Ina Pinkney contracted polio 11 years before there was a vaccine, at the early age of 18 months. Marginalized, ostracized and ignored as a child she felt she received a 2nd chance at life when the surgery she had at 6 proved successful. Expecting to die, instead she flourished, and has lived an extraordinary life as culinary artist, baker, breakfast restaurateur, cookbook publisher and world renowned speaker about global influences on breakfast. 

Experiencing mind-numbing exhaustion and muscle weakness 40 years after the onset of the disease led Ina to find answers. She attended a conference to learn more and was surprised to find a huge community that was experiencing what is now known as Post-Polio Syndrome. As only Ina does, she dove in and became an activist. She is an international spokesperson for Rotary International PolioPlus Foundation and speaks about the late effects of polio and the need for continued vaccinations.

“It takes less energy to be courageous than it does to be afraid.”

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Connect with Ina:

Email: thebreakfastqueen@gmail.com

Book: INA’S KITCHEN: Memories and Recipes from the Breakfast Queen

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=INA%E2%80%99S+KITCHEN%3A+Memories+and+Recipes+from+the+Breakfast+Queen&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss

Documentary: Breakfast at Ina’s (on Amazon)