Evening star., 1940-01-14
Paralysis Victim, ~, Remains Cheerful
Despite Long Battle to Regain Health
First Person Aided
By Foundation Tells
OF Sudden Illness

VI Sud0en illness
First individual to be assisted by
the newly organized District Chap
ter of the National Foundation for
Infantile Paralysis is 22-year-old
Marthann Toothman. This is her
story
One night, four months ago,
blond, blue-eyed Marthann went
dancing.
II was perfectly we'll that night"
she recalled, but the next morning
I felt like cold was coming on so
I stayed in bed. The day after that
I was getting weak. My arm went
bad. That was the day I tried to
get up. l started to walk across
the room and I fell down. That
was the last time I walked"
When they took Marthann to the
hospital they didn't tell her she had
infantile paralysis. They didn't tell
her because they didn't expect her
to live.
Serum Checks Spread.
She was paralyzed from her neck
to her feet. She couldn't swallow
and her jaw hung lax. Serum
checked the paralysis before it crept
up to her brain.
Today Marthann lies in Sibley
Hospital. Both legs are in casts.
Her chest is bound by a steel brace.
One arm is rigid in a metal splint.
But I have my other arm" Mar
thann pointed out gayly Il can
turn on the radio. can do many
other things-even hold my head
up"
Figuratively speaking as we'll, %
year-old Marthann does hold her
head up. She jokes with the nurses,
she can talk about her dancing days
and the fun she used to have hiking
and camping without even a self
pitying grimace.
You might as we'll make your
self easy to get along with" she ex-
planned. You've got to be with
yourself all the time"
Constant Care Required.
Marthann will be in bed for at
least l8 months. doctors say, either
at Sibley or at nursing home. She
must have constant care and BIZ
weekly physical therapy to bring
weakened muscles back to strength.
In previous years, all the money
raised by the celebration of the
Presidents birthday and spent here
has gone to Children's Hospital, but
adults cannot be handled at Chill
dren's Hospital and so funds for
treatment for Marthann and other
adults to come must be allotted in
dividually.
Organized on December l, 1899,
the District Chapter of the National
Foundation for Infantile Paralysis
will receive half the funds raised
here by the Presidents birthday
celebration. The other SO per cent
Will 60 to the National Foundation
to combat epidemics and to labor
on In the research which some day,
it is hoped, will halt the dread dis
ease.
The money used locally will be
for the assistance Of poliomyelitis
victims, carrying them through the
acute illness, providing therapeutic
care and supplying funds for the
splints and braces which not only
protect weak muscles but prevent
deformities.
Cases Handled Individually.
Each case will be handled indi-
vidually with the hospital or other
agency certifying the patients need
for care and financial assistance.
Long periods of disqualification.
braces and splints and therapeutic
care may strain a family's income
and that is where the District Chap
ter will lend a hand.
Funds to carry on the work of
the District Chapter are raised now
for the entire year. The chapter
must be prepared not only for
emergencies, but it must raise
enough funds to carry on the after
care which so often means the
difference between permanently
manned little bodies and ones that
grow strong and straight again.
From the Birthday Balls, the ma
tional March of Dimes and WASH
ington's own Mile O. Dimes, which
starts tomorrow under the sponsor
ship of The Star and the National
Broadcasting Co., the District Chap
ter will get its funds.
Markham won't donce for a Iopo
time, but If others dance-on the
night Of January 30-Marthann and
hundreds like her may walk again.