Simon's Blog

Once upon a time in a tiny village far away there was a beautiful girl called Pretty Maid Ibronka. She was the most beautiful girl and yet she had no sweetheart. Every time her sisters came to sew together, young men gathered around them, but she sat alone. 'If only I had a lover!' she cried out one night. I don’t care if he was the devil himself.’ That night after midnight, the door swung open and there stood a handsome young man. He smiled at everyone then came and sat by Pretty Maid Ibronka. He was a charming man and once when he smiled, she forgot what she was doing and dropped her bobbin. Reaching for the bobbin, she found something hard and cleft between her fingers. Startled, she drew back her fingers. The young man bent down, scooped up the bobbin and handed it to her. She smiled thinking that she was mistaken about what she had felt. When evening came, the young man embraced Ibronka's and said goodnight. The next day feeling somewhat confused, Ibronka went to ask a...

Elizabeth Kenny was a self-trained Australian nurse who developed controversial therapy for polio patients. Her pioneering approach revolutionized rehabilitation for polio patients and laid the groundwork for modern physical therapy. Early in her life she was home-schooled and only received a few years of formal education. At 17, she broke her wrist after falling from a horse. When her father took her to Dr. McDonnell for treatment, she began studying his anatomy books and model skeleton. From this experience she started a lifelong friendship with Dr McDonnell who later became her mentor and advisor.   In July 1912, after several years of studying and hands-on experience, she opened St. Canice's clinic where she provided restorative and midwifery services describing her first encounter with a patient with infantile paralysis. “Sensing that the patient’s muscles were tight, I applied hot compresses made from woolen blankets to their legs.” In May 1915 she announced that she would be...