Share you and your family’s memories about epidemics and scourges of the past and how the Roe Jan region survived them. Perhaps you recall stories your grandparents shared about living through the 1918 Spanish Flu, the scourge of Polio, the impacts of Lyme Disease, and more - Help us build an online "memory book"
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This post was submitted to the RJHS via email. The following email exchange, sent to the RJHS, is mostly between Philip Rogers, and George & Walt Ashley. In addition to memories of a Polio epidemic and 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic, these exchanges give first-hand information and insight about the past and ever-changing landscape and society of local Roe Jan area towns, including Copake and Ancramdale. I know I learned a lot, and hope our Pandemic web log readers will also enjoy them. Hoping these stories will encourage more of our members to send emails or post entries on the Pandemics page of the RJHS website. You will be writing tomorrow’s history! RJHS President, Lesley Doyel ****** From: Philip Rogers Wednesday, June 24, 2020 To:…
In 2007, a colleague and I had an appointment a couple fo blocks from our office. I had to apologize — I couldn’t walk that far. We would have to take a taxi.
I was just one of the thousands in New York with Lyme disease. My worst symptom was neuropathy in my leg which prevented me from walking for more than five minutes. The pain had been increasing for more than six months but after several doctors’ visits, I still had not gotten a diagnosis. One doctor wanted to send me to a psychiatrist. Finally, a friend listened to my moaning and said ” Mary, you have Lyme disease.”
I should have known, having lived in my cabin in…