Hours each day in an iron lung kept her breathing, her will to live kept her alive
Summary
Martha Lillard was the last person in the United States to use an iron lung, a machine that helps people breathe when their lungs are weak. Despite her illness from polio, she lived an active and creative life until she passed away at age 78, mainly due to post-polio syndrome and lung problems.Key Facts
- Martha Lillard used the iron lung for about 73 years to help her breathe after contracting polio as a child.
- The iron lung works by creating a vacuum that helps the lungs expand and contract for breathing.
- Lillard lived in Oklahoma and was able to drive a specially adapted car, paint detailed landscapes, and use technology despite limited arm movement.
- She married her partner, Baha Salh, in February 2026 after he moved from Egypt to the US.
- Polio mostly affected children and caused paralysis; one in 200 infections lead to permanent paralysis, and many died if their breathing muscles were affected.
- The polio vaccine was introduced in 1955 and helped eliminate the disease in the US by 1979.
- Today, there are concerns about vaccine hesitancy, which means some people delay or refuse vaccines.
- Martha Lillard’s death was linked to long-term effects from polio and possibly complications from long Covid-19.
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