Polio Paul dies at 78 – ‘The Man in The Iron Lung’, who lived in a tank for 70 years, has died
PAUL Alexander – the man who lived for seventy years in an iron lung – has died at the age of 78.
Commonly known as Polio Paulushe became paralyzed after suffering from polio in 1952, when he was six years old.
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After I came back from playing outside with a fever and a headache summerthe deadly virus took hold within a few days and Paul, out Texaswas rushed there Hopital.
Doctors operated on him to remove the mucus that had filled his lungs because his body could not remove it.
When he woke up, he was in the mechanical device – where he would spend most of his life.
Paul survived seven decades in the machine, but an update on his on Tuesday GoFundMe page announced that he died on Monday.
It reads: “Paul Alexander, ‘The Man in the Iron Lung’, died yesterday.
‘After surviving polio as a child he lived in an iron lung for more than 70 years.
“During this time, Paul went to college, became a lawyer and a published author.
“His story spread far and wide and positively influenced people around the world.
“Paul was an incredible role model who will still be remembered.
“Paul, you will be missed but always remembered.”
Polio is a deadly virus that attacks the spinal cord, leaving some survivors paralyzed.
It caused annual epidemics from the early 1900s through the 1950s, causing tens of thousands of children in the US and Europe to lose the use of their limbs each year.
Symptoms include high temperature, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiff neck and muscle pain.
Many affected children had to be placed in iron lungs – seven-foot-long metal boxes that use a vacuum to push air in and out of their own lungs.
In 1955, a vaccine was invented, which largely eradicated the virus and protected people against it.
But the vaccine came too late for Paul, who could no longer move from his neck down.
He had a team of rotating caregivers to clean and care for him, and used his mouth to manipulate a pen while writing or using a telephone.
What is polio?
POLIO is an infectious disease that can spread from person to person and mainly affects children under the age of five.
The disease affects the nervous system and can lead to paralysis in some extreme cases.
Polio is highly contagious and people can transmit it even when they are not sick.
There are two ways the virus passes from person to person.
The first is that people with poliovirus in their bodies excrete the virus through their feces.
The second way is that the virus can then spread to other people if they swallow contaminated water or food.
This exposure is more likely in areas with poor hygiene or weak water purification systems.
Polio is caused by a virus called poliovirus.
The virus enters the body through the mouth or nose and enters the digestive and respiratory systems.
It then harvests in the throat and intestines.
From there it can enter the bloodstream and attack the nervous system.
There are three types of poliovirus: types one, two and three. Types two and three have been eliminated, but type one still affects people in a few countries.
Although there is no cure, there is a safe and effective vaccine.
Even though more modern ventilators had existed since the 1960s, Paul decided to continue using the iron lung because he was used to it.
Other devices may also require a tracheostomy – a hole in the throat – which he never wanted again after initially having to have one when he was first struck by the virus.
He lived in the hospital for two years, but finished high school and graduated from college with a degree law degree and has been practicing law for decades.
Paul learned a technique called frog breathing, which allows people to swallow air with their throat instead of using their lungs, which left him short of breath. periods outside the device.
He represented clients in court wearing a three-piece suit in a wheelchair that held his body upright.
But as he grew older, he was glued to the machine and living in a facility in Dallas.
Many well-wishers have continued to donate to Paul’s GoFundMe page to contribute to his funeral.
His brother Philip said: “I am extremely grateful to everyone who donated to my brother’s fundraiser.
“It enabled him to live stress-free in recent years. It will also pay for his funeral during this difficult time.
“It’s absolutely incredible to read all the comments and know that so many people have been inspired by Paul.”