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.