By: Terri Vish
When my Mother was 5 years old, she was diagnosed with polio. With no money and no medical insurance, my Mom was sent home to see what would happen. Five days later, the virus had left my Mom a parapelegic. At moments in my life it has been difficult to find the bright spot of what poverty created in this situation for my Mom. However, this tragedy created opportunities that would not have otherwise been given to my Mom, her sisters and myself. Once, the polio ran the course and my Mom's situation became severe, other organizations such as Shriner's and the public school system stepped in and provided support and resources that would have not been available to my Mom. It is this event that created and continues to drive my passion to help those children and others that are not able to help themself.