A Novel inspired by true events

Epidemic Virus Outbreak; No Vaccine Available

Presidential Candidates Spar in Election Year

Sweeping Immigration Reform Vote

Hottest Month on Record for New York

Headlines ripped from 2020 news stories? Actually, the year was 1952.

The year 1952 was also a presidential election year and it, too, was filled with headlines about the controversial McCarran-Walter Immigration Act and its sweeping reform. In New York, July 1952 set a new record for the hottest month ever recorded in the state.

That same year a more ominous record-setting statistic emerged as America faced a perilous epidemic viral outbreak for which there was no known vaccine, and no cure: poliomyelitis, commonly known as polio. When the virus swept across the country it was the most feared disease in American culture. The year 1952 marked the height of the polio epidemic in the U.S., with more than 58,000 reported cases of the disease, resulting in 21,000 cases of paralysis, and 3,000 deaths. When paralysis impacted the diaphragm, the ominous iron lung was a last hope for patients unable to breathe on their own — if one was available.

And through it all, America moved forward. With grit and determination, missteps and magnificent achievements, America moved forward. The perseverance and collective goodwill of the everyman and the everywoman pushed America to find its way.

Heroes and Homeboys

New York City cab driver Ben Wilson was enjoying his drive to the airport that February morning in 1952. His passenger was his WWII Army buddy, pilot Joe Martinez, who’d just formed a small air cargo company with two weathered C-47s, luck, and a prayer. With the best of intentions the men promise to stay in touch.

The year passes quickly, filled with remarkable news stories. Candidates spar in a Presidential election year. July becomes the hottest month ever recorded for New York. The height of the polio epidemic spreads across America—with no vaccine available.

In December, a cocky young reporter named David Lindsey is assigned to write a story for his paper’s upcoming holiday section. His editor tells him to interview “the Santa Claus Girl” at New York General Hospital. Unenthusiastic about the assignment, the young reporter begrudgingly heads to the hospital. After an eye-opening interview, David learns that a little girl was recently hospitalized with the onset of polio. The girl’s life depends on treatment in an iron lung, but because of the scale of the epidemic none are available. The reporter stumbles upon the story of Ben and Joe who’ve devised a daring plan to procure a respirator for the young patient. Ben reveals they were inspired by their former teacher, Virginia O’Hanlon—“the Santa Claus Girl.” Unaware of the story’s front-page potential, the rookie reporter unwittingly amplifies the plans of the humble do-gooders. But Ben must overcome a race against time, public fear of the disease, and demons from his past, to transport the life-saving machine to New York City. When a snowstorm threatens to close the airports, can the cabbie’s colleagues mobilize to rescue the mission before it’s too late?

Armed with a new angle on his holiday story, the once cynical reporter discovers the power of the press is matched by the larger power of the people who unite for the greater good.

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Patricia P Goodin, Author, The Santa Claus Girl

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