THE POLIO RIFT

A Story of the tragedy Polio Ensues

Young Jan and Frank playing

together on a hot summer day in
DeWitt, NY 1952.

Jan and Frank were inseparable.

The 5 year old twins love to pose
for the camera.

Born on June 28, 1947, two babies. Frank and Dorothy

olio has always been a
terrifying disease. Parents were
told to keep their children away
from public swimming pools
and large places of gathering.
Children were instructed to
wash their hands frequently, eat
healthy, and get plenty of sleep.
But that didn’t stop the killer.
Transmitted through
contaminated water, food, or
contact with an infected person,
the horrific disease killed
millions of children worldwide.
Polio is a highly contagious
disease that affects the nervous
system and can cause paralysis.
Parents have always feared the
health of their children in
relation to polio; at least until
now. We have vaccines that can
prevent children from
contracting the disease. People
didn't always have that luxury.
Jan Nichols and her twin
brother didn’t have that luxury.
weighing a little over 4 pounds
each, tiny, little, Jan Flood
Nichols and her twin brother
Frankie were born. Jan’s father
worked as a lawyer providing
wealth and comfort for the
family. Jan and Frankie had all
the toys they could ask for. If
Jan wanted a pony, she would
get a pony. If Frankie wanted a
lizard, he would get a lizard:
though his mother might have
some objections. The Flood
Family kept a “Squeaky clean
house.” Everything was in well
order; they didn’t fear
contracting any sickness. They
didn't expect a tragedy such as
polio to occur. Just as Mr. and
Mrs. Flood didn’t expect two
children all at once.
Jan and Frankie’s parents,
Frank and Dorothy (Coolican)
Flood, were not expecting
twins and did not have all the
supplies such as clothes,
diapers, or a bed for
planned for a baby girl or boy
to arrive in August; the twins
did not. One born right after
the other, the twins entered
the world in June of 1947.
Imagine going through
the struggle and pain of giving
birth to then find out that you
have to do it all again. Poor
Dorothy would have felt
exhausted. That exhaustion
didn’t end when the babies
turned into small children.
Though older than
Frankie, Jan looked up to her
brother. Jan would follow
Frankie, do what he did, play
how he played, and said what
he said. She was always sad
she didn’t have the dark brown
hair Frankie had. Jan wanted
to be just like her twin brother.
That is what makes this whole
ordeal even more
heartbreaking.
In Fall of 1953 a small
First grade class of students
twenty-four students
experienced the terror of the
“Forgotten Killer.” Of that class
eight of the young five to six
year old First grade students
contracted Polio. Jan and
Frankie were two of the eight.
And with the eight came an
outbreak.
First taken by disease was
Frankie. Having had a head
cold for several days, it was
easier for the disease to take
hold of Frankie. The day before
halloween young Frankie
began to have trouble
breathing and was immediately
taken to the hospital. The
diagnosis was Polio. In order to
help him breath, Frankie was
placed in a large metal
container; his head being the
only thing outside the
chamber. The iron lung is what
everyone is placed in when
diagnosed with Polio. The
differences in pressure force
the occupants lungs to take in
air. Frankie’s lungs were forced
to take in air. It was no matter
to Jan though. She was just
happy to see Frankie safe. Or
so she thought.
Now for a young first
grader, Jan must have been
oblivious to what was
happening around her. She
must have thought her
classmates were just a little
sick and would be back week.
Poor Jan must have thought
everything would be fine and
back to normal very soon. She
must have thought that until it
wasn't.
Because of Jackie’s
condition Jan was given
preventative shots to help her
from contracting a more
serious case of the disease.
Little 6 year old Jan was given
20 shots up and down her legs
and arms. The doctors feared
for her health. Her parents
feared for her health. But
Young Jan didn’t fear for her
health. Young Jan feared for her
brothers health.
Jan adored her twin
brother. They had been
through everything together.
Each of them cared for one
another and never believed
something such as Polio could
rip their bond away. But it did.
Soon after her brother Frankie,
Jan was admitted into the
hospital. Only a few hours
later, frankie died drowning in
his own mucus.
The doctors
feared for her health.
Her parents feared
for her health. But
Young Jan didn’t fear
for her health. Young
Jan feared for her
brothers health.
Though the death of her
brother broke her heart, Jan
fought for life. The 20 shots
given to her may have saved
her from the same fate as her
brother. Jan made a full
recovery and in 2007 her book
Twin Voices: A Memoir of Polio,
the Forgotten Killer was
published. She shares her and
her twins story in hopes to
persuade people to vaccinate
their children against Polio.
If I were you I would listen
to her and follow her council.
In an article Nichols
states, “Please do not believe
those who say that you can
protect your children, without
vaccination, through a healthy
lifestyle. The children of the
1953 DeWitt, NY polio epidemic
were like our
children—healthy,
rambunctious kids whose lives
(and those of their parents)
were changed in an instant.”
And that they were. Both
Jan and her twin Jackie were
young children when the
“Forgot Killer” entered their
lives. They didn’t expect it just
as families all over the world
didn’t expect it.
Jan flood Nichols endured
a lot. The terrifying child killer,
Polio, created a rift in her
family. Her own twin was
ripped away from her life, her
best friend, her other half.
Nichols shares her story today
to educate people on Polio and
the killer it is. Nichols Mission
is to have all parents vaccinate
their children against Polio and
other diseases. Nichols believes
if we as a nation vaccinate our
children, diseases like Polio
will have no power. No
outbreaks. No death. No fear.