• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content

Spinal Life Australia

For the latest coronavirus (COVID-19) updates, resources and service impacts, click here.

Menu

Main navigation

Close menu

  • Home
  • NDIS
    • Support under the NDIS
  • Our services
    • Allied Health Services
    • Supports Coordination
    • Personal Support and Home Care Services
    • Community Nursing
    • Physiotherapy
    • Training Solutions
    • Back2Work
    • Accessible accommodation
  • Your community
    • Advocacy
    • Peer support
    • Peer Support Groups
    • SEAT – safety education in schools
  • Get involved
    • Membership with Spinal Life Australia
    • Upcoming Events
    • Donate
    • Support us
    • Our sponsors and supporters
  • Your resources
    • Your spine
    • The Advocate magazine
    • Our publications
    • The Disability Royal Commission
    • Late effects of polio
    • Transverse Myelitis
    • Useful links
  • About us
    • About Spinal Life Australia
    • Our Patron and ambassadors
    • Our Board and leadership team
    • Services for Western Australia
    • Work for us
      • Current opportunities
      • Corporate and Allied Health vacancies
      • Personal Support Worker vacancies
  • Contact us
  • 1300 SPINAL
  • DONATE

Phyllis shares her experiences in the lead up to World Polio Day

October 22, 2018

A lady in a wheelchair hugs her grey cat.
Brisbane polio survivor Phyllis McPherson-Forster and her cat, Cheetah.

Phyllis McPherson-Forster has never met a wimpy polio survivor.

With World Polio Day approaching on 24 October, the Brisbane vocal teacher and Spinal Life member said strength is what bonded her and her fellow polio survivors together.

“You have to be tough; it comes with the territory,” she said.

Phyllis was first diagnosed with the disease when she was 10 years old.

“One day I found I couldn’t run like I used to – from there, it was just a few days until I was in hospital in a delirium coma,” she said.

“Even before I was diagnosed I knew it was polio; we were all so terrified of it back then.”

While she predicted her initial diagnosis, what Phyllis didn’t predict was that many of the symptoms would begin to return after she reached her 50’s.

“Even my GP didn’t know what was going on,” she said.

“It was one of my vocal students who taught me that polio symptoms can start to return later in life.

“Suddenly everything I was going through, the fatigue and soreness, started to make sense.”

Armed with this bit of knowledge, Mrs McPherson-Forster joined Spinal Life Australia’s Post Polio Network, which allowed her to connect with other polio survivors experiencing the late effects of the disease.

“I’ve met many resilient people through the network, many of whom became very dear friends,” she said.

“It’s great to know you’re not alone.”

World Polio Day is held each year on 24 October to commemorate the birth of polio vaccine pioneer Jonas Salk.

Spinal Life Australia will be holding a World Polio Day event at its Brisbane office to bring together polio survivors from South East Queensland – click here for more information.

Filed Under: Our news

Reader Interactions

Quick links

  • Donate
  • Allied Health Services
  • Careers
  • PSW Resources/Login
  • Office Staff Login

Contact us

We’d love to hear from you! Leave a message on our contact page or you can call toll free on:

1300 774 625

Your feedback

Feedback is always welcome from our members, clients and the general public.

Leave Feedback

Copyright © 2021 Spinal Life Australia. All Rights Reserved.

Site built by Ad Agency Queensland Sitemap Admin Privacy