Far East. The women left at home and many find their own way of supporting the war effort by dong so called mens’ work. They flew fighters, fighter-bombers, heavy bombers, transports, in fact anything that could fly and needed to be delivered from a factory to a RAF base or squadron. They did not fly on combat sorties, but without their efforts, aircraft would have been in short supply. Their numbers were drawn from every walk off life, social strata and part of the British Isles.
Their story is told in “Spitfire Women of Word War II”. by Giles Whittell (Harper Perennial) and one has a particular resonance for Polio Survivors. Although many of the male ferry pilots were indeed “ancient and tattered airmen”, some with missing limbs or blind in one eye, the women tended to be perfect physical specimens. One notable exception was Mary de Bunsen o joined the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) in August 1941 and rose to the rank of First Officer. One of her legs was two inches shorter than the other was and badly damaged below the knee after an attack of polio when she was four years old. In addition, Mary was often breathless because of congenital heart problem, which, after the war, led to her having life saving, pioneering heart surgery in America. As if that was not enough, because her eyesight was so bad, Mary wore heavy triplex-lens glasses. Today’s Civil Aviation Authority and military doctors would no doubt have a fit at seeing such a medical record, particularly when taking into account the fact that, during her four years in the ATA, she flew hundreds of aircraft, including Spitfires and Wellington bombers. Mary recognised what an incredible era she and the other women pilots lived through when she wrote: “I belong to a privileged generation, perhaps the most privileged in history, the second generation with wings. Few of us have used them. To pilot an aeroplane for pleasure was impossible in the nineteenth century, dangerous in the first quarter of this century [20th] and quite easy in the second….In the third quarter… regulations have so multiplied that practical flying has become a business for professionals.”
No doubt, she would have been pleased to know that, while she was quite right about the huge number of regulations the modern-day pilot has to deal with; her prediction that these regulations would restrict the popularity of flying for pleasure has fortunately not been fulfilled.
MIDLANDS LARGEST WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE CAR SHOW
By John R McFarlane
It was cold, it was windy but the last weekend of January saw an impressive range of accessible vehicles on show at the Glasson Hotel and Country Club, outside Athlone on the shores of Lough Ree.
It presented a rare opportunity for people with disabilities, their families, friends and carers to examine a range of vehicles that were adapted to carry wheelchair passengers as well as those that could be driven from a wheelchair. The range covered various manufacturers such as Fiat, Renault, Citroen, Kia and even Mercedes at prices to suit all pockets. All had been professionally adapted and meet European ENCAP requirements to carry disabled people in comfort and safety. The wheelchair accessible vehicles include a lowered floor for easy access, remote electric winch, 4-point belts/clamps and twin side sliding doors. The drive from wheelchair accessible vehicles are with fitted infra red and manual hand controls, swivel seats, boot hoist, power transfer seats, and many more driving aids. All vehicles are backed by a comprehensive warranty. The adaptations do not affect the original manufacturer’s warranty.
Personnel were on hand to offer advice on issues such as Primary Medical Certificates that open VRT Tax Relief Scheme, VAT reclaims, Motor Tax exemption, Toll Bridge exemptions, Parking Permits and mobility grants. As well as other suppliers of mobility aids, wheelchairs etc and outdoor clothing designed with the wheelchair user in mind.
The same show will be at a venue in Mallow, Co. Cork at the Springfort Hall Hotel over the Easter Weekend of 10 -12 April 2009. If you want more information contact Ger or Dan Murtagh of Wheelchair Cars Ireland, Glasson Village, Athlone on 0878400403 / 0862478629 / 090 6439786 or visit their website at www.wheelchaircarsireland.com or email wheelchaircarsireland@live.ie.
Ger Murtagh told me “We can arrange test drives on the new and second hand stock we hold without any obligation to purchase. We can also source specific vehicles based on individual requirements.” If you are looking for an adapted vehicle it is a place well worth visiting, with stunning scenery to boot!
THANK YOU TO ALL CONCERNED IN 2008
Our sincere thanks again this year go to Dessie O’Toole, his colleagues and friends in Charity Awareness Bus Átha Cliath Staff who recently presented a significant donation for the Post Polio Support Group, to his sister Carmel Gibney who is well known to the members of the Bray Social Support Group.
Dessie and friends, supported by Bus Átha Cliath and the Garda Síochána, last June took part in a fundraising walk for numerous charities on the public roads from Wicklow Town to Bray Seafront, with East Coast Radio providing the running commentary.
MARATHONS
Everyone at the Post Polio Support Group, members and staff, want to thank you all those who took part, sponsored or donated. We hope that you will accept your name being included as due acknowledgement so the funds raised can all be used in helping Polio Survivors, and not be swallowed up in administrative costs.
Thank you every one from us all and apologies if your name has been spelt incorrectly or omitted: Well done to all concerned!
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ANDREW WYETH
Died 16 January 2009
Probably the most famous “Andy” in American art until the other one came along – Warhol that is – he together with Norman Rockwell were the most recognized names in American art in the middle of the 20th century. Son of the gifted illustrator, N.C. Wyeth, he demonstrated an almost photographic form of representation long after bolder, more abstract interpretations became fashionable. His most famous work “Christina’s World” displays his neighbour, a Survivor of paralytic polio sprawled in a field, dragging herself toward a house on the horizon. The work is displayed in a gallery at the New York Museum of Modern Art (MOMA). His other works include the “Helga” series that portray his sister’s married housekeeper in a collection of 240 works of extraordinary intimacy in content and emotion.
The Post Polio Support Group gratefully acknowledges the support and permission to use this work in part and in whole as art work for this edition of “The SURVIVOR”. The work may not be stored or reproduced in any form without the permission of the MOMA.
Andrew Wyeth – “Christina’s World “ 1948, Tempera on gessoed panel
32 1/4 x 47 3/4” (81.9 x 121.3 cm) Purchase, Courtesy of The Museum of Modern Art, NY
Published March 2009 by:
The Post Polio Support Group, Unit 319, Capel Buildings, Mary’s Abbey, Dublin 7
Tel: 01 889 8920 Fax: 01 889 8924
Email: info@ppsg.ie
Web: www.ppsg.ie
Registered Charity No: CHY 11356
Company limited by guarantee and not having share capital. Registered in Ireland No.: 354283
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Post Polio Support Group, Unit 319 Capel Building, Mary's Abbey, Dublin
7, Ireland
Tel: +353 1 889 8920 Fax: +353 1 889 8924 Email: info@ppsg.ie