A Coal Miners Bride is a historical fiction book by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, published in 2000. It tells the story of Anetka Kaminski, a 13-year-old Polish girl who comes to America as a promised bride to a Pennsylvania coal miner. Anetka’s diary entries provide readers with a glimpse into her life in Poland in 1896, immigration to America, marriage to a coal miner, widowhood, and happiness in finding her true love.
The book touches on topics such as harsh mining conditions, immigration, socialism, unionism, child-labor, and arranged marriage. The book is a good introduction to immigrant history, focusing on the life of a late 19th century mail-order bride. The book covers topics such as mining company tools, mining equipment, and labor issues.
A Coal Miners Bride is a valuable resource for students studying immigrant history, as it provides a detailed account of Anetka’s life in Poland, immigration to America, marriage to a coal miner, widowhood, and happiness in finding her true love. The book also serves as a study guide for miners, providing information on stop and start controls, shutting off power to all equipment in affected areas, and navigating the miner’s work environment.
In conclusion, A Coal Miners Bride is a captivating and insightful account of Anetka’s life in Poland, her journey to America, her marriage to a coal miner, her experiences in the mines, and her eventual happiness in finding her true love.
📹 A Coal Miner’s Bride: the Diary of Anetka Kaminska (Dear America)
Http://j.mp/2bGzQwa.
📹 He’s Been Locked In This Machine For 70 Years – Paul Alexander
Let’s learn about Paul Alexander the man who’s been locked in this machine for almost 70 years. Suggest a topic here to be …
I am one of the 300,000 survivors at age 79. Polio 9/5/1953 – paralytic unable to walk. Never into an iron lung. Use a wheelchair 24/7. Confined to home living on S/S. I feel for Paul and am sympathetic with his situation. Good luck to him, my prayers go out to him. Thanks for this article. John Cruckshank, Carver MA.
When I was a toddler, my mom noticed that my right leg was slightly smaller than my left, and rushed me immediately to the hospital. Indeed I got the polio, but because my mom noticed it very early, now my right leg is just very slightly smaller than the left, and I don’t feel any discomfort or any abnormality. Only my right shoes are always looser than the left. Lucky me.
Paul lived his life out of spite, and I respect that. “You’ll never graduate high school” Paul: *graduates top of the class without even being there* “you won’t get into college” Paul: *fights it for two years until he gets in* “you will never pass law school, it’s way too difficult” Paul: *does it anyway*
Poor Paul, at my current age I can tell you without a doubt that I could not survive that iron lung due to claustrophobia alone. You have to factor in that Paul was placed in that machine at a very young age and children adapt much better than adults, it’s all he knew. I was born without hearing, completely deaf but many surgeries later I joined the hearing world at age 13.. and I hated it! The sound of birds and traffic (etc..) terrified me! Being deaf was all I knew and I didn’t feel that I needed to be fixed but eventually I adapted. Paul’s story is very inspiring, what an amazing man. He was so accomplished compared to many of us who didn’t have the struggles he did. I paused this article and purchased his book, I’d like to know more about him. Thank you for featuring his story. 👍🏼😊🌻
Rest In Peace Paul, Earlier this week Paul Alexander, “The Man in the Iron Lung,” passed away on March 11th, 2024. Despite battling polio in his youth, he spent over 70 years confined to an iron lung. Throughout his lifetime, Paul pursued many years in education, became a lawyer, and even was a successful published author. His remarkable journey touched countless lives worldwide, serving as a true inspiration to so many. Paul’s legacy as an extraordinary role model is sure to endure in the memories of many. Take Care Paul, you are at peace now. Ljay 🙌🙌🙌
My father contracted polio, everyone told him that he’ll never amount to anything. He went to school and then college, graduating and majoring in engineering drafting. Working for the US government. He gave all of us, his children, 7 of us a very active and playful, adventurous, positive life. He’s in his 70’s . And still sharp as a knife. I love my father ❤️
Hello there while working my way through nursing school i was a private care taker for Paul for a short time. I would come over, cook food for him, bath him, etc… the biggest thing that amazed me about Paul was at that time he was a Practicing Attorney in Dallas Texas. He trained himself how to frog breathe, he would swallow air and force into his lungs. He could stay outside his iron lung for a few hours. An incredible feat which made me realize the will to live and the pursuit happiness knows no bonds. Time passed our lives parted as my career and family took another direction. I have thought of him often this was a great article to catch in my YouTube feed. Love you Paul
I remember my mother’s fear about us catching polio… She was terrified! When I was in elementary school, the father of one of my schoolmates, was confined to an “iron lung”… I remember standing in line, at my school, Granada Hills Elementary School, to receive the Salk vaccine! Many years later, our entire family stood in line to be given a sugar cube that had been dosed with Dr. Sabin’s vaccine… I am almost 76…and those memories are as clear as if it had been yesterday!
You are a hero, Paul. God bless you. I was born in 1946, near the year Paul was born. I remember not being allowed to play outside one summer (maybe more?) because of the fear of getting polio. In particular, I couldn’t play in parks, sandboxes, or swim in any public swimming place. I guess I was nine before a vaccine existed. I am grateful I didn’t get it nor anyone I knew. But I always remembered the pictures of rooms filled with children in iron lungs. So very sad.
Paul is truly a living legend! I mean he helped develop the first Polio vaccine,he has 2 degrees and wrote a book! He has literally accomplished more than the average person has with the use of their entire body in my opinion. This is an example of never giving up no matter what obstacle is in your way.
This was such a great informative article, and Paul is definitely an inspiration of tremendous courage and tenacity for all of us, may God bless him! I can’t even imagine how he could live for 70 years in an Iron Lung and not be able to live his life the way he wanted (such as getting married and having a family of his own). I feel so bad for him and sympathetic to his plight. However, Paul getting his college degree and becoming a lawyer was so wonderful and inspirational that I feel that there is no excuse for anyone in this world who is healthy to not succeed in something because Paul has. Wow, thank you for this article, I did not know about the Iron lung and the number of children who had to live in these machines and those children that died. Again, thank you!❤
Paul’s story moved me to tears. I am totally in awe of all he has achieved in his life. Not sure I could’ve hacked the iron lung. I believe everyone has a purpose in life and Paul’s has been to teach us humility, courage, stamina, perseverance and, let’s face it, he must truly LOVE life. 👏👍👊🙏 Well done, sir.
What’s really amazing — and often understated — about Salk’s vaccine story is that he willingly gave up his chance to monetize it because he was more concerned with ensuring it got to as many people as possible than with what it meant for him. The reason all the later improvements were possible was ultimately down to Salk’s complete selflessness.
YES!! I am one of the “Polio Pioneers” My first grade class got on a bus and went to a community center where we lined up and a nurse gave us a shot. Some of us cried but it wasn’t bad. I remember seeing iron lungs in the hallway of our hospital and thinking about the poor people in that thing. Thanks for this article.
My husband contacted polio as a baby he couldn’t take a single step until he was 7 years old and his uncle who had worked on physical development had worked with him since diagnosis. He is 73 years old now and good health for his age apart from constant back ache. Seeing this I realised how lucky he was UK resident
Bless you, Paul. If anyone is deserving after having such a fighting spirit and accomplishing all that you have without even moving from that machine…it’s you. The only thing that I can say is that I hope you have a continual host of machinists willing to regularly keep an eye on your machine and replace parts as needed and I hope that your next life after this is marvelous and full of freedom.
There used to be a man who lived in Hertfordshire who lived in an iron lung due to having Polio when he was a young child. He was very liked and he was always cheerful. Always made me feel a little ashamed of myself as I am fit and healthy but do like to have a whinge about this and that. Paul and all the others that live in iron lungs are an inspiration to us all.
What ever pure strength this man has inside him…whatever the substance that make his soul so strong is made of I have no idea what it is because so pathetically little of it resides within myself. I’ve been given a wealth of strength and resilience and health in my body that he never had….and yet I am 32 with no degree no serious job prospects although I was a truck driver for 7 years….I’m 32 and dying of likely heart failure and liver and kidney disease, due of course to rampant drinking and selfish decisions. I am in awe of your achievements sir and ashamed of myself. Meanwhile this man wrote a book with a pen to tap keys on a keyboard whilst locked in his iron lung! Pure legend
There’s gotta be something better. With all this technology you would think he would be out of that iron lung now. Well thank God for the people who designed it and maintaining it for him. He is a huge inspiration to all. I just can’t imagine going through what he’s going through. We all complain about little things, but nothing can compare to his life. Godspeed my friend🙏🏻🇺🇸
It’s worth mentioning that polio will come back to haunt you decades later, in the form of post-polio syndrome. My grandfather got polio as a child and almost ended up in an iron lung himself – he was paralyzed from the waist down for about two years immediately after, and lost a lot of his teeth. He’s well into his 70’s now dealing with post-polio syndrome slowly killing the muscles in his legs and he’s more prone to falling over, but our family and his doctors keep a close eye on him.
My dad had polio. He had it in his leg. He got surgery over time and now can walk normally now but sadly he can’t move is ankle and he has one shorter leg than the other but he is living normally! The only reason why one foot is shorter than the other is they left a growing plate on him to long after the doctor uh- you know what we won’t go there, might be triggering. But other than that he’s happy. And guess what. He is now 73 and turning 74 this year and is still working I love my dad. ❤ and he always cares for me and his wife.
I’m gonna say this to everyone including myself I woke up today feeling very depressed as I normally do because life can be a pain in the ass after perusal this article and thinking about other things and knowing that 2023 is a new year for us all in some sort of way, if we’re not locked into a machine and we’re still walking and talking and breathing and living then everyone of us should get the fuck outside even if it’s raining, flooding or whatever and do something good for ourselves or someone else and just have a good time and be grateful that we’re alive and healthy. Be grateful. I am fucking grateful right now for everything I have regardless of all the circumstances I am grateful.
IT’S CURIOUS When people say “Polio Paul ” is a sad story when his entire daily life was all about trading in a “sad story” for an amazing, inspiring legend. Mr. Alexander taught us that whatever challenging circumstances we are in thinking we have no control Paul Alexander reminds us we always have control over one thing (if we are courageous & brave enough) and that is our attitude as AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE WILL ALWAYS CREATE YOUR ALTITUDE. May angels lead you in Brother ✨
What an amazing man. God blessed him with smarts and the ability to never give up. I remember standing in the auditorium at El Segundo elementary in Compton, Ca. waiting to get the polio vaccine it was in the 1950’s i was born in 1949. I have to say i was pretty glad when they came out with a sugar cube one. Thanks for sharing, stay safe, and God Bless
Brilliant job on this article thanks. I once went out with a woman who had polio, she did have a horrible walk my poor love. Gophers came along (you know the battery operated disability buggy) This was her chance to get some independance! Go where she wanted anytime, yes this would be great. We had very little money to throw around to buy one ($5000 was needed) so we heard the gov was helping others out so we went and sat down with them and pleaded her case. They only wanted to change the car so she could drive it using a handle and a throttle and the steering wheel, I said that was great !! “but” I said, “do you think the supermarket would mind if she drives the car down the isle?” omg that just made the government officer lol.. We got the Gopher!! lucky I was young enough so we could pack it up into the car boot and she was finally able to go shopping yay !!! You should have seen the smile she had cruising around on her gopher, twas from ear to ear, I was so happy for her. I feel for every polio sufferer, the strength and will of them is incredible! and if you can give them some independence, that makes the world go round for them.
Amazing! I remember my mother taking me to the fire house in our small town – they were administering the polio vaccine to children via the sugar cube(s). It made an impression on me. I never knew about everything associated with polio – thank you for the education and for telling the story of this brave man! Thank you Paul, for sharing your story!!
Paul’s journey is remarkable and inspiring. I must add that the vaccine and near-eradication of polio would not have happened without the involuntary contribution of Henrietta Lacks. It was the experimentation with the cells from her dead body, without informed consent, that helped bring about this miracle. We can appreciate outcome AND recognize the questionable ethics that lead to that outcome.
My mother suffered from polio her whole life. She originally lost the use of her legs, but got it back after a few years. But she had suffered bad nerve damage, and she would suffer from severe migraines and leg pains for her entire life 🙁 She did a lot to try and get focus on post-polio sufferers in my country (with little success).
For many years, vaccines prevented diseases. This changed during the Covid pandemic however when the vaccines failed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Rather than committing to further research in the search for a vaccine the American Medical Association simply changed its definition of the word vaccine to include a drug that lessens the severity of a disease. Such as taking zinc can lessen the severity of the common cold. I am so glad that the polio researchers did not try to change their definition of a vaccine 😢😮
He actually hasn’t lauded there for 70 years straight. Not exactly. Dude taught himself to “breathe a different way”. His physical therapist taught him how to trap air in his throat, then his beck and throat muscles force the air down into his lungs. The PT told him if he could do it for 3 minutes, they’d buy him a puppy. Took him a year, but he did it. Then, he wanted to be able to play with his puppy out in the sunshine. After so long, he made it an entire hour outside his iron lung. Then, he eventually made it to 2 hours. After so long of practicing this breathing method, it became muscle memory & he was able to do it s bit easier, without having to consciously think about it as much. That right there is an even more inspiring story itself
A bit disappointed they you didn’t mention Wilma Rudolph. Idk if she’s just a local legend here in Clarksville, TN, but whenever I think of Polio, I always think of her and her amazing story, as not only did she beat it, she went on to be both an inspiration to polio survivors and the black community as she became famous track star.
My father had polio he had lost almost all the muscle in his legs. It was almost incredibly, let’s just say walking, was like standing on nails, but my father lived a life until 89 years old. He only died because of sepsis due to polios complications with the muscle structure of his very old lungs. It also damaged his heart and destroyed a kidney, it also destroyed muscles that they didn’t find out until much after his death. God bless the man that gave birth or impregnated my mother with eight boys his eight sons will populate the earth with more children than he could ever of strength of my beloved father, my beloved father, the father, with polio, has more children right now than most men could even imagine, we have a family so big that there will be memories of my father well into the next world war where I desperately hope my boys our boys all 30 of them plus the 20 girls do not have to go in to battle when I give you the number of 50 children. It’s true some are grandchildren. Some are our original children. I am the youngest I have no grandchildren, my oldest brother has great grandchildren. My father will live forever, and for that, I cannot grant anyone anything more than to thank the Lord for my father for my father‘s gift to us, and for my father‘s blessing, may God give his soul peace in heaven, and the muscles of God, for he suffered in silence with no, he played college football believe it or not his feet bled every day the metal spikes from the 1930s cleats dug into his feet, causing his socks to run red with blood.
Now I understand THE MARCH OF DIMES.. I always heard that, but never knew what it meant exactly. Very educational article! That’s so much for this upload! Also Paul was not only very intelligent, he had GREAT Will power! I don’t think I could live like that. I wonder, about being in there.. what to do when you need to use the restroom ? so awful
What an absolutely amazing story, what an amazing strong willful person he is, like I have never been inspired by someone’s story this much!! I’m strongly amazed by the amount of strong determination he has, the will to do everything from study to work to write despite his disability is just astonishing, what a strong person he is from mind! A true inspiration of not giving up, not letting others opinion inside you, I’m blessed to know about this story…loved it from my heart, we need more people like him! Filled with passion strong mindset and determination, I couldn’t resist myself from commenting this❤️❤️❤️❤️
My Mom worked with a lady that was confined to a wheelchair and could barely speak that had contracted polio as a child. She actually adopted one of my Grandma’s farm kittens and lived in a really nice house in one of the elite parts of town. She passed away in 2003 at the age of 70. She would have been 71 in a couple months.
My grandad had polio as a child. The doctors said he’d never walk again. His mum stuck him on a bicycle to try and build his legs back up. It worked. Lived a normal life, if anything him not being eligible for conscription may have saved him dying in ww2. He never stopped loving cycling. Used to do solo LEJOG trips.
My husband and a past boyfriend are polio survivors who got polio before the vaccine. Husband’s back muscle on one side was permanent shriveled, but he still was drafted for Vietnam and served. My old boyfriend had to have an elevated shoe for his small, short leg, as did a girl I remember in high school. I feel fortunate to have received the 1961 vaccine along with my siblings. We also have survived COVID because of that vaccine as well. Some f us are into our 70s and have been highly vaccinated due to being raised in a military family. Our parents lived into their 90s, also vaccine believers. Vaccine ingredients should be made public and be the property of the people for the good of humanity and to share as good American public relations with other countries (if Americans invent it), just like Mr. Salk did for our country, unlike tax-supported big Pharma.
That’s what polio does. And that’s why we have vaccinations for it now. The situation of polio is like the situation of virus we have today. And then we got the vaccine for polio and it’s all but disappeared. Maybe I’m just ignorant of the numbers but since I’ve been alive (20 years) I haven’t heard of a new polio case
i mean, idk if i would even want to live like this, would take a very strong willed person, for me though, sorry but it’s the same as being in a coffin for 70 yrs, that isn’t living, that’s existing, his courage is monumental, can’t imagine his strong will & tenacity, a miracle to be certain, & imagine the person that actually engineered this device to keep him alive when all others more or less gave up whole heartedly, i guess being faced with the prospect of this is almost alien to me, i am claustrophobic terribly as well so this is spooky for me, i love the courage he had as well to trust this, it just seems almost cruel though as well, idk it brings up so many emotions it’s impossible to even gauge being told this is your life forever, hard to put it into words really
We had A lady a few towns over in an iron long. She had beautiful long hair and A great since of humor. She would be in the parade as a yellow submarian. I can’t even image so many people lived like that. Bless them all. Oh Judy was her name if anyone else comes to the comments and remembers her. she had one of those mirrors too. Great to see this guy did so much.
Just to say, FDR is more likely to have suffered a cold that lead to Guillion-Barre Syndrome (GBS). Unlike with polio, sufferers of GBS will more often than not regain partial motion of their affected body parts/limbs. FDR did regain partial motion in his legs but was never able to really walk. My grandmother caught Legionaires Disease and developed GBS, which is an autoimmune disorder caused when the immunoresponse decides to attack the central nervous system. My grandmother eventually regained much of her leg feeling but she had to use a cane (and later a walker) for the rest of her life. People with polio never, in the vast majority of cases, regained any feeling or mobility.
I can remember summers when parents were reduced to nervous wrecks and we children were kept indoors because someone in the neighborhood had polio. For some odd reason, there wasn’t much information passed around about how the disease spread, but there were a lot of unfounded rumors and superstitions. I also remember many prayers raised for Dr. Salk when his vaccine was proven effective.
I remember when schools were used to give polio and two other inoculations I can’t remember them now it was so long ago in 1950’s. But yes it was serious, everyone knew someone who had it, we had a little girl couple doors away and she died. She was only about 5 years old. Polio victims were part of every day life in London.
This has not been eradicated and the vaccines had nothing to do with it, as cases were dropping way before they even introduced the vaccine. I normally like your vids, but apparently need to fact check them all now, since your “research” isn’t thorough enough. Kudos to the man in the iron lung. It goes to show our determination and will outweighs any obstacles we may face.