“The Man in the Iron Lung,” Paul Alexander, has died at the age of 78

Reports say that Paul Alexander has died. He was one of the last people to live in an iron lung. He had been alive for 78 years.

In 1952, Paul Alexander got polio when he was 6 years old. He quickly lost the ability to use most of his body. He had to be put into an iron lung to stay alive. An iron lung is a machine that helps people who have lost the use of their breathing muscles to breathe again.

Even after the huge setback, Alexander went to college, became a famous lawyer, and even wrote a book that was published.

Alexander would be in the iron box for more than 70 years.

Christopher Ulmer, a teacher, and YouTuber, talked to Alexander for his show, Special Books for Special Kids, in 2022. Ulmer started a GoFundMe effort after the interview to help Alexander pay for his medical care, keep his iron lung in good shape, and find affordable housing that would work for him. Ullmer said that Alexander was living in a one-room flat with no window at the time.

“Well, I didn’t die,” Alexander said in the interview. “God did not want me to die.” I kept living, though. It changed all the time. It was fun, though. It was nice. I liked the fight. I liked the obstacles. I liked the people.”

Alexander also talked about a way he was able to stay alive for hours at a time without a huge respirator. He did this by purposefully taking air.

Alexander said that he never thought about his permanent disability in terms of whether he thought it was fair or unfair.

He said, “I thought, ‘Wow, thank God He chose me to do this.'”

In March 2024, Ulmer updated the GoFundMe page to say that Alexander had died on March 11.

“His story spread far and wide, making people around the world better.” Ulmer wrote in the post, “Paul was a great example of a person who should be followed. He will be remembered.”

He also sent a message from Philip Alexander, Alexander’s brother.

“Thank you so much to everyone who gave money to my brother’s fundraiser.” He didn’t have to worry about anything during his last few years. During this hard time, it will also pay for his funeral. It’s crazy to think that Paul moved so many people after reading all the comments. Philip Alexander said, “I am just so thankful.”

Polio used to be one of the most feared diseases in the country. Every year, thousands of people were paralyzed when the illness spread. Kids are most likely to get this disease.

Starting in 1955, vaccines were made available. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that a national vaccination program cut the number of cases in the U.S. each year to less than 100 in the 1960s and less than 10 in the 1970s. Polio was declared “eliminated” in the U.S. in 1979, which means it is no longer being shared regularly.

As Spinks put it, Alexander loved being interviewed and was driven to show that handicapped people could be a part of society.

Chris Ulmer conducted an interview with Alexander in 2022. Ulmer is the founder of Special Books by Special Kids, a social media site where disabled people can share their stories.
Ulmer said that Paul liked motivating people and letting them know that they could do great things.

“There was such a lively and happy energy around him that it spread,” he said.

Cox said that over the years, Alexander’s story has inspired people all over the world.

Cox told him, “He could do it if he put his mind to it.”