By Nikki Ilomanoski

My dad contracted polio in 1954 when he was 2 years old he was hospitalised and put in a cast, he has had polio ever since and even now at the age of 67 he has PPS (late effects of of polio) and I’m proud to say he is a post polio survivor.

My dad has taught himself through out his life how to stay up right on his own two feet; recently investing in an orthodic to assist him in staying mobile and upright. It has proved to be an amazing piece of equipment for him, it greatly assists his polio leg. I like to call him the bionic man.

“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.”

My dad had a flourishing boxing courier in his 20’s, winning many ameturer boxing titles. “Fly like a butterfly sting like a bee”.

If my mind can conceive it, if my heart can believe it – then I can achieve it. “Anything is possible” my dad adapted this type of thinking to his life, polio would never define him. ” It’s not wether you get knocked down it’s wether you get back up” he’s always had the “can do”attitude and determination to do what he puts his mind to.

My dad also became a underground miner in his 20’s starting in the lower ranks working his way up to a respected Operations Manager. He was also a Airleg Miner that required a lot of strength and durability which he had.

He is also an adventurer riding two wheel motorbikes from state to state. Motorbikes is one of my dads loves as his polio symptoms worsened he adapted to a three wheel trike so he could still follow his dreams of riding motorbikes.

My dad is a polio survivor to this day and I’m proud to say he is a survivor.