Sep 20, 2011

My Story: Little Martha Richburg Dimery

I find that in talking with someone you learn the most interesting things. People walk around in their daily lives, most with smile on their face and you never know what their lives have been like.
Everyone does indeed have a story to tell. Most of us have lots of stories to tell. I find it amazing to see how people react to their circumstances. Most do so with such grace and wisdom.
This story is told by one of our Spotlight individuals "Banjo Martha Richburg Dimery"
Thanks for sharing with us.


In 1948, at the age of 5, I was stricken with poliomyelitis..a virus that affects the nervous system and the spinal cord.  . Dr. Hart had just joined Dr.Julian Price's practice and he was summoned to Kershaw St., T'ville,S. C., to a little girl ..Martha Ann Richburg who was suspected to have polio..On a soft feather bed,  lay a scared 5 year old girl waiting to have fluid drawn from her spine...She cried and  could not be still during the procedure...but Dr. Hart prevailed and  removed the fluid that he needed....


After 3 months in the Columbia Hospital, I was fitted with a brace and crutches and was able to start the first grade on time...Mama was so worried....She didn't know how I would get to school, but God intervened and put it up on the heart of Jack “Smack” Fryer to stop and pick me up on his way to  high school.  I will always love “Smack” for helping me. 


My brother, Tommy, was one year older than me and he died with polio the year before I was stricken.....Mama had such a great loss that she never got over it. In later years.I was priviledged to bake cakes for Dr. Hart..after his retirement and he really seemed to appreciate them..He was a wonderful doctor and friend and all through his career and he would mention the little girl from T'ville...one of his first polio patients....Here are two thank you notes that he sent to me:


Martha's New Blog!

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