The story of polio's rise to epidemic proportions in 1916 and its eventual eradication through vaccines in the 1950's. The documentary examines America's haunting fear of the disease it could not contain and tells the story of America's transcendence from that fear. The film crew traveled across America interviewing polio survivors, parents, doctors, physical therapists, journalists, and everyday citizens who have been affected by the disease. Featuring thousands of photographs and films from the 'March of Dimes' archives, the documentary presents authentic images from the American polio era which had been in storage for more than 35 years.