Living With Polio: A Faith Story of Purpose and Disability

Author: Marcy Hernandez
Published: 24 Jul 2021 - Updated: 19 Sep 2026
Publication Type: Literature / Review

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This information is a first-person account from Marcy Hernandez, who contracted polio overnight at age 3 and was placed in a hospital isolation ward, where she could see her parents only through a glass window and was on view to everyone walking down the hallway. She describes how that early feeling of being on display followed her into adulthood through public staring and a sense of being different, and how later losses, including the early deaths of her father and her husband, added to the weight she carried. Looking back, she came to see her faith as the thread that connected these hardships, and she presents a clear choice between holding on to bitterness and letting it go to find peace. Her story affects polio survivors, people living with lifelong physical disabilities, seniors and anyone who has felt isolated or singled out because of how their body works. It matters because firsthand accounts like this capture the emotional side of disability that medical records rarely show, and they give readers a relatable example of finding meaning and personal value after serious illness and grief.*

At a Glance

• 1 - She was later fitted with a full leg brace, which she says caused the muscles in her leg to deteriorate even further.
• 2 - As a child she was required to walk across a stage in front of a theater-sized audience of doctors and nurses at medical conferences.
• 3 - For many years she never saw another person with a disability like hers, leaving her feeling as though she was the only one in the world.
• 4 - After release from the hospital, her father worked with her at home to rebuild strength in her left leg, though hospital staff criticized his efforts.

Topic Definition

Poliomyelitis (Polio)

Poliomyelitis, usually called polio, is a contagious viral disease caused by the poliovirus that spreads mainly through contact with infected fecal matter or, less often, through droplets from the mouth and throat. Most infections cause no symptoms or only mild illness, but in a small share of cases the virus attacks the nerve cells in the spinal cord and brainstem that control movement, leading to muscle weakness or paralysis, most often in the legs. Before widespread vaccination began in the mid-1950s, polio outbreaks caused paralysis in thousands of children each year, and many survivors lived with braces, crutches or wheelchairs for life. Decades later, some survivors develop post-polio syndrome, a condition marked by new weakness, fatigue and pain. Polio has no cure, but it can be prevented with safe and effective vaccines, and global eradication efforts have reduced cases by more than 99 percent

Overview

Without warning, my whole life was about to change at the tender age of 3. My childhood had been near perfect up to that point. Birthday parties, cowgirl outfit, toys, friends, and a wonderful Cocker Spaniel named, Taffy.

Overnight, I was plunged into a world of uncertainty, change and doubt. My mom said that I had been cranky all day, crying about everything. Instantly, in the middle of the night, I became a child with Polio. I was rushed to a hospital and kept in an isolation ward with other children who had it. The only way I could see my parents was through a glass window in the small room they moved me to later. They would wave at me through the glass. I was alone most of the time there, and on display through that glass 24 hours a day, to all the people walking down the hospital hallway.

When I was released, my dad worked with me to try and regain the muscle strength that had been affected primarily in my left leg. Despite the progress I had made, the hospital chastised my dad for trying this, saying that I was not strong enough. I then was fitted for a full leg brace, which caused my muscles to deteriorate even more from that point on. These events now had the power to shape the rest of my life...for good or bad.

The experience of being on display in the hospital, only became more defined as I grew up. It manifested in:

• 1) Doctor's Conferences, where I was required to walk across a stage in a theater-sized audience of doctors and nurses.
• 2) Ordinary people staring at me because I had a disability.
• 3) And me feeling as though I was the only person in the world like this (I never saw anyone else like me for many years afterwards).

Many unrelated catastrophic events took place through the years of my life. The heartbreak of losing my dad and my husband to untimely deaths; an incident with a horse that almost cost me my life; and a near-death experience, all shaped my beliefs and values. Each one left me with the realization that I would never be the same after.

My journey was a hard one, but when I took the time later to examine it more closely, I could see the pattern of a common thread joining everything together. No matter what it seemed like at the time, He was with me, holding me close and helping me through it all.

As a result, I learned that we can either be bitter and unforgiving in life, or we can release it all to Him, to reach new levels of happiness and peace in our life, in spite of it. It's up to us. He never forces us to do anything. He only shows us where we are at and how much better things can be when we let go and let Him take the bitterness and unforgiveness from us. It is then, that we can see the good in what has happened... and the lighted open door ahead, waiting for us to enter and enjoy life to its fullest. He has a unique plan for each and every one of us, which only we can fulfill!

Frequently Asked Questions

NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)

What is post-polio syndrome?

Post-polio syndrome is a condition that can affect polio survivors 15 to 40 years or more after their original illness. It causes new muscle weakness, fatigue, joint pain and sometimes breathing or swallowing problems, and it is thought to result from the long-term strain on nerve cells that survived the first infection.

Why were children with polio kept in isolation wards?

Polio is highly contagious, so hospitals in the 1940s and 1950s placed infected children in isolation wards to limit its spread. Parents were often allowed only brief visits or could see their children through glass, which many survivors later described as emotionally difficult.

Can a person still get polio today?

Yes, but it is rare. Wild poliovirus remains in a small number of countries, and outbreaks of vaccine-derived polio can occur where vaccination rates are low. Being fully vaccinated is the most reliable protection.

Why were leg braces used for polio survivors?

Leg braces, also called orthoses, were used to support weakened or paralyzed leg muscles, keep joints stable and allow walking. Modern lightweight braces are often better fitted, and survivors are encouraged to have them reviewed by an orthotist as their needs change.

How can faith help people cope with disability or chronic illness?

Many people find that faith offers a sense of meaning, hope and community during long-term illness or disability. Research on religious coping suggests it can support emotional well-being, although people benefit most when spiritual support is combined with good medical and social care.

How does being stared at affect people with visible disabilities?

Frequent staring can lead to feelings of self-consciousness, isolation and stress, especially for children. Many disability advocates encourage the public to treat people with visible disabilities with the same courtesy they would show anyone else, such as a friendly greeting rather than a prolonged look.

Where can polio survivors find support?

Polio survivors can connect with support groups, post-polio clinics and organizations such as Post-Polio Health International, which offer information, peer networks and guidance on managing late effects of polio.

Is exercise safe for polio survivors?

Exercise can help, but it should be carefully planned. Doctors and physical therapists usually recommend gentle, non-fatiguing activity with frequent rest, since overworking weakened muscles may cause further loss of strength in people with post-polio syndrome.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: Hernandez's account is a useful reminder that the effects of polio went well beyond weakened muscles. For children of her generation, the disease often meant long separations from family, medical decisions made with little input from parents and years of being studied rather than listened to. Her story also touches on a near-fatal accident with a horse and a near-death experience, events she says changed her each time, and her central point is that people keep their free will in how they respond to hardship. For polio survivors now dealing with aging, and for anyone living with a visible disability, the message is simple and practical: past pain does not decide a person's worth, and each person still has a part to play that no one else can fill.*

Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Marcy Hernandez and published on 24 Jul 2021, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.

* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.