Rea of Hope, The Story of Betsy Fletcher Rea

A gallant woman's struggle. Polio was one of the most dreaded childhood diseases of the 20th century in the United States, crippling thousands, mostly young children. Such was the case with Betsy Fletcher Rae, who was stricken with polio in 1940, when she was just 9. Rea of Hope is her story.

Written and compiled by Sally Fletcher Holliday, Betsey's sister, Rea of Hope skillfully combines Sally's own memories, newspaper articles, letters written by Sally and Betsy's mother, and journal entries written by Betsy herself, to weave the tale of one family's battle against polio, and in later years, alcoholism.