SouthernWorldwide.com – The last American to live with the aid of an iron lung has passed away at the age of 78. Martha Lillard, who was diagnosed with polio as a child, had been a lifelong user of the breathing apparatus.
Lillard contracted polio at the age of five, a diagnosis that resulted in paralysis from the neck down. This condition necessitated the use of the iron lung to assist her breathing during sleep.
The COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges for Lillard, as she contracted the virus twice. These infections led to her reliance on the iron lung for nearly 24 hours a day.
Her sister, Cindy McVey, shared with The Associated Press that doctors had predicted Lillard would not live past twenty years old. Despite this grim prognosis, Lillard possessed a remarkable spirit and determination to live her life to the fullest.
Even with polio, Lillard managed to attend school for two hours daily as a child. She received additional education through tutors for the remainder of her schooling. An intercom phone system enabled her to communicate with teachers and classmates from home.
Lillard’s childhood also included road trips, made possible by a specially designed trailer that could accommodate the iron lung. Her father played a crucial role in ensuring hotel accommodations had doorways wide enough for the machine.
The iron lung is a type of negative-pressure ventilator. It was designed to assist patients with paralyzed lung muscles in breathing.
Before the development of a vaccine in 1955, polio was a significant public health concern. It caused thousands of paralysis cases in children annually during outbreaks in the early 20th century.
By 1979, the United States had successfully eliminated polio.
Through extensive therapy, Lillard later regained some use of her left arm and legs. She was even able to drive for a period.
Lillard maintained an independent lifestyle for many years. Earlier this year, she married a man from Egypt with whom she had corresponded for two decades, following his successful acquisition of a visa.
Her sister described their relationship as one of “soul mates” and noted that her husband is “extremely brokenhearted.”
Lillard, who her sister mentioned was a writer of poetry and a volunteer for the Humane Society, had only 25% lung capacity prior to her COVID-19 diagnosis.
Her death certificate indicates the causes were chronic pulmonary failure and post-polio syndrome. Her sister further elaborated that her passing was linked to the long-term effects of COVID-19.
