Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio

Peg Schulze (later Peg Kehret after marrying Carl Kehret in 1955), born November 11 of 1936, was born in Wisconsin and raised in Minnesota. In 1948, at the age of 12, Peg contracted polio and her struggle to recover from the disease strongly influenced who she became. The first chapters describe Peg’s life prior to her diagnosis where she lives a relatively carefree life in the Midwestern town of Austin, Minnesota. Her family consists of her happily married parents, Elizabeth and Bob Schulze, and her brother, Art. Though Peg credits her year of polio as being incredibly formative to her current personality, the natural characteristics of her personality at the age of 12 are the most significant reasons behind her miraculous recovery. Peg’s rebelliousness, stubbornness, and endless drive and dedication push her to fight when most children her age might have given up. Despite social isolation, indifferent doctors, insensitive nurses, pitiless therapists, and countless other challenges standing in Peg’s way, she remains steadfast in her desire to recover. The largest formative change from Peg’s year of polio is exemplified by the memoir’s theme of The Impact of Adversity on Perspective. Peg’s compassion, maturity, perception, and values change drastically throughout her treatment and recovery.