Polio survivor recalls childhood ordeal
Goss recounts years of hospitalization during Rotary fundraiser
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LEWISTOWN -- Steven Goss was just 4 years old when he contracted polio, a disease that would change the course of his life and lead to three years of hospitalization away from his family.
Decades later, Goss shares his experiences with members of the Rotary Club of Lewistown during a World Polio Day fundraiser at JP Edwards Bar & Grille, recounting the painful treatments, lengthy hospital stays and challenges he faced growing up with the disease.
The event was held Tuesday as part of Rotary International’s PolioPlus campaign, which supports efforts to eradicate polio worldwide.
Goss grew up on a Mifflin County farm in the 1950s, where he and his brothers spent much of their time playing outdoors.
He recalled one snowy day when the brothers were playing in the barn, jumping from the loft into loose hay. When their mother called them inside for lunch, Goss was the last to leave. As he approached the house, he slipped and fell.
Although he does not remember being able to walk at the time, Goss said notes kept by his mother indicated he could still walk, but was having difficulty.
He was eventually taken to an isolation ward in Harrisburg, where doctors performed a spinal tap and diagnosed him with polio.
Goss was subsequently admitted to Elizabethtown Children’s Hospital, where he spent three years undergoing treatment. His family was permitted to visit only once every two weeks.
During his hospitalization, Goss endured numerous medical procedures, including surgery that resulted in an infection in his knee.
“The nurse came into my room, called the doctor in and they snipped it open, cleaned it down to the bone with no pain medication and no anesthesia,” Goss recalled.
He said he was confined to his hospital bed for six months and spent a year wearing a cast on one foot.
Despite those experiences, Goss told Rotarians he witnessed other children facing even greater medical challenges.
He also recalled positive moments during his hospitalization, including watching television programs such as “The Lone Ranger” and “Zorro” and receiving presents from local charitable organizations.
After returning home, Goss participated in 4-H and gymnastics, finding ways to remain active despite his physical limitations. He recalled using his upper-body strength to climb ropes during gym class.
His older brother, Larry, also contracted polio, which affected his feet. Goss said his brother recovered sufficiently to participate in sports and eventually take over the family farm.
Goss, however, experienced more severe and lasting effects from the disease, including progressive loss of mobility.
“Not all at once but slowly over time,” Goss said, describing the progression of his physical limitations.
His experiences provided a personal perspective on the disease Rotary International has spent decades working to eliminate.
Polio is a highly contagious viral disease that can affect the nervous system and cause permanent paralysis. Vaccination is the primary means of preventing infection.
Rotary International’s PolioPlus program supports vaccination efforts in countries where the disease remains a threat.
Jim Zubler, president of the Rotary Club of Lewistown, said the organization remains committed to expanding access to vaccines.
“Rotary resolves to continue working with our partners to reverse the current situation and reach more children with the polio vaccine to protect them from this terrible disease,” Zubler said.
“Over the years we have faced many challenges and overcame them and will do so again.”