Diane Scaletta: polio survivor and immunization champion

By: Results Canada Published: 24/10/2024

“I clearly remember the morning I woke up and I couldn't lift my head off the pillow.”

fear runs rampant

For Diane, the summer of 1953 was one clouded by fear. All around her in Manitoba, children were coming down with polio and, without the refuge of existing vaccines and medication, parents worried that their child would be next.

“In fact, my mother was so terrified that we would get sick she would always say ‘oh did you wash that peach you're eating’ or ‘I don't want you to go out and play with the kids, just stay in our yard because it's too scary. You never know who might have these germs.”

the diagnosis

It was during a family trip that both Diane and brother were overcome with symptoms that seemed like a bad flu. The growing polio epidemic was on everyone’s minds and Diane was soon diagnosed with the disease. The treatment plan? Wait to see when and where the paralysis sets in. Her brother contracted polio too but no one realized until he lost the ability to speak properly. Fortunately, his was a mild case and he recovered.

Diane with her parents (Irene and Paul).
Diane as a toddler.

Diane, on the other hand, clearly remembers the day she woke up and couldn’t lift her head off the pillow, how her father had to carry her, and how her mother wept as they rushed 100 miles to the King George Hospital in Winnipeg.

A nurse is with young polio patients at the University Hospital in Edmonton, AB
(Sept 1947)

While there, fear of infection and not knowing what to expect ran deep. Diane, only 6 years old at the time, was isolated in a ward with other children affected by polio. Diane vividly recalls one side of the ward lined with iron lungs, a medical apparatus helping people with bulbar polio breathe by manually moving their chest muscles. Relatives that came to visit were not allowed in, so all they could do was wave at her through the window.

life after diagnosis

At 8 years old, Diane underwent a life-changing surgery that changed everything. Her doctor – who invented a new procedure – eliminated her limp and allowed her to walk freely. This newfound ability allowed her the simple joys of life – riding a bike, skating and even leading the majorettes in her small community.

“The surgery completely changed my life”

Diane, 11, leading the majorettes.

She attributes her recovery and adjustment back to regular life to the hard work of her parents, physiotherapists and everyone else involved. Her mother, for instance, kept meticulous notes of her health journey:

getting vaccinated

The same year Diane had her surgery, a vaccine against polio was circulated in Canada. The Dupont family celebrated this step forward, and Diane was vaccinated to protect herself and her community from other strains of polio.

advocating for immunization

Diane eventually went on to work as a lab technician in Ghana, observing first-hand the challenges and impacts of inequitable access to healthcare. Today, Diane remains a passionate advocate for immunization and access to healthcare. As a member of the Grandmothers’ Advocacy Network, she continues to advocate for the well-being of women and youth, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.

polio’s lasting effects

Missing out on preventative vaccines can have life-long impacts. In the mid-1980s, extreme fatigue, pain and weakness gripped Diane. Soon, she learned that she had Post Polio Syndrome, a condition affecting those with previous polio experience.

“For me it was a horrible discovery. I thought I had made it and was just like everyone else. I did not know how this was going to affect my life going forward. Already I could not ride a bike as that activity created extreme pain. What else was going to be taken away from me?”

It was a devastating blow, but Diane sought help to manage the symptoms, finding strength in physiotherapy and supportive healthcare practitioners.

“I had the advantage of the best healthcare at the time and a wonderful caring family. What happens to those who don’t have supports or a healthcare system to look after them? Many people where Polio is still occurring live in countries where there is no possible help available to them. Vaccines can prevent all of this from happening.”

Watch the extended interview with Diane here.

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