Gladys Deloe was 7 years old when she contracted polio. Deloe is pictured with a photo of her as a child and photos of family members, who also got polio. Deloe now has post-polio syndrome and is a facilitator for a PPS support group. (Photo by Phoebe Muthart)
WINONA LAKE — Gladys Deloe was just 7 years old when she contracted polio. While she recovered from polio, Deloe later contracted post-polio syndrome a decade ago, and has since started a post-polio support group.
Born in 1935, Deloe grew up in Randolph, N.Y. She was diagnosed with polio in 1942 and her uncle and his son, her cousin, also contracted polio.
“It was an epidemic time before the vaccine,” she said. “I went through a lot of testing.”
She was sick for about three weeks and had violent headaches. But Deloe was fortunate as she did not become paralyzed like many others afflicted with polio.
After recuperating, Deloe lived a normal life. Deloe and her husband, Jesse, her caregiver, have been married 61 years, and they have two children. She earned a degree in behavioral science and counseling in 1985, when she was 50 years old.
Ten years ago, polio-like symptoms started occurring frequently. She visited the Mayo Clinic’s website and pulled up post-polio syndrome. It said there is no treatment. She later had trouble walking and eventually was diagnosed with PPS.
“I had symptoms I didn’t realize I had later in life,” she said. “Some, like me, realize symptoms may come back.” And they did.
Most doctors, said Deloe, didn’t know much about PPS, even to this day. “It’s still very nebulous,” she said.
PPS destroys muscles, and she said she deals with daily fatigue and weakness. She usually has to rest half the day, she said.
Yet, her strong faith in God has gotten her through her diagnosis. “I’m not upset. I’m content,” Deloe insisted.
However, she is limited in what she can do and can’t do. “I’m now at the point where walking is very tiring, so I use a scooter anytime I’m out of the house,” she said.
She started a PPS caregiver’s support group eight years ago. On average, about 10 people attend meetings.
“The support group meets at my church, Winona Lake Grace Brethren,” she said. “We meet at 10 a.m. the third Sunday of the month.”
She also started a support group for those with PPS two months ago. On average, about eight people attend the meetings.
“I have a satisfaction of getting them together,” she said.
A reflexologist, Deloe also helps those with various ailments, such as headaches and arthritis. In 2014, she was given a Heart of Gold Award by the Kosciusko County Community Foundation.
A Winona Lake resident, Deloe has been active in several non-profit agencies in Kosciusko County. She even wrote life skills curriculum for children in poverty and a pilot program was conducted in Kosciusko County.
“I have the gift of mercy,” smiled the grandmother of four.
The post-polio support group meets from 10:30 a.m. to noon the second Friday of the month, in The Hub, on the campus of the Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, 1200 King’s Highway.
For more information on either group, call Deloe at (574) 372-6317 or (574) 527-6160 or email her at gdeloe@gmail.com.