Remarkable Life Journey of Paul Alexander, Iron Lung Survivor Who Passed Away at 78

Paul Alexander, who spent most of the last 70 years in an iron lung, passed away on Monday afternoon at the age of 78, as confirmed by his brother Philip Alexander.

His passing was shared on Tuesday through a GoFundMe page that was created to assist with his housing and healthcare expenses.

Philip expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming number of people who were inspired by Paul's story in the comments on the GoFundMe page. He finds it truly incredible.

The exact cause of Paul's death remains uncertain. Although he was hospitalized three weeks ago for a Covid-19 infection, Philip mentioned that Paul was no longer testing positive for the virus this week.

“Paul, you will be missed but always remembered. Thanks for sharing your story with us,” Christopher Ulmer, organizer of the GoFundMe fundraiser, said on the page.

Wastewater samples at a lab at Queens College on August 25 in New York City. - Since the first polio case was identified in July in New York's Rockland County, the disease has been detected in New York City sewage, suggesting the virus is spreading.

Wastewater samples were collected on August 25th at a lab in Queens College, New York City. This was done after the first case of polio was found in Rockland County in July. The presence of the virus in the city's sewage indicates that it is spreading. Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images

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Paul was diagnosed with polio in the summer of 1952 when he was just 6 years old. During that time, there was a polio epidemic, with over 21,000 cases of paralytic polio reported in the United States, as stated by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Luckily, thanks to vaccines developed in the late 1950s, polio is now considered eliminated in the United States, according to the CDC.

Paul was left paralyzed from the neck down and unable to breathe on his own due to the disease. He had to be placed in an iron lung, a large metal cylinder that varied air pressure to help him breathe, as mentioned in his autobiography.

In his autobiography, Paul's mother, Doris Alexander, recalled the doctors telling them that Paul would not survive. There were instances when the electrical power failed, and the lung had to be manually pumped. Their neighbors would rush over to help with the pumping in those situations.

Paul spent the next seventy years in an iron lung, and in March 2023, he was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the longest surviving iron lung patient in the world.

Despite his condition, Paul did not let it hold him back. He learned special breathing techniques that enabled him to step out of the iron lung for short periods. He managed to graduate from college, obtain a law degree, and worked as a courtroom attorney for three decades.

He even published his own autobiography called “Three Minutes for a Dog: My Life in an Iron Lung.” The title refers to his achievement of being able to breathe on his own for at least three minutes, which took him a year to accomplish. As a reward for this milestone, he received a dog, as mentioned in the book.

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In 2022, Paul mentioned to CNN that he was in the process of writing his second book. He showed his unique writing method by using a pen attached to a plastic stick held in his mouth to type on a keyboard.

"I have big dreams and I refuse to let anyone limit me," he shared during an interview. "My life is truly amazing."

Starting in January, he created a TikTok account under the name "Polio Paul." On this platform, he shared his achievements and responded to questions about living in an iron lung, such as "How do you manage daily tasks?" and "How do you keep a positive attitude?" By the time he passed away, he had amassed 300,000 followers and over 4.5 million likes.

Paul was also an advocate for polio vaccination. In his first TikTok video, he said, “the millions of children not protected against polio. They have to be, before there’s another epidemic.”

Editor's P/S:

Paul Alexander's passing is a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of polio and the remarkable resilience of those who have faced it. Despite living with a severe disability for most of his life, Paul refused to be defined by his condition. He achieved extraordinary feats, including graduating from college, obtaining a law degree, and writing an autobiography. His advocacy for polio vaccination underscores the importance of preventing this disease from reemerging in the United States.

Paul's story also highlights the advancements made in medical technology and the dedication of healthcare professionals who support individuals with complex conditions. The iron lung, which became Paul's lifeline for seven decades, is a testament to the ingenuity of medical science. The support of his family, friends, and community played a crucial role in his ability to live a fulfilling life despite his physical limitations. Paul's passing is a loss not only for those who knew him but for all who were inspired by his indomitable spirit.