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skorpo

(329 posts)
19. Measles encephalitis left my friend's sister with life long handicaps.
Mon Jul 19, 2021, 11:35 PM
Jul 2021

In 1954, she was 6 years old and caught measles. She suffered with both physical & intellectual handicaps for 60 years. Her wonderful family, both sisters and brothers, helped her parents care for her as long as they could. As she aged this disease continued to worsen until she needed custodial care.
Sadly, we had few vaccines then. Everyone I knew jumped at the chance to be innoculated for contagious diseases when they became available.
Most younger people never caught small pox, measles, DPT or polio because their parents had them vaccinated.
My younger brother will not believe me when I tell him about how people suffered and died from these diseases. I worry about him and his family.

I would hope that this message would resonate with the anti-vaxxers--but somehow I doubt it. CaliforniaPeggy Jul 2021 #1
Even the death of their own child wouldn't cause them to break ranks. Beakybird Jul 2021 #4
I have little hope it will resonate with those who have decided not to vaccinate. Ms. Toad Jul 2021 #6
Unfortunately, you're not wrong. paleotn Jul 2021 #8
The little details are just heartbreaking gratuitous Jul 2021 #2
yeah, same here NewJeffCT Jul 2021 #9
If only... if only all those mamas who got sucked into the vile anti-vaxxer cult could read this... Hekate Jul 2021 #3
So moving and heartbreaking! frogmarch Jul 2021 #5
. struggle4progress Jul 2021 #7
If I had known this when I was still ChazII Jul 2021 #10
The ones who are anti-vax and also ultra-religious FakeNoose Jul 2021 #11
Oh that old "it's God's will" justification. calimary Jul 2021 #13
Oh sure, we have a lot of Amish people in Pennsylvania FakeNoose Jul 2021 #14
The Amish are fools when it comes to reality and always have been. Tommymac Jul 2021 #25
It's not that simple cab67 Jul 2021 #15
Jim Carrey is anti-vax because he dated Jenny McCarthy TexasBushwhacker Jul 2021 #16
I have never thought he was funny or smart. He can go f himself for all I care. Tommymac Jul 2021 #26
Given his antisemitism, this NEEDS to be passed on to that crowd NullTuples Jul 2021 #12
Anti-antisemitism means opposition to anti-semitism Lord Ludd Jul 2021 #17
Thank you! Roald Dahl is well-documented to be an antisemite. NullTuples Jul 2021 #20
And how is that factoid relevant to the discussion at hand? Hekate Jul 2021 #22
When I was growing up, we did not have murielm99 Jul 2021 #18
Measles encephalitis left my friend's sister with life long handicaps. skorpo Jul 2021 #19
I'm so grateful to have been a child when vaccines were appreciated Withywindle Jul 2021 #23
I remember over 50 years ago a relative had a congenital Rubella syndrome baby. Ziggysmom Jul 2021 #21
Wakefied should be imprisoned for LIFE for the destruction he's caused. AZ8theist Jul 2021 #24
as someone pointed out in this thread , they only give a hoot , hoot , hoot about themselves . AllaN01Bear Jul 2021 #27
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Roald Dahl's message to a...»Reply #19