Polio, short for poliomyelitis, is a viral disease that primarily affects children. It can lead to paralysis, often affecting the legs and soon paralyzing your lower body. Vaccination campaigns have made significant progress in eradicating polio globally, with only a few countries still reporting cases. However, what if we tell you there is a man who has been surviving polio for over 70 years now and is living in iron lungs? Here’s his tale that deserves a largescale acknowledgment.
The Guinness World Records declared a man named Paul Richard Alexander the longest iron lung patient
Paul Richard Alexander, better known as “Polio Paul” is a man who was diagnosed with Polio in the year 1952. He was merely 6 years old at that time and since then he has been living inside an iron lung for over 70 years. Having contracted polio in 1952, he stands as the sole survivor still relying on an iron lung for his respiratory needs.
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Born in the year 1946, Paul is 77 years old and hails from Texas, United States. It would be a sheer understatement to say that Paul Richard Alexander has endured this extraordinary journey. As per the reports of the New York Post, his remarkable endurance was officially recognized by the Guinness World Records in March this year, marking him as the longest-ever iron lung patient.
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What are iron lungs and how does it work?
Now the very obvious question that may come to your mind is what is an iron lung? Well, an iron lung is a lengthy, horizontal cylinder specially engineered to assist individuals lacking control over their respiratory muscles in breathing. This apparatus provides a confined space, with only the patient’s neck and head protruding outside.
The prime work of iron lungs is of course to help a person breathe however, this machine is as old as 1928, when it was first manufactured. Since the 1960s, it is not in production. Iron lungs are now regarded as outdated, with modern respiratory therapies having taken their place.
Paul endured the worst outbreak of Polio in the history of the United States
Paul Alexander’s life was irrevocably altered during one of the most devastating polio outbreaks in U.S. history, which saw nearly 58,000 cases. Polio, caused by the poliovirus, cripples by infiltrating the spinal cord, often leading to paralysis. It disrupts the essential communication between the central nervous system and muscles, rendering them too weak for independent breathing. This is exactly what happened with Paul.
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Although the United States achieved the status of being polio-free in 1979, thanks to the development of a life-saving vaccine, it came too late for Alexander. He bore the lifelong burden of being paralyzed from the neck down due to the relentless grip of polio.
He was then forced to undergo an emergency tracheotomy, a procedure that created an air passage through his neck to the windpipe. This is how he found himself reliant on an iron lung in order to fight against the deadly disease.
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By the time newer technologies came in, Paul became too accustomed to the iron lung ventilator
Back in 2020, Paul had an interview with The Guardian where is explained how even though newer technologies came in he became too accustomed to the iron lung ventilator which he referred to as the “old iron horse”.
He learned a technique called ‘frog breathing’ which used throat muscles to draw in small amounts of air. This allowed him to briefly breathe outside the iron lung, showcasing his adaptability to life’s challenges.
Polio did not stop Paul from pursuing what he sought in his life
Alexander accomplished remarkable feats while confined to the iron lung, including high school graduation from W W Samuell High School, college completion from the University of Texas at Austin, obtaining a law degree, practicing law for many years, and authoring a memoir.
Today, Alexander remains reliant on the iron lung, necessitating continuous care at a facility in Dallas, Texas, USA. His life is indeed an inspiration and worth appreciation!
