Home for Christmas

This photo was taken on Christmas Eve at # 64 Interboro Parkway (my Grandma and Grandpa Fries' House) in Brooklyn, NY (circa 1950). My brother, Marty sits in the middle.  He was home from St. Charles Hospital (Port Jefferson, Long Island) for a short visit for the Christmas holiday.  He was admitted to St. Charles Hospital for rehabilitation after contracting polio in 1950.  He was diagnosed as having polio (via a Spinal Tap) at King's County Hospital in Brooklyn after falling in the kitchen as he walked over to his highchair.  He was transferred to St. Charles Hospital where he lived for many months while he was given therapy by the Daughters of Wisdom nuns.   The polio affected the muscles in his lower extremity.  When he came home permanently on Good Friday the following year, he was surprised to see that there was no longer a Christmas Tree in the house.