         
© 2005 Texas
Children's Hospital |
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The Burkhalter’s were seen smiling on the pages of the Houston Press
with their two children as the children’s conditions improved.
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Dorothy Ann "Ann" and her brother Michael today.
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For first birthdays, families usually plan presents, and cake-covered
faces. The Burkhalter family did too until their son, Michael, was
admitted to Texas Children’s Hospital with polio on his first
birthday in 1955.
Michael had been suffering with a high fever for several days, when
his mother, Maydelle, noticed his right leg collapsed while he was
standing. She feared the worst. Those fears were confirmed when she
took her son to the pediatrician and he was diagnosed with polio and
admitted to Texas Children’s Hospital.
“The paralysis set in right after the fever went away,” said Maydelle.
“It was his right leg and hip.”
On his fourth day in the hospital, a nurse announced Michael had a
visitor. It was his 4-year-old sister Dorothy Ann, who also had been
diagnosed with polio. The family spent the next two weeks in
isolation.
“The time seemed so long, but the doctors, nurses everyone was
wonderful, said Maydelle. “They kept us informed and took good care of
us. I also remember the volunteers and those egg-salad sandwiches.”
When the two children were released, Dorothy Ann was fine and suffered
no ill effects from the disease. Michael however suffered paralysis of
his right leg and hip.
“We went to physical therapy three times a week for four years,”
Maydelle recalls. “Our pediatrician at Texas Children’s Hospital, Dr.
Matthew Burnet, was great. He found us a good orthopedist and
therapist and was always there for us.”
The doctors told the Burkhalters Michael wouldn’t walk until he was at
least 3. He surprised them all and started walking at 18 months with a
brace and crutches. Years later, he underwent two surgeries to
lengthen his leg; the last was performed at Texas Children’s by Dr.
Richard Eppright when he was 18. Michael, now 50, still uses crutches
and a brace, as well as a wheelchair.
Maydelle has continued her relationship with Texas Children’s, working
in the toy and gift shops for most of the last ten years.
To
read other stories about Texas Children's patients, visit
Kids Courageous.
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Claude | David
| Fernando | Julie
Marcos
| Michael | Terra
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