Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio

Peg’s legs are too weak to support her weight without her sticks, but Kenny manages to keep his grip tight and bears most of her weight. Alice sings beautifully and the pageant goes perfectly. Many people are surprised with Alice’s voice and compliment and congratulate her; Alice is pleased with the attention and the resulting conversations.

The next day, Miss Ballard hesitantly tells Peg she can go home for a Christmas visit. She doesn’t want Peg to undo her progress by getting too tired or damaging a muscle by overtaxing herself. Dorothy and Renée plan to go home for Christmas too, while Shirley’s family will visit her and Alice at the Sheltering Arms. Two days before they’re scheduled to leave, Dorothy gets pneumonia and her trip is canceled. She struggles to breathe, scaring all the girls, who fear that she might be moved back to University Hospital and put into an iron lung. When Peg’s parents arrive for her, her joy is overshadowed by fear that Dorothy might be gone when she returns. Her roommates are like sisters to her now.

Peg’s visit goes smoothly this time. She manages to walk up the front steps of the house on her own, bringing happy tears to her grandpa’s eyes.