Peggy Ann McCormack

Peggy Ann McCormack was born June 20, 1936 in Henly, Texas. It was within the Great Depression years and the family left Texas to move to the hills of Arkansas where land was cheap and farmland with a house could supply a garden and warmth for the family.  Peggy was 9 years old.  She had 2 brothers and 2 sisters. Her parents were Charles William and Isabell Rose McCormack. The small farm they chose was just outside of Elkins, Arkansas, located about 2 miles from the school bus route and the mail route.  Peggy grew up as an active tomboyish girl. Her schoolmates at Elkins Schools considered her friendly and happy.  She was a better than average student. For a short while the family moved to New Mexico. During that time she corresponded with an Elkins classmate before returning to Arkansas.

In 1952 at the age of 16 Peggy developed bulbar poliomyelitis, a condition that often produced permanent paralysis from the neck downward. This was the height of the polio epidemic and at that time there were no vaccines or any known cure for the disease.  Peggy was admitted to Fayetteville City Hospital cyanotic and in a coma. Dr. Joe B. Hall immediately placed her in an artificial respirator– an iron lung, a metal tube long enough to accommodate persons lying on their backs with heads extended outside. The tube was air tight with an electricity-powered bellows, which created positive and negative pressure within the iron lung to produce respiration. A mirror was attached to the frame to allow visual contact with visitors. Peggy lived in the iron lung thereafter except for a span of perhaps 2 hours each day.  Outside of the iron lung she used an airtight chest respirator or rocking bed. Dr. Hall continued to see her and remained her physician and life long friend.