It was my father-in-law, Mr. Krink, it left him crippled, dependent on canes and wheelchair at work for the rest of his life, he spent at least six months in an iron lung, the doctors told him he'd never walk again but he did, with the use of two canes, he was only 29 years old with two small children, it altered the entire family's life. Had the vaccination been available, he'd have gotten it, the rest of the family didn't catch it. It also shortened his life, as it did many polio victims, he died at 55. I know, Mrs. Krink is gone, something shortened her life, it's very much the luck of the draw with life but I'm guessing, based on the longevity of all but one of his siblings, he would have had several more years and met his grandchildren, had he not had polio.

His older sister had it in the 1930's, too, and she also walked funny for the rest of her life. Guess it's ok to walk funny most of your life.