Hello, I am Lois B Stevens, a retired physical therapist, known to my patients as “Burnsie”. Some called me Mother Stevens. I have worked with polio patients since 1945 when I went to Harvard Graduate Medical School to become a physical therapist. I already had my bachelor of science degree in health and physical education. The National Foundation of Infantile Paralysis gave me a scholarship. We were based at Children's Hospital in Boston at that time and there was a polio epidemic in that area. In some of our classes we learned about polio and its care and treatment. I saw my first polio patient when I was sent to the isolation unit. As they were put in quarantine first and after that period of time, brought down to the ward.

     In 1946 NFIP sent me down to Jackson Mississippi Hospital Clinic. They were having a big epidemic. There were many patients in the "Iron Lung" because they had the bulbar type polio where they were having trouble breathing as their lungs were attacked.

     In 1947, after a year in Jackson, NFIP sent me to Maine. My home was in Rockport. They predicted that Maine was due for an epidemic and they wanted me there . I hadn't been home very long when a doctor I knew called me. He knew what I'd been doing and asked if I would come to Camden Hospital, that he had a polio patient and would I help him, which I did.

     In September 1947, I accepted a position at Hyde Memorial Home in Bath, ME. Hyde Home opened its doors on September 19, 1947. The patient I had in Camden was placed there. In 1949 was the start of Maine's polio epidemic. They came from all parts of Maine. After they came out of quarantine they were sent to Hyde Home from the various hospitals. They ranged from babies (my youngest one being 3months old), small children up to teenagers, men (one was a school principal, one was 60 years of age), young women, many of whom had young children at home, and a few new mothers.

     We had Orthopedists taking turns to come to Hyde from Bangor, Lewiston, and Brunswick. The Pediatrician was from Brunswick and the General Doctor was from Bath. The patients stayed at Hyde Home anywhere from one to six months, but some needed to stay longer. There was a schoolroom with a teacher and a student teacher. The high school students had a tutor. The small students were in a large sun porch conservatory complete with toys, chairs, tables, standing tables and so forth. They ate out there and all had naps at noon. We had an occupational therapy room with two occupational therapists, nurses and aides and many volunteers. There was a great chef and his assistant in the kitchen and a large dining room adjacent to it for the older children and adults. We were all surrogate parents and the women who had children were a great help along this line. There were many volunteers who came to Hyde to help us. High school students helped us in the pool. The wives from Brunswick Naval Air Station gave a birthday party every month. All the children whose birthdays fell in that particular month, were given a gift. At Christmas, the Elks Club had a big Christmas party and had gifts for the young and old, plus a real Santa Claus and a beautiful Christmas tree. We had an elevator which was a big help transporting patients in their wheelchairs.

     Outside was a duck pond and an occasional duck, and a sunken garden below the mansion. On good days, we took some patients to a nice place in front of the sun porch.  The patients’ treatment consisted of hot packs three times a day as needed, exercises, gait training, crutches, braces, Hubbard tank as needed for some and for some the big pool downstairs. They worked very hard and struggled as they wanted to walk out the front door and to their waiting family and have no more hot packs.

     Later on, as we received more adult men and younger men, a room was set up and an instructor added to show them how to use the tools and make things in the shop. The OT had a larger room with a kitchen type arrangement for the women where they were taught how to do things around the house. I had a larger room with a whirlpool, mats, etc.. Parents who lived way up in northern Maine shared their transportation as they came down to visit their children. We, physical therapists, would work on weekends to show them how their children were doing and explain the use of braces that some wore. We were always available.   

     Adults used the big library, which had a heavy beautiful long table, a fireplace, sofas, chairs, and a piano. This was a great place to gather in the evening. Sometimes they would have entertainment by local groups of people. Visitors coming in to see them had this great place to visit with them.

     Dr. Salk's vaccine was a blessing in 1955. I attended the first international polio seminar in New York. Dr. Salk and Sister Kenny were present. I learned a lot listening to all these people. In 1965, I saw my last polio patient. I still lived with polio as my husband contracted it in 1952. I am now seeing the Post Polio Syndrome, as it has occurred as people aged, causing them to have another fight with a new change in their lifestyle. All were afraid that they were having polio again, but they weren't and it wasn't all in their heads as they were led to believe. They now have to go a different route than years ago. To put the situation in a laymen's term, they have used their good muscles to help the weaker muscles and thus they must make a change. They need help and understanding from us. The Post Polio Support Group was started in 1986 with the help of the Pine Tree Society and is very important. The first meeting was at Pine Tree Camp and so many came. It was wonderful. That day, I knew I was the luckiest and happiest person there. I was seeing again many of my children as I still called them, because they all mean so much to me. They are still fighters and survivors and now they know that they are not alone.

     I would hate to see another polio epidemic. I hope people, including the medical profession, will be more aware of Post Polio Syndrome and Polio and have the children vaccinated. I am now 87 years old and am still called “Burnsie”, and I still keep in touch with my people.

Thank You all very much,

Lois Burnsie Stevens

Lois “Burnsie” Stevens...in her own words

At last, we have a first hand account from Lois “Burnsie” Stevens, a retired physical therapist who has been involved with polio patients since 1945.  Thanks to Louise Arsenault who transcribed Burnsie’s tape, we can all read her story.

“Burnsie” (far left) at the Hyde Home