Everyday, no every hour, we’re being bombarded by information around Covid-19. Some of it is positive, but most is frightening. Even my 95 year old mother says we’ve never faced anything like this, and she’s right, but there has been other life threatening epidemics, but most of us either weren’t alive, or don’t remember them.

A couple of week’s ago my cousin, Dr. Daniel Hayes of the University of Michigan’s Rogel Cancer Center, sent me an email with an article from the October 1949 edition of Popular Science, concerning  my paternal grandfather, James H. (Jack) Reichart. The article was about the iron lungs he made during the polio epidemic that devastated our world. I knew the story, hearing from my dad, John W. (Bill) Reichart, but was thrilled when Dan suggested that it needed to be presented to a national market.

I am the keeper of what I call “The Big Book” and was able to find articles from  Time Magazine, Redbook, and Popular Science about my grandfather, and how he stepped up to help a community in need. It’s a wonderful feel good story for a world in shock over a virus we can’t seem to control yet. But we will, just as we did polio.

I hope this story of my granddad, a man I never knew, will bring you the inspiration that it did me. He was an ordinary man, with an extraordinary gift, and he made a difference.

I am honored to be a part of a family with such a rich history in community service, and so thankful to have a cousin like Dan, who knew the importance of sharing it.

 

Until we read again…📚

Blessings,

Dana L.❤️

Post Script: My publisher, http://www.SYPPublishing.com

is offering a 40% discount on all SYP published books through April 15th. It’s her way of giving back and getting good books in the hands of people who are following the social distancing guidelines.

#stayathome  #readabook

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