News

Canada's Oldest Polio Survivor Again?

March 20, 2007 --

In our Spring, 2006 issue of the Polio Canada newsletter we featured the story of Abbotsford's Lorraine Bennett, who we erroneously believed to be 96 years old, and possibly Canada's oldest living polio survivor. Her story prompted George Cole to write in about his mother-in-law, Margaret Rubena Kiehna, who at 97 - was a year older than Ms. Bennett.

Like Rubena, Lorraine Bennett’s story is one of remarkable spirit and determination.

Lorraine was in her 80s before her childhood bout with polio caught up with her. She was two years old when she first started feeling the effects of the polio virus. It was 1910 - before the epidemic - and doctors had no idea that the sick child had polio. Her only details of that time are from what her mother told her. "She said I screamed and screamed and wouldn't stand up. She didn't have a clue what was wrong with me," Bennett said. The illness left her with a permanently weakened right leg.

The leg affected by her condition was an inch and a half shorter than the other, resulting in a limp that made it difficult for her to participate in typical childhood activities. Lorraine focused on more intellectual activities, such as collecting stamps, making scrapbooks and playing the piano and violin.

Lorraine had two surgeries over the years - one on her foot and the other on her knee - but the condition didn't affect her significantly until years later.

She was 80 when her legs became increasingly weak and would no longer support her body. "I started walking on my ankle bones," Lorraine explains.

Lorraine used a walker for awhile before requiring a wheelchair, which she now uses on a daily basis. She still uses a walker every night as a form of exercise around the halls of Maplewood House, her residence for the last nine years.

“Both women have led extraordinary lives and still have amazing stories to tell,” says Kimberley Dowds, Associate Director of Polio Canada.

“We may very well hear from polio survivors who are even older than Lorraine and Rubena - we commend all Canadians who have survived polio and are helping to keep both the memory of polio alive and raise awareness of post-polio syndrome.”

For media, please contact:

Kimberley Dowds
Associate Director, National Programs
March of Dimes Canada
Tel: 416-425-3463, ext. 7211
Mobile: 647-294-4123
kdowds@marchofdimes.ca