Very Early Life

When I was about 18 to 20 months old, I got Polio which was prevalent at the time. I was told that I was flown down to New Orleans to Charity hospital which was the biggest and best in the state at the time and was known for its polio treatment. I stayed in the hospital in New Orleans until past my 2nd birthday. I do remember some of it. I remember when I was about to get out, I had to get a shot and I did not like it at all. I was also told that I had treatment here at Baptist hospital in Alexandria for awhile. Luckily, the polio was non-paralitic. I just had to learn how to walk all over again. To this day, my legs seems to get weak sometimes and I feel like it is post-polio syndrome. I also am having some problems with balance which I am told is part of post-polio. At the same time that I had polio, my dad was going out with another woman that he had met at a bar. I remember once when I had to go to the hospital (I guess for a check up), the "girlfriend" was with him in the car. I'm not sure what I knew at the time except that it was not my mother. Not long after, my dad left all of us. I remember it very well. Everyone was crying. I don't know why, but I said "don't cry, he'll be back." He never did come back. For years my mom had us pray that he would return but he never did. This one event affected me for the rest of my life. It was like a chain that broke. It severly affected my confidence which to this day I feel is below par. For many years, I was very afraid to speak up in school and had what I felt was severe stage fright. I doesn't bother me much now. I think I have finally gotten over it or maybe I just don't care so it does not bother me as much.