The authors review briefly the extant subjective accounts of acute poliomyelitis and describe vividly and frankly the experiences of one of them during the acute stages of the disease. The state of disturbed somatic function with pain, paralysis, a period of encephalitic delirium, incipient bulbar involvement, and urinary and bowel dysfunction, roused various ego defenses against the fear of death and distortion of the body. Denial and displacement were used, and hypnagogic images occurred that were clearly overdetermined and restitutive. There was extensive narcissistic regression to a primitive ego state, with great need for authoritative figures and motherly nursing care. Recovery brought into action attempts at reintegration of the ego. Physicians and nurses can learn from this article how important they are as parents who can sustain hope.