Helen Rosa

Lockdown Helen Rosa

During and up to the 1950's the Polio Virus was worldwide, which resulted in many losses of life. Not unlike Corona Virus it struck without warning. Those who survived the Poliomyelitis virus often ended up on crutches, in Iron Lungs and wheelchairs. Lockdown then as now was believed to be the safest way to prevent this virus from spreading. As a fifteen-year-old Ward Helper in an Infectious Disease Hospital I nursed in ward 12 which was the Iron Lung Ward. I began my nursing Training when I turned 17 and continued for 35 years working in almost every area of Nursing. I married a very patient man and together we had three amazing kids who are now Adult Frontline workers. As well as Nursing, I went to University to complete training in Welfare. I then worked in Child Protection areas, Family Violence and Juvenile Justice. I founded Night Squad and worked with young teens with support of others as part of a team, supporting teens within the family environments. I have fostered some kids and now in my senior years I find myself living with and caring for two Women with disability. Retirement does not appear to relate to me. Probably it's a good thing. I have just completed 20 years on air as a radio announcer. And so here we are with another virus with the same concerns that existed in the past. Of course, we have epidemics, however Corona Virus and Delta like Polio, in the writer's view, was and is Pandemic, and we throughout the world find ourselves back in lockdown. Perhaps you will find some hope through these pages.