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Last US Iron Lung Patient Dies at 78
10 Jul
Summary
- Martha Lillard, the last U.S. iron lung user, passed away at age 78.
- She contracted polio at age 5 in 1953 and lived with an iron lung for over seven decades.
- Lillard died on June 26 from COVID-19, continuing to use her iron lung for comfort.
Martha Lillard, recognized as the last polio survivor in the United States to utilize an iron lung, passed away at the age of 78. She succumbed to COVID-19 on June 26. Lillard's life took a significant turn in 1953 at the age of five when she contracted polio, a severe infectious disease prevalent at the time.
Polio's impact left Lillard paralyzed, necessitating the use of an iron lung, a large, cylindrical ventilator. Despite the development of more modern breathing apparatus, Lillard preferred the iron lung, considering it the most comfortable solution for her needs. She lived for over seventy years with this life-sustaining technology.
Before the 1955 vaccine, polio caused tens of thousands of deaths in the U.S. Survivors often faced paralysis or relied on iron lungs. Lillard recounted waking with neck pain and paralysis at age five, with the iron lung saving her life. Initially spending 23 hours daily in the device, she eventually learned to walk again and could manage the iron lung independently.
Lillard continued to use the iron lung, primarily for sleeping, finding it a vital respite for her breathing. She explained her preference stemmed from comfort and a deep-seated gratitude for the machine that saved her life. The device occasionally presented challenges, including power outages during severe weather, requiring emergency assistance.
Her husband, sister, brother-in-law, and extended family survive her. A GoFundMe campaign has been initiated to assist with funeral expenses.
