Being positive when faced with polio

Being positive when faced with polio

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Everyone wants their children to be born healthy and normal with
all parts of the body functioning well. But, for Elly Sunarlia,
who cannot move her legs due to polio, such normalcy no longer
matters so much as she has been living out her life in a "more
than merely normal way."

"I do all my activities myself. I also do all my home chores
like ironing clothes, sweeping, cooking etc.," said Elly, who
will celebrate her birthday next Tuesday, and will be "slightly
over 40".

Forty years ago, polio cases were rampant and it had taken a
large toll. In the 1980s, there were around 3,000 cases in the
country, while in 1994, the Ministry of Health only recorded 15
polio cases.

The government started the national immunization week in 1995.
This year, the first round of the program started on Sept.12,
while the second round kicked off on Wednesday. It should be the
last one as Minister of Health Achmad Sujudi claimed that
Indonesia was now free of the disease.

Polio, which attacks the central nervous system and causes
temporary or permanent paralysis, has put Elly in a wheelchair.
But this does not prevent her from going out as at least once
every two weeks, she regularly goes to shopping malls or visits
friends.

Elly's dexterous hands also allow her to do lots of tailoring,
including designing costumes and sewing. And she has another
talent to envy, her voice.

Since 1996, Elly has traveled around Australia, China, Japan
and Singapore as a cultural envoy in international forums for the
disabled.

Elly, who resides at a boarding house belonging to the
Foundation for Disabled Children (YPAC) on Jl. Hang Lekiu III,
South Jakarta, said that she also sings at parties, ceremonies,
and charity gatherings here.

"Last year, I sang for drug users who were treated at
Fatmawati hospital for drug dependency in South Jakarta to give
support to them. With my paralyzed legs, but full confidence in
my future, I want to show them that they still have a lot of hope
in their lives," Elly asserted.

Elly was diagnosed with polio when she was five. She was
forced to quit school as she had to undergo physical treatment
besides recurrent surgery on her legs.

Sometimes blaming God for treating her unfairly, young Elly
often wallowed in self-pity over the cards she was dealt.

Elly remarked recently, however, that she now felt very lucky
to have a family who fully accepts her condition. Her father
worked at the army while her mother is housewife.

She learned many skills at the YPAC. "I also attend several
courses including English and singing," said Elly.

Yet, Elly admitted that at times, she still experiences some
self doubt.

"While singing on stage with dim lights, my tears often run
down face due to self-pity. Fortunately, the audiences do not
know that. Perhaps, they think I am very touched by the song,"
Elly said jokingly.

After a long time getting past the difficult moments, Elly
revealed that she came to a simple principle.

"The fact is that I cannot walk. That's okay. But, I don't
want it to get worse by being depressed so that people have
reasons to send me to hospital for insanity," Elly joked again.

She remarked that her stay along with other disabled people in
the foundation's boarding house had greatly eased the emotional
pressure on her disability as many people suffer worse than her.

"Being physically normal is not everything for me as I still
can do lots of things in my life despite my disability," said
Elly, who plans to open her own clothing outlet soon.