A

Publication of the Boca Area Post Polio Group December 2019 “Sharing and Caring Together” Volume 22 Issue 12

Christmas/Holiday Luncheon

Thursday, December 12 11:30 – 2:30 PM

Deer Creek Golf & Country Club 2801 Deer Creek Country Club Blvd., Deerfield Beach, FL

954-429-0006 Directions: Powerline Rd. [Jog] south to east onto Hillsboro Blvd. Left

at first traffic light onto Country Club Blvd., [by Bank of America]. Follow road around to entrance on left. Free Valet!

Jane – 561-391-6850 or Maureen – 561-617-4450

$22 pp inclusive

Bring an $8 min. Secret Santa gift

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Name____________________ Phone_______ Name____________________

Choice of

____Herb Grilled Salmon ____Sautéed Pesto Chicken ____Sliced Sirloin

with house salad, fresh baked rolls, oven roasted red bliss

potatoes, fresh seasonal veggies, coffee & Red Velvet Cake. Cash bar.

# of people______ x $22 per person = $_______

Kindly make payable now to:

BAPPG, 11660 Timbers Way, Boca Raton, FL 33428

Next meeting: January 9, 2020

Guest Speaker: Frederick Boltz, MD

NOVEMBER '19 MINUTES

An unseasonably hot [89°] Fall day,

brought out 23 members. We welcomed back

Walter/Susan Bieber, Tony/Terri Greenfield,

Sandy Katz & Ruth Miller.

Lunching Around–15 coming! Will you?

Member Update – Luro’s moved into new

home & Meselsohn’s 60th

Anniv. on Nov. 8!

Christmas/Holiday Luncheon – don’t miss the

fun and fellowship! Sign up now!

Library– New books here; return polio books.

USB Charges – get yours for only $22!

Cruise 2020 – Access. cabins if still available.

Ellen Goodman born 1949, Staten Island, NY;

moved around a lot; lived in MA 1955 when she got

polio. She remembered being home sick & couldn’t

move her left leg below the knee; had spinal tap;

polio diagnosed & was one of three in her small

town. At 6, she was fitted with a leg brace;

homeschooled in Staten Island; attended a Special

Ed school & was the healthiest kid; helped push kids

in wheelchairs. Moved to Long Island; had PT; wore

a leg brace; limited abilities in PE & lived a normal

life. One day in PE, the school bully was trying on

her brace and said, “I just wanted to see what it felt

like to be a cripple”. When she got it back, she

cracked his leg with it & while he wailed in pain she

said, “Now you know what it feels like to be a

cripple.” In sixth grade we moved to WI; had

surgery enabling me to walk without a brace.

Ellen was a special education teacher; married;

had three kids & was able to run after them; played

tennis; moved over 25 times; had exciting times

living in Shanghai & Hong Kong. In 2011, they

moved back to Delray Beach, FL and resumed her

second career in real estate. Four years ago unusual

fatigue plagued her; went to UM PP clinic; reached

out to BAPPG & read their newsletters. Recent

operations might have triggered PPS; unable to walk

without limping; a brace recommended & bought

scooter. She is not going to let PPS slow her down!

SECOND TIME AROUND, DECEMBER 2019 – PUBLICATION OF BOCA AREA POST POLIO GROUP, BOCA RATON, FL 2

Amanda Kulics explained how SHINE

[Servicing Health Insurance

Needs of Elders], just one

benefit of Your Aging &

Disability Resource Center,

can assist you through their

one-on-one counseling,

assisting you with

Medicare/Medicaid; rights/protections; long-

term care options; supplement/drug plans;

plan comparisons; & billing/claims. All

SHINE services are FREE, unbiased &

confidential.

The Mission of Your Aging &

Disability Resource Center is to promote,

support & advocate for the independence,

dignity & well-being of seniors, adults with

disabilities and those who care for them.

Amanda explained the differences

between Advantage Plans vs Medigap; how

their agency can assist in service denials &

why; how to have your health care

professional complete a prescription to

successfully obtain durable medical

equipment/services, etc. She spoke about

Medicare fraud & how we can help by

reviewing our Explanation of Benefits &

reporting any inconsistencies/errors.

She graciously answered numerous

questions from members on a myriad of

topics: PT requirements; pool lifts; co-

payments; deductible changes; differences in

Medicare Plans; durable medical equipment

requirements/medical necessity. You can go

to medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to

have many of your questions answered.

We thanked Amanda for her insightful

presentation. To make an appointment with

a SHINE counselor, call 561-684-5885.

Submitted by: Jane, Maureen & Pat

BAPPG appreciates the generosity of the

people who enable the printing of this

newsletter.

Vivian Yentes

Marilyn Howard

Paul & Michele Sosnick

Barbara Colling

*Names remain for 1 year.

WITH MANY THANKS

We wish to thank the many

benefactors* who have given so generously

to the Boca Area Post Polio Group.

Wilbur & Hansa May

Stanley Rose

Bruce & Dianne Sachs

Reneé Nadel

Daniel & Sonia Yates

Dr. Leo & Maureen Quinn

Teresa Russell (In memory of father, Thomas Iovino)

Henry & Nancy Chajet

George & Christina Nemeth

Robert & Vera McLendon

Eddie & Harriet Rice

Joyce C. Sapp

SECOND TIME AROUND, DECEMBER 2019 – PUBLICATION OF BOCA AREA POST POLIO GROUP, BOCA RATON, FL 3

CHRISTMAS –THE BIRTH OF

THE SAVIOR God’s people had been turning against

Him and to their own ways since they were in

the garden that God had created for them. In

that garden, God promised that He would send a

savior, a Messiah, to save the people from their

sinful ways and bring them back into a right

relationship with Himself.

During the time of the Roman occupation

of Palestine, in or about the year 3-6 AD, God

began the fulfillment of His promise. At this

time, the Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus,

decreed that all of Rome’s subjects must be

registered. In order to be registered, each man

and his family had to return to his home town.

A carpenter named Joseph and his betrothed,

Mary, who was with child, went up from

Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to

the city of David, which is called Bethlehem

(Joseph was of the house and lineage of David).

Scripture tells us that “…while they were

there, the time came for Mary to give birth. And

she gave birth to her firstborn son

and wrapped him in

swaddling cloths and laid

him in a manger, because

there was no place for

them in the inn.

And in the same

region there were shepherds out in the field,

keeping watch over their flock by night. And an

angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the

glory of the Lord shone around them, and they

were filled with fear. And the angel said to

them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good

news of great joy that will be for all the people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David

a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will

be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped

in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And

suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of

the heavenly host praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace

among those with whom he is pleased!"

This simple story, known the world over,

is the story of how the savior of the world

entered time and space so that He could live a

sinless life, be sacrificed for the sins of the

world, and overcome these sins through His

death and resurrection. It is the story of how the

human race can, through a faith in this savior,

have eternal life with God. Christmas is the time

when Christians the world over, celebrate the

Messiah’s birth. By Russell Silverglate, Pastor, Hammock Street Church, Boca Raton,

FL, November 2008.

HANUKKAH – A CELEBRATION

OF THE TRIUMPH

OF GOD’S PEOPLE Hanukkah comes to us from the inter-

testimental period – that period of time in

between the writing of the Old and New

Testaments. Interestingly, Hanukkah is only

referenced one time in the Bible, in the New

Testament, in John 10:22. Hanukkah is the

celebration of the victory of the Hebrews over

their Greek occupiers. In 165 BCE, led by the

Hasmonean family of Mattathias the High Priest

and his youngest son, Judah (called Judah the

Hammer or Judah Maccabee), the Jews

succeeded in evicting the Greeks from Israel and

re-dedicating the Temple that the Greeks, under

Alexander the Great, had desecrated. Hanukkah

is the Hebrew word for dedication; hence

Hanukkah is the Feast of

Dedication.

According to the Talmud,

after the Temple had been

cleaned and the Priests were ready

to re-light the Temple candelabra,

known as the menorah, they could find only one

jug of oil that was fit to use. This was only

enough for one day, but it lasted for eight. This

is why the Feast of Dedication is celebrated for

eight days. By Russell Silverglate, Pastor, Hammock Street Church, Boca Raton,

FL, November 2008.

SECOND TIME AROUND, DECEMBER 2019 – PUBLICATION OF BOCA AREA POST POLIO GROUP, BOCA RATON, FL 4

TECH MAKES LIFE EASIER FOR

DISABLED TRAVELERS, UNTIL

THEY BOARD

APPS HELP NAVIGATE DEPOTS

BUT GO ONLY SO FAR

Technology is fast changing how

people with disabilities get to and then

navigate airports and trains and bus stations.

But technology can go only so far: Its

advantages usually stop at the door of the

plane, train or bus.

Consider the experience of

Michael May, who is blind and

typically flies at least once a week.

Mr. May, the executive director of

Envision's BVI Workforce

Innovation Center, which provides

employment training for the blind

and visually impaired in Wichita,

Kan., says he uses airline apps at

home to secure his boarding pass,

takes Uber to the airport and gets

dropped off as close as possible to

the Transportation's PreCheck. (He's also

enrolled in the Clear program to speed his

way through airport security.)

But then he hits what he calls void –

he has to ask someone how to get to the

security line. And, in frenzied airports, he

doesn't always get a response.

"I'm looking forward to having indoor

navigation to the point where I can at least

get to the Pre-Check," he said.

Mr. May has a cane and Honnie, his

golden retriever guide dog. He also draws on

screen-reader soft-ware and Smartphone

apps. He uses the free app Be My Eyes,

which relies on a network of 1.2 million

volunteers to provide directions through the

airport via live video. In addition, he uses

Aira, a monthly subscription app that uses a

Smartphone camera or a pair of glasses

outfitted with a camera to live stream-video

agent, who then provides navigational

instructions. Ten airports, including ones in

Seattle, Boston, Houston, Memphis and

Minneapolis, currently offer zones where

blind and visually impaired travelers can

download the Aira app and use the

service without charge. (Several more

airports are expected to offer complimentary

service this summer.)

David Wilson, the director of

the innovation at the Sea-Tac

Airport, says blind travelers no

longer have to rely on wheelchair

attendants. "With Aira, they can get

up and go to a restroom, go to a

concession," he said. It's

independence."

Still, the Americans with

Disabilities Act, which became law

in 1990, applies to airports and

ground transportation – trains, buses

and subways. But airline cabins are

governed by the Air Carrier Access Act,

which was enacted in 1986 and does not

carry as many accessibility requirements. If,

for example, someone uses a motorized

wheelchair, it must be checked at the end of

the jet way. Wheelchair assistants, often

contractors, help the passenger transfer to a

wheelchair that can fit down the narrow

aisles and then to their seat (a foldable aisle

wheelchair is also kept on board).

"The most accessible feature on an

airplane is the fact that the arm rest lifts up to

get in and out of the seat, and that's about it,"

said Lee Page, a quadriplegic who uses a

wheelchair full time and serves as the senior

advocacy director for Paralyzed Veterans of

America.

SECOND TIME AROUND, DECEMBER 2019 – PUBLICATION OF BOCA AREA POST POLIO GROUP, BOCA RATON, FL 5

A spokesman for Delta Air Lines,

Anthony Black, said its gate agents must

complete a "comprehensive accessibility

curriculum" for travelers with disabilities that

includes training on everything from

handling service animals to transfer

assistance onto a plane. A spokesman for

United Airlines, Charles Hobart, said the

carrier had 24-hour accessibility desk and

also trained all of the employees who work

directly with customers on how to assist

passengers with disabilities. Southwest

Airlines said all of its customer

representatives were trained to help

customers with disabilities, and it maintained

a video relay and a Teletypewriter number

for deaf travelers.

But disabled travelers, including

Teresa Blankmeyer Burke, an associate

professor of philosophy at Gallaudet

University, who is deaf, says airlines could

improve their training. She said she would

like airlines to do a better job reassuring deaf

and hard-of-hearing travelers that "our

presence has been noted and that we will not

be overlooked."

Sherry Stroup, a safety expert for the

Association of Flight Attendants – CWA,

said flight attendants were responsible for

communication directly with disabled

passengers to make sure their needs are met.

"You need to go ask them, 'How can I best

assist you?" she said,

Ms. Blankmeyer Burke says she wears

a brightly colored piece of clothing or a

distinctive hat so that she's readily

identifiable and introduces herself to the

ticketing crew at the airport, train station or

bus terminal with a note.

"I print out a script that tells the flight

attendants a little bit about my

communication needs and abilities, where I

am sitting, and also notes my beverage

preference and my destination." She said in

an email. "In this document, I explicitly state

that I want important announcements written

and I ask who will be responsible for

communicating with me in case of an

emergency."

Ms. Blankmeyer Burke says she

carries a small notebook or types inquiries on

her Smartphone and travels with a flashlight

for lip reading.

Not everyone has a Smartphone, and

some people say they prefer the simplicity of

a human interaction even if they are tech

savvy.

Bill McCann, the founder and

president of Dancing Dots, a company in

Phoenixville, PA, that creates software to

help blind and visually impaired musicians

read, write and record music, said he

navigated through the airport or an Amtrak

station using the sighted-guide technique. He

takes the arm of either the wheelchair

attendant, a fixture at airports nationwide, or

a member of Amtrak's Red Cap team. At

airports, he follows the attendant through

T.S.A. PreCheck to his gate, keeping his cane

out so people can identify him as a blind

person.

"It's a convenience," he said. "It's a

timesaver. It reduces some of the stress of

being in airports." He said he viewed

airports as "just below hospitals in terms of

stress level." At the gate, Mr. McCann said,

he typically preboards – an option airlines

must extend to anyone with a disability.

An accessibility consultant, John

Morris, a triple amputee based in Orlando,

FL, uses a motorized wheelchair. He writes

tips about air, bus and train travel. Since

2014, he said, he has taken more than 600

SECOND TIME AROUND, DECEMBER 2019 – PUBLICATION OF BOCA AREA POST POLIO GROUP, BOCA RATON, FL 6

flights and over 70 trips combined on

Greyhound or Megabus.

On Greyhound, an electronic lift

carries the wheelchair user to a seating area

that can accommodate two wheelchairs. But

Mr. Morris said there was no uniform setup,

and this caused delays. "Oftentimes," he

said, "I find myself being the one to educate

the driver on how to operate the particular lift

that's set up on their bus."

Delays can also make for an

uncomfortable ride. When fellow passengers

groan, Mr. Morris said, he feels like a 'target

sitting in the middle of the bus, and I have

nowhere to go."

The National Federation of the Blind

last year filed a lawsuit against Greyhound

saying that neither the bus operator's website

nor it's app was accessible for the blind,

putting it in violation of both the A.D.A. and

the state laws. The case is in mediation.

"We are making our website and app

more accessible to customers who use

screen-reader software," said Lanesha

Gepson, a spokesperson for Greyhound.

Although the company requires its drivers to

demonstrate their ability to operate

wheelchair lifts, she said the lifts are "very

fickle" and sometimes fail.

On Megabus, which operates two-level

buses and is owned by Coach USA,

wheelchairs roll on and off the first level via

a portable ramp. Mr. Morris said he

preferred this low-floor access because it

"eliminates a break point."

Still, he said, the grade of the ramps at

some stations, including in Orlando, is too

steep to be compliant with the disabilities

act. He said he also worried about the safety

straps. "I don't think I've ever ridden the

Megabus and felt as though the straps that

lock my wheelchair down are secure." he

said.

Sean Hughes, a spokesman for

Megabus, said that the ramp and wheelchair

straps were designed "to meet all A.D.A.

requirements" and that drivers take a

mandatory training class to practice loading,

tying down and unloading wheelchairs.

One advantage that both trains and

buses offer over airplanes, Mr. Morris said, is

the direct connection from the city center to

city center. Trains, he said, also provide one

of the most accessible ways to travel, Amtrak

lays down a ramp on train platforms to

bridge the gap at the station for wheelchairs.

There is also a mechanical lift to hoist a

wheelchair user into or out of the train if it is

not level with the platform. On Northeast

corridor trains, there is space at the end of

each car to accommodate wheelchair users.

Over all, Mr. Morris said, he preferred the

dedicated wheelchair space and the

accessible bathrooms on Amtrak's Acela

service.

Airplanes are another story. Twin-

aisle planes, typical used for

international flights, are required to have an

accessible lavatory. But single-aisle

airplanes, a staple of domestic routes, rarely

have one. Delta says it will have the

Bombardier CS100, its first narrow-body

aircraft outfitted with an accessible lavatory,

in service next January.

Reprinted from New York Times, 6/26/18.

Contributed by Pat Armijo, member.

Please provide your new street/email

address to be sure not to miss

Second Time Around.

SECOND TIME AROUND, DECEMBER 2019 – PUBLICATION OF BOCA AREA POST POLIO GROUP, BOCA RATON, FL 7

SENIORS CAN REACT TO

BP MEDICATION

Dear Dr. Roach: I wonder if you could comment on the

negative side effects of various blood pressure

medications for those over 65 – particularly

folks who are 80-plus. Should a person be on

more than two medications if one's blood

pressure is generally 150-160/70-80? Does the

answer change if the person also has chronic

atrial fibrillation?

I am on three blood pressure medications

meds, have chronic atrial fibrillation and have

had extremely bad light-headedness, to the point

of altering my quality of life. I am on one

medication (clonidine) that was listed as having

many side effects, like the ones I mentioned. I

checked with my pharmacist and got the same

info: It's not good for seniors. – S.B.

A. In an ideal world, people with high

blood pressure could control it with a single

medication that would not have any side effects.

The guiding principal often becomes not what is

ideal, but what is best in a difficult situation.

It often takes extensive trials to find the

right combination of medications to get the

blood pressure in an acceptable range while still

having an acceptable level of side effects. It's

not clear that you have achieved either of those

goals: 160/80 is not adequate blood pressure

control, and life-altering light-headedness is not

acceptable.

I understand your frustration, but please

wait on your doctor before discontinuing blood

pressure medication.

A new regimen is called for, and maybe a

complete re-evaluation of the possible causes of

high blood pressure. For example, when I see

clonidine used, I often consider whether the

diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea has been

missed.

Reprinted from Sun Sentinel, 12/6/18.

Contributed by Jane McMillen, member.

Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

WHY DO WE HANG

ORNAMENTS ON

CHRISTMAS TREES?

The tradition of Christmas trees and

Christmas Ornaments is a much disputed one

what with several theories about their origin

doing the rounds for a long time. The most

popular theory holds that the tradition was

started by a monk who came to Germany in the

7th/8th century to preach. It is said that this

monk was Saint Boniface, the Apostle of the

Germans.

According to history, the saint was the

first one to bring a fir tree to the German

people to decorate, for he

claimed that its triangular shape

represented the Holy Trinity –

God, his son Jesus, and the

Holy Spirit. The tradition was

lapped up by the devout

Germans who started

decorating the Christmas tree in

a liturgical way with simple, white candles.

This however, changed in the 15th century

when ornaments began to be incorporated into

the Christmas decorations in Germany.

Christmas ornaments are now an

indispensable part of Christmas tree

decorations. The manufacture and sale of

Christmas ornaments makes one of the greatest

markets worldwide.

Despite being increasingly

commercialized, the use of Christmas

ornaments lends its own special charm, a

tribute to the old tradition of Christmas every

year and infuses true enthusiasm in the

Christmas celebrations. We hope that your

homes are getting into the holiday

spirit! Contributed via email by, Jo Hayden, member, 12/4/17.

SECOND TIME AROUND, DECEMBER 2019 – PUBLICATION OF BOCA AREA POST POLIO GROUP, BOCA RATON, FL 8

SO YOU THINK YOU ARE A

POLIO SURVIVOR? By Millie Lill – polio survivor &

humorous author

Many people who have had childhood

diseases aspire to be polio survivors. I am

sure you have read the surveys that point out

that a higher percentage of us than of any

other group are married with college

educations and high paying, high profile

jobs. So of course, there are those who would

like to join this elite group. The following

quiz is designed to wean out these imposters.

Answer honestly, writing down the answers

on a slip of paper as you go. No cheating, do

not even use a pencil with an eraser. I insist

that you use INK. Ready? You may open

your quiz now.

1. There is a spot of water on your vinyl

flooring. You:

a. get the mop and wipe it up.

b. call your child/spouse to come wipe it up.

c. use the back of your pants to wipe it up,

seeing as how you have already stepped in it

and are down there on your back anyhow.

2. You need the big mixing bowl that is

stored on the uppermost shelf of your

cupboard. You:

a. climb on a kitchen chair and

stretch to the limit of your reach

and get it down.

b. call your child/spouse to climb

and get it.

c. buy a new one after climbing on the

kitchen chair, stretching to the limit of your

reach and dropping it (hopefully not on the

dog.)

3. You are comfortably ensconced in your

recliner, feet up, a teensy bit of drool

escaping from your mouth along with that

purring noise you make at such times. The

phone rings. You:

a. gracefully reach over and pick it up,

answering in a civil tone.

b. call your child/spouse to come answer it.

c. jump straight up about three feet in the air,

turn a triple somersault and land in the

recliner clutching the phone with one hand

and your chest, with its wildly beating heart,

in the other.

4. You have gone to the grocery store, the

cleaners, the post office, the library and

the swimming pool. Arriving home with

your tongue hanging out and your legs in

spasm. You:

a. make about seven trips to and from the car,

carrying everything into the house.

b. call your child/spouse to come and get the

things out of the car and into the house.

c. load everything up in your arms, use your

teeth to carry the strap of your

purse, put the handles of the

plastic grocery bags over your

wrists and walk in agony into the

house with this load, proud that

you have saved yourself many

trips.

5. Your church is having a bake sale. They

have asked you to bring 12 dozen cookies.

You:

a. mix up a quadruple batch of cookies, put

the dough in the refrigerator and have your

grandchildren help you bake them after

school.

b. call your child/spouse and give them a

blank check to go buy 12 dozen cookies at

the bakery.

SECOND TIME AROUND, DECEMBER 2019 – PUBLICATION OF BOCA AREA POST POLIO GROUP, BOCA RATON, FL 9

c. mix up a quadruple batch of cookies, bake

them all while standing at the kitchen counter,

moaning and groaning with pain, then take as

many pain pills as you feel you can safely get

away with and sleep for two days.

6. You need new curtains in your bedroom.

You buy a lovely pair that you are sure will

make the bedroom look like a magazine

picture. You:

a. get the step stool and stand on it to take down

the old curtains and put up the new ones.

b. call your child/spouse to come in and take

down the old curtains and hang up the new ones.

c. slip off your shoes/brace, climb on the bed,

stretch towards the window, fall off the bed,

break your "good" leg and spend the next 18

months in a wheelchair, staring at the old grubby

curtains, rather than ask anyone to help you.

7. Your favorite charity asks you to donate

two days a week to helping in their daycare

center. You:

a. tell them yes and then show up if it is

convenient, or not, if it isn't.

b. ask your child/spouse if they are interested in

a really fun volunteer job.

c. start to form your mouth into a "No" but hear

it come out "nnnnOK," even though you know

you are not able to do the job and resent being

asked.

8. Thanksgiving Day is looming. You have

always had the family over for dinner. This

year you:

a. tell them that it is time they took over and had

Thanksgiving dinner at their house.

b. call your child/spouse to do the actual work

while you supervise.

c. do all the shopping, cleaning, cooking and

serving while in excruciating pain and then

spend the next week in bed recuperating and

dreading Christmas coming.

Scoring: If you answered mostly "a", you are

not even disabled, you faker, you!

Mostly "b," you cheated and don't even try

to deny it. You knew those were the answers we

were looking for. Frankly, we are ashamed of

you.

Mostly "c" Congratulations...you are a

bona fide polio survivor and entitled to all the

rights and privileges therein implied.

Reprinted from PolioEpic, Inc., AZ, December 2017-January 2018.

LAST WILL

His nurse, his wife, his daughter and two

sons, are with him.

He asks for two witnesses to be present

and a camcorder be in place to record his last

wishes. When all is ready he begins to speak.

"My son, Bernie, I want you to take the

Ocean Reef houses."

"My daughter Sybil, you take the

apartments between mile markers 100 and

Tavernier."

"My son, Jamie, I want you to take the

offices over in the Marathon Government

Center."

"Sarah, my dear wife, please take all the

residential buildings on the bay side on

Blackwater Sound."

The nurse and witnesses are blown away

as they did not realize his

extensive holdings, and as

Doug slips away, the nurse

says: "Mrs. Pender, your

husband must have been such

a hard-working man to have

accumulated all this property."

The wife replies, "The

jerk had a paper route."

Contributed via email, Jane McMillen, member, 11/6/19.

SECOND TIME AROUND, DECEMBER 2019 – PUBLICATION OF BOCA AREA POST POLIO GROUP, BOCA RATON, FL 10

THE IMPORTANCE OF

FALL PREVENTION

A GROWING PROBLEM

In 2015, overall health care costs in the US

related to falls surpassed the $50 billion

mark. Recent estimates predict costs will

reach $67 billion by 2020, rising each

subsequent year as we approach mid-

century.1 Among older adults aging in place,

approximately 30% will experience a serious

fall within a given year. Roughly one in five

of these falls require medical attention, and

nearly one in ten results

in a fracture.2

Polio survivors,

especially those with

notable lower-leg

weakness, are at an even

greater risk. When the

Healthy Aging Rehab-

ilitation Research and

Training Center (RRTC)

at the University of

Washington surveyed 2,000 individuals with

various neuromuscular diseases, they found

that 55% of those with PPS had fallen within

the prior six months.3

Besides the associated financial

burden, falls may result in injuries that have a

significant impact on an individual’s health

years from the initial incident. More than

95% of hip fractures are caused by falling.

Falls are also the most common cause of

traumatic brain injuries (TBI). A new study

published last month found an increased risk

of death for up to 10 years after a non-hip

fracture.4

RISK FACTORS

Several factors put polio survivors at

particular risk for falling:

lower-extremity weakness

fatigue

decreased mobility

joint pain

poor balance

use of multiple medications

The RRTC study mentioned previously

found that 86% of those who fell were

concerned about falling again, and 84%

reported limiting their activity because of a

fear of falling. The psychological toll of

falling can lead to a loss of self-confidence in

one’s ability to perform

routine daily activities.

This can lead to social

withdrawal, isolation and

depression, which, in

turn, can lead to further

weakness, decreased

mobility and an

increased dependence on

caregivers to complete

activities of daily living

(ADLs). These things can have a negative

effect on one’s overall health. Inactivity can

raise the likelihood of developing

cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, high blood

pressure, obesity and depression. This can

lead to a decrease in quality of life, an

increase in health care costs and an

accelerated mortality risk.5

STEPS YOU CAN TAKE

Though the statistics are sobering, one

needn’t give in to despair. There are several

simple steps you can take to decrease your

risk of falling:

Use appropriate assistive devices. Talk to

your doctor to see if you may benefit from

using a brace, cane, walker or scooter.

SECOND TIME AROUND, DECEMBER 2019 – PUBLICATION OF BOCA AREA POST POLIO GROUP, BOCA RATON, FL 11

Eliminate risks in your home. Remove

obstructions and clutter from walkways,

make sure stairs are well-lit, remove throw

rugs, wear socks or footwear with grippy

material on the bottom, and install handrails

and grab bars where needed.

Ask your doctor to review your

medications.

Engage in exercise that promotes better

balance and flexibility, such as tai-chi or

yoga.

Take sufficient breaks between activities

so that you don’t become overly fatigued.

Have your vision checked.

These steps are no guarantee that you won’t

fall, of course, but taken together, they may

dramatically cut down on the chances of

injuring yourself in a fall.

For more resources on preventing falls, visit

the CDC’s website at

www.cdc.gov/steadi/patient.html.

1.

Florence CS, Bergen G, Atherly A, Burns E,

Stevens J, Drake C. (2018). Medical Costs of Fatal

and Nonfatal Falls in Older Adults. Journal of the

American Geriatrics Society. doi:10.1111/jgs.15304

2. Gillespie LD, Robertson MC, Gillespie WJ, Sherrington

C, Gates S, Clemson LM, Lamb SE (2012). Interventions

for preventing falls in older people living in the

community. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews,

2012(9), CD007146.

3. Matsuda PN, Verrall AM, Finlayson ML, Molton IR,

Jensen MP (2015). Falls Among Adults Aging with

Disability. Arch Phys Med Rehabil, Mar 96(3), 464-71.

4. Tran T, Bliuc D, Hansen L, Abrahamsen B, van den

Bergh J, Eisman JA, van Geel T, Geusens P, Vestergaard

P, Nguyen TV, Center JR (2018). Persistence of excess

mortality following individual non-hip fractures: A

relative survival analysis, The Journal of Clinical

Endocrinology & Metabolism.

5. Booth FW, Roberts CK, Thyfault JP, Ruegsegger GN,

Toedebusch RG (2017). Role of Inactivity in Chronic

Diseases: Evolutionary Insight and Pathophysiological

Mechanisms. Physiological Reviews, 97(4), 1351-1402.

Reprinted from Post-Polio Health (formerly called Polio Network News)

with permission of Post-Polio Health International (www.post-polio.org).

Any further reproduction must have permission from copyright holder.

SECOND TIME AROUND, DECEMBER 2019 – PUBLICATION OF BOCA AREA POST POLIO GROUP, BOCA RATON, FL 12

Wellness Q & A

Drs. Oz and Roizen

SNEEZERS SHOULDN’T SHARE

Q. When someone sneezes, what really are

the chances of spreading a cold or flu to

others? – Sarah T., Springfield, Mississippi

A. During cold and flu season, sneezy folks

are everywhere. And those sneezes, say MIT

researchers, create a cloud of potentially

germ-infused droplets that balloon, break

apart and disperse as a spray; they can spread

up to 6 feet.

While most viruses that trigger cold-

like symptoms don’t live long on your hands,

40% of externalized rhinoviruses are still

infectious after an hour. Respiratory

syncytial virus, another sneeze-producing

microbe, can survive on door handles for up

to six hours on clothing and tissues for 30 to

45 minutes.

Your best bet when around someone

who’s sneezing is to stand back, don’t touch

your face with your hands until you wash

them, and support your immune system by

maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding

inflammatory foods (processed grain, sugars

and red meat) and walking 10,000 step daily.

And what should you do if YOU are

the sneeze factory? Don’t stifle that sneeze.

A new write-up in the BMJ Case Reports is

about a 34-year-old man who severely

damaged tissue from his neck to his ribcage

when he suppressed a sneeze by pinching his

nose shut and clamping his mouth closed. He

was in the hospital on a feeding tube for a

week. And even if nothing that dramatic

happens to you, a squelched sneeze can

damage sinuses or ears or cause an ear

infection.

Sneezing into the crook of your elbow

or upper arm (often recommended) deposits

potential infectious material on you that can

be easily “shared.” Your best bet? When you

sneeze, cover your face with a tissue. Flush

the tissue.

Then wash

your hands for

20 seconds.

Not possible?

Use alcohol-

based hand

sanitizer. And

take heart, no matter which end of a sneeze

you’re on, in one study, out of 61 folks with

the flu, less than half released the virus into a

room. Reprinted from Sun Sentinel, February 11, 2018.

Contributed by Jane McMillen, member.

AQUATIC THERAPY RESEARCH

Seeking Polio Survivors who are

interested in participating in a research study

in Miami, FL on the Benefits of Aquatic

Therapy for Polio Survivors.

Please contact Cynthia Henley, PT via

email cynthiahenley@bellsouth.net (preferred),

or text/phone (leave message) 305-733-8809.

SECOND TIME AROUND, DECEMBER 2019 – PUBLICATION OF BOCA AREA POST POLIO GROUP, BOCA RATON, FL 13

A CHRISTMAS POEM

Written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA

Twas’ 11 days before Christmas,

around 9:38,

when 20 beautiful children

stormed through heaven’s gate.

Their smiles were contagious,

their laughter filled the air.

They could hardly believe

all the beauty they saw there.

They were filled with such joy,

they didn’t know what to say.

They remembered nothing of

what had happened earlier that day.

“Where are we?” asked a little girl,

as quiet as a mouse.

“This is heaven.” declared a small boy,

“we’re spending Christmas at God’s house.”

When what to their

wondering eyes did appear,

but Jesus, their Savior,

the children gathered near.

He looked at them and smiled,

and they smiled just the same.

Then He opened his arms

and He called them by name.

And in that moment was joy,

that only Heaven can bring.

Those children all flew

into the arms of their King.

And as they lingered

in the warmth of His embrace,

one small girl turned

and looked at Jesus’ face.

And as if He could read

all the questions she had,

He gently whispered to her,

“I’ll take care of mom and dad.”

Then He looked down on earth,

the world far below,

He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe.

Then He closed His eyes and He

outstretched His hand,

“Let My power and presence

re-enter this land!”

“May this country be delivered

from the hands of fools”

“I’m taking back my nation.

I’m taking back my schools!”

Then He and the children

stood up without a sound,

“Come now my children,

let Me show you around.”

Excitement filled the space,

Some skipped and some ran.

All displaying enthusiasm

that only a small child can.

And I heard Him proclaim

as He walked out of sight,

“In the midst of this darkness,

I AM STILL THE LIGHT.”

Contributed via email, Bruce Sachs, MI, member, 12/21/12.

SECOND TIME AROUND, DECEMBER 2019 – PUBLICATION OF BOCA AREA POST POLIO GROUP, BOCA RATON, FL 14

BAPPG new CRUISE 2020!!

ALL ABOARD WHO’S

GOING ABOARD!!

29 people have already booked!!

Norwegian Cruise Line

Encore

January 26 – February 2, 2020

San Juan, PR St. Thomas, US VI

‘new’ Tortola, British VI All Docked Ports-of-Call

Now is the time to book and join

BAPPG on our 17th

annual trip leaving from

Port of Miami.

Rates & accessible staterooms upon

request.

PPS is not a pre-requisite – family &

friends are always welcome! Travel

insurance is strongly suggested. Doesn’t a

week in January, enjoying the warm

Caribbean sun, sound enticing?

Contact Maureen at 561-617-4450 or

bappg@aol.com for questions, accessibility,

roommates, scooter rentals & onshore tours.

Contact Judith at 561-447-0750 x102,

or 14rgani@travelgroupint.com for booking,

perks, transfers, hotels & air.

More details – www.postpolio.wordpress.com

THIS IS FOR YOU . . .

WHEN IN YOUR SCOOTER

OR POWERCHAIR

PRIDE XLR USB CHARGER

Have you ever been out in your

scooter/powerchair and realized that your smart

phone is almost out of power and there isn’t a plug

in sight?

The Pride XLR

USB Charger is

compatible with most

iPhone, Android and

mobile devices. Simply

plug your USB cord into

this charger & plug the

other end into the

charger port on your

chair. Your device will

charge whether your

chair is moving or off. No need to be tethered to

a wall!! Charger will switch off automatically

when device is charged & will not discharge

[drain] chair battery. Specs: 5V DC; 1-Amp

charger; compatible with 24V/36V systems; 2” x

1” with lanyard.

The charger is offered at $22.00. Internet

has some for almost twice as much!

Just provide name, address, phone #, &

mail check payable to BAPPG, 11660 Timbers

Way, Boca Raton, FL 33428.

Courtesy of one of our BAPPG members!

SECOND TIME AROUND, DECEMBER 2019 – PUBLICATION OF BOCA AREA POST POLIO GROUP, BOCA RATON, FL 15

THOU SHALT NOT SKIM

FLAVOR FROM THE HOLIDAYS I hate this time of the year. Not for its

crass commercialism and forced frivolity, but

because it's the season when the food police

come out with their wagging fingers and annual

tips on how to get through the holidays without

gaining 10 pounds.

You can't pick up a magazine without

finding a list of holiday do's and

don'ts. Eliminate second

helpings, high calorie sauces

and cookies made with butter,

they say. Fill up on vegetable

sticks, they say.

Good grief. Is your

favorite childhood memory of

Christmas a carrot stick? I

didn't think so. Isn't mine,

either. A carrot was something

you left for Rudolph. I have

my own list of tips for holiday eating.

I assure you, if you follow them, you'll be

fat and happy. So what if you don't make it to

New Year's? Your pants don't fit anymore,

anyway.

1. About those carrots sticks. Avoid

them. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday

buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas

spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave

immediately. Go next door, where they're

serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can.

And, quickly. Like fine single-malt Scotch, it's

rare. In fact, it's even rarer than single-malt

Scotch. You can't find it any other time of the

year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it

has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's as if you're

going to turn into eggnogaholic or something.

It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have

two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it.

That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does

not stand-alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out

of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with Gravy. Eat

the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if

they're made with skim milk or whole mile. If

it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a

sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a

party in an effort to control your eating. The

whole point of going to a Christmas party is to

eat other people's food for free. Lots of it.

Hello? Remember college?

6. Under no

circumstances should you

exercise between Christmas

and New Year's. You can do

that in January when you

have nothing else to do.

This is the time for long

naps, which you'll need after

circling the buffet table

carrying a 10-pound plate

full of food and that vat of

eggnog.

7. If you come across something really

good at a buffet table, like frosted

Christmas cookies in the shape of Santa, position

yourself near them and don't budge. Have as

many as you can before becoming the center of

attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes.

You can't leave them behind. You're not going

to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin,

Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or, if you

don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one

pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you

get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake?

Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory

celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I

mean, have some standards.

10. And one final tip: If you don't feel

terrible when you leave the party or get up from

the table, you haven't been paying attention.

Reread tips. Start over.

Contributed by Jane McMillen, member.

SECOND TIME AROUND, DECEMBER 2019 – PUBLICATION OF BOCA AREA POST POLIO GROUP, BOCA RATON, FL 16

A SYMBOL FOR ‘NOBODY’

THAT’S REALLY FOR

EVERYBODY

The blue and white wheelchair icon is more than a

guide to parking spots and ramps. It allows millions

to fully participate in society. The New York Times—

August 25, 2018

By Elizabeth Guffey

I was 12 years old when I first

encountered the blue wheelchair symbol. I

still remember sitting in our family car

on that hot Southern California afternoon in

1975 as my mother pulled into the

department store parking lot. Something was

wrong. The cars were all parked in the wrong

places. Then, as we drove near the store’s

front door, we saw a new set of neatly

painted blue and white lines on the

pavement, and a little wheelchair symbol

stenciled on each space. The rest of the

parking lot was filled, but these spaces were

all conspicuously empty.

I especially remember the comments

that came after the new spaces arrived. “It’s

such a shame,” our neighbor told my mother

one day. “It used to be if you arrived early

enough you could count on getting a parking

space in front of the store. Now nobody can

use them.” Later I wondered, who is

“nobody”?

I was born with cerebral palsy. At that

point I had never used a wheelchair, but as

soon as I saw that figure, I knew instinctively

that it was a friend and an ally. Whatever my

neighbor or other people said, the little figure

was whispering a message of inclusion

directly to me.

To this day, I have a complicated

relationship with wheelchairs. I did not use

one at all until my 40s, when I first visited

the New York Maker Faire in Queens, NY,

and my wheelchair use remains peripatetic.

Even so, I’ve long recognized this symbol as

a kind of lifeline that allows me to participate

in and contribute to larger society. Like many

disabled people, I was born with a body that

allows partial mobility. As a child, I used

heavy braces and special orthotic shoes, and

I’ve always found it challenging to merely

move across a room. I fall frequently, and my

injuries have included concussions, broken

teeth and sprained limbs. Despite these

setbacks, the symbol has guided me through

places, and pointed out spaces that are safe.

[In 2018], the “wheelchair symbol,”

formally known as the International Symbol

of Access, turned 50. It’s an occasion worth

celebrating. The original symbol was

conceived by Susanne Koefoed, a Danish

design student during the turbulent summer

of 1968 — a year now remembered for social

upheavals like the resistance in Prague, the

strikes in Paris and the raised fists of black

American athletes at the Mexico City

Olympics. In the student-led design

workshop in Stockholm that she was

attending, Koefoed planted the seed for

another sort of revolution

when she came up with an

idea for common signage to

guide disabled people to

accessible facilities. She

drew a schematic wheelchair.

The icon spent a brief childhood in

Sweden in the months after this workshop,

where it could be seen around traffic

intersections in Stockholm’s center and at the

city’s new international airport. That same

year, the symbol was adopted by the well-

connected nonprofit organization

Rehabilitation International. Global in reach,

SECOND TIME AROUND, DECEMBER 2019 – PUBLICATION OF BOCA AREA POST POLIO GROUP, BOCA RATON, FL 17

and with deep pockets, Rehabilitation

International hoped to promote the symbol

through its many media and political

connections. The effort stalled, however,

until officials made a simple

modification — they placed a

circle on top of the wheelchair’s

back, transforming it into an

image of a person sitting in a

wheelchair.

The symbol really took off in 1974,

when the United Nations approved it as a key

component of barrier-free design. Officially

rendered in the now-familiar blue and white,

the international convention for roadside

amenities, the little icon became a familiar

sight in parking lots, restrooms, ramps and

other public places across the globe. In 1990,

when President George H.W. Bush signed

the Americans With Disabilities Act into law,

the “wheelchair symbol” came to legally

identify a host of standardized

accommodations for disabled people. By this

time, it was one of the most recognized

symbols in the world. In the United States, it

is now accepted as legal signage and can be

found on road signs, disabled parking tags

and other official documents across the 50

states.

In recent years, a number of designers

have reimagined the wheelchair symbol. In

2011, Sara Hendren and Brian Glenney

redesigned the symbol as part of their

Accessible Icon Project in a way that reflects

the wider public understanding of members

of the disabled community as people who

play dynamic, active roles in public life.

Their design pushes the figure

out of its familiar sedentary

stance. It depicts a wheelchair

user leaning purposefully, even

forcefully forward, setting it

all in motion, as though racing through traffic

or over a finish line. This newer symbol is

now legally accepted in New York &

Connecticut as a replacement for the older

icon.

It’s been years since I first heard my

neighbor openly complain about the

wheelchair symbol, or the accommodations it

is meant to provide. Today, I recognize that

even then, the little figure was moonlighting.

Yes, its official job remains to identify

facilities and guide disabled people to ramps,

automated doors or larger toilet stalls. But it

also reminds us that access to buses and

trains, entry to stores and classrooms, and the

enjoyment of parks and pools is a legal right

shared by everyone — disabled or not. And it

reminds us of our fundamental obligation to

support one another and to continue building

the barrier-free society that we know we can

build.

We can also happily note that my

neighbor was wrong: The wheelchair symbol

is not a design for nobody. It actually belongs

to all of us.

Elizabeth Guffey is a professor of art and design

history at Purchase College, State University of New

York, and the author of “Designing Disability:

Symbols, Spaces and Society.”

Reprinted from Polio Perspectives, MI, Fall 2018.

SECOND TIME AROUND, DECEMBER 2019 – PUBLICATION OF BOCA AREA POST POLIO GROUP, BOCA RATON, FL 18

COMMENTS

Vivian Yentes, Naples, FL: I enjoy your

monthly newsletter very much. I thank God

everyday for still being in remission. I am 82

yrs. old – had [polio] since I was one year

old, born in Sicily. To me it’s a miracle that I

have not gotten worse. God bless for all the

good work you guys do. Barbara Mayberry

use to have our meetings in Naples. I am glad

she still does same. Thanks again.

Stanley Rose, Toronto, ON, Canada: I’ve

completed reading the November newsletter

from cover to cover and, once again, it was a

wonderful read. Great information, insight

and humour. Each month I look forward to

the newsletter. Kudos to all who put it

together and for keeping the quality

consistently high. Keep up the good work.

The other reason I’m sending this is because

I like to see my name in print and I’m hoping

to see this note in the December newsletter.

Marilyn Howard, St. Petersburg, FL:

Thank you for your great and informative

newsletter. I praise you for all the hard work

it takes. Hope this helps.

Barbara Colling, Wilmington, NC: Thanks

so much for all the helpful information in

your newsletters. It has been so enjoyable

receiving your newsletters each month.

Blessings on all who contribute and for all

your hard work.

Ina Pinkney, Chicago, IL: Hello from cold

Chicago! Thank you for all the hard work

putting together the newsletters. I love

getting them. Thank you!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

BAPPG Cruise 2020 – Leaving Port of

Miami, Sunday, January 26, 2020, 7 nights

on Norwegian Cruise Line’s brand new ship,

Encore. See exciting details on page 14 and

ship pictures www.postpolio.wordpress.com!

Polio Network of NJ is hosting PPS in NJ –

Past, Present & Future presented by Richard

L. Bruno, PhD, Sunday, April 26, 2020,

Bridgewater Manor, Bridgewater, NJ.

www.pnnj.org or info@pnnj.org.

Colorado Post-Polio will host a Rocky

Mountain Getaway PPS educational

conference, Easter Seals Colorado Camp,

August 16-20, 2020. Watch for details.

In Memory of . . .

Mr. Joseph Campbell

November 2, 2019 (BAPPG member since February 2015)

Mr. Daniel Matakas

November 6, 2019 (BAPPG cruiser & member since February 201l)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

SPREAD THE WORD. We would love to hear from you. If you know of someone who

would like to receive our newsletter, send us the information below and we will gladly add

them to our growing mailing list.

Also, kindly let us know if you wish to be removed or recipient has passed.

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MISSION STATEMENT

To help polio survivors become aware

that they are not alone and forgotten.

To share our thoughts and feelings with

others like ourselves.

To network with other support groups.

To share information and encourage each

other to carry on.

To educate the medical profession in

diagnosing and treating Post Polio

Syndrome.

To always maintain a positive attitude.

Boca Area Post Polio Group collects no

dues and relies on your donations. If you

would like to make a contribution, please

make your check payable to BAPPG.

Thank you for your support!

Maureen Sinkule Carolyn DeMasi

11660 Timbers Way 15720 SE 27 Avenue

Boca Raton, FL 33428 Summerfield, FL 34491

561-617-4450 352-454-6383

Jane McMillen, Sunshine Lady - 561-391-6850

Flattery will get you everywhere!

Just give us credit:

Second Time Around, Date

Boca Area Post Polio Group, FL

Disclaimer: The thoughts, ideas, and suggestions presented in this publication are for your

information only. Please consult your health care provider before beginning any new

medications, nutritional plans, or any other health related programs. Boca Area Post Polio

Group does not assume any responsibility for individual member’s actions.

BOCA AREA POST POLIO GROUP

11660 Timbers Way

Boca Raton, FL 33428

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

MONTHLY MEETING

11:30 – 1:30 PM

Second Thursday of each month

Except June, July, August & September

Spanish River Church

2400 NW 51 Street, Boca Raton (corner of Yamato Rd. & St. Andrews Blvd.)

Sunset Room of Worship Center

Entrance and parking on west side

E-mail: bappg@aol.com

Website: www.postpolio.wordpress.com

Printing: R & C Mgmt., Inc., Miami, FL

BOCA AREA POST POLIO GROUP A Ministry of Spanish River Church

FOUNDERS

Carolyn DeMasi Maureen Sinkule

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Pat Armijo Jo Hayden

Theresa Daniti Jane Berman

Maureen Sinkule Jane McMillen

Newsletter Gleaner – Jane Berman

Typists – Nancy Chajet, Ellen Cohen

& Sandy Katz

Proofers– Jane McMillen/Sheila Meselsohn

Recording Secretary – Pat Armijo

Sunshine Lady – Jane McMillen

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BLIND OR HANDICAPPED