Updates
Special request from one of our members
Mr. René Bayard,
who is from Montreal-Nord but who now lives at Pierrefonds, had
polio in 1959, at the age of 2 (he is the little boy at the right in
the photograph below). He would like to know in which hospital of the
Grand Region of Montreal he was taken care of, and he would also like
to know the identity of his hospital neighbors (the group at the left
of the picture). All information is welcomed. You can contact M. Bayard
by email at rene.bayard@sympatico.ca.
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A new employee
As our director Geneviève Meunier is going on maternity
leave, we needed a replacement in our office. Since November 7, we are receiving
the help of Deborah Grausem, our new coordinator and information agent. Miss
Grausem will be working at the Association two days every week.
Welcome,
Deborah!
World Polio Awareness Month (October)
October is World Polio Awareness Month!
This month, talk about polio with people you meet! Sensitize them to
your condition related to polio, and spread the word that polio still
exists!
Yes, “We are still here” !
The
poliovirus has been eradicated in Canada as in several countries, but
it is still endemic in some countries and it affects a lot of people.
We have to talk about it!
Rotary Clubs, helped
with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in the last years, have
initiated many vaccination campaigns that contributed to a significant
reduction of polio contamination. We now have to spend the last efforts
needed to succeed in the polio eradication! We need to keep in mind the
consequences of this virus so we don’t reduce our efforts whereas we
are so close in reaching our goal. It is to each of us to talk about
polio and to sensitize people we meet in various daily situations; that
way, polio stays alive in mind and may stay alive in people’s actions!
In
Quebec, polio has done many ravages in the 50’ and 60’, but still
today, those who had the poliovirus have to live with polio
after-effects and post-polio syndrome. Each of you had to cope, to
continue despite difficulties, to look forward to achieve goals set, to
take care of you, to keep your smile… Talk about it!
Share your advices, tips, discoveries and the small things that can
make a positive improvement in your daily life!
Make polio known!
Yes, polio is still here!
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Report : Meeting in Quebec (October 1st)
This
activity has been a success! More than twenty participants were present
and they contributed with enthusiasm to the discussions. Thank you to
all of you!
Congratulation to Gérard Cossette and Pauline Demers, two members, who planned and organized this meeting with verve.
Thank
you to Gilles Besner and Pauline Sweer, President and Treasurer of
Polio Quebec, and to Henri Bergeron, from the OPHQ, who contributed as
speakers to this event.
A report of this meeting will be done in the next Folio Polio.
Because in "Life after polio",
the important word is "life", not "polio"!
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"The Art of Coping" : An interesting book
Polio Québec is always looking for tools helping members and
for useful collaborations. Thus, we suggest you the book : "Mastering the Art of Coping in Good Times and Bad", written by Linda Edgar, RN, PhD, available for $20.
Many
years of research in finding and testing coping skills has lead to the
publication of “Mastering the Art of Coping in Good Times and Bad.”
The book presents the 7 most effective ways of coping in a simple,
easy-to-learn and understand way. The major coping skills are: ways of
thinking, mindfulness, relaxation and imagery, goal setting,
problem-solving, communication, and social support.
For
people who had polio, isn't it interesting? People affected by polio
had to learn coping because of their initial infection and again, many
years later, because of the post-polio syndrome. Nondesired changes,
new physical limits to accept,... there is a lot of things and emotions
to manage with and it's not always easy to do it. Sometimes a book like
this can be good to teach us - or make us remember -
helping strategies...
Knowing this book can be helpful for you, we worked in close collaboration with the author. For each book we will sell, the author will give us half of the profits.
Buying this book is thus a good way to help yourself to better cope
while helping financially your Association. Contact us by phone
(514-489-1143) or by email (association@polioquebec.org).
If you want to have more information about the author and the book, click here.
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