My Iron Lung (Revisited)

Radio Diaries

Radio Diaries & Radiotopia

Documentary, Society & Culture

4.6 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 21 March 2024

⏱️ 15 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Paul Alexander, one of two people in the U.S. still relying on an iron lung to survive, died on March 11, 2024 at the age of 78. Paul contracted polio in 1952 at six years old, and has had to rely on an iron lung — a big metal ventilator that encases the body from the neck to toes — since then. We spoke to Paul a few years ago about his life and the lessons he’s learned from living under uncommon circumstances. So, this week on the podcast, we’re sharing some of that conversation, as well as revisiting the story of the now the only person in the U.S. still relying on an iron lung to survive: Martha Lillard.

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This story has support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and listeners like you. Music from Blue Dot Sessions, Epidemic Sounds and the song “Iron Lung” by Taylor Phelan and the Canes. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook @radiodiaries, and visit us at radiodiaries.org.

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to Radio Diaries, this is Joe, and I'm excited to tell you about the newest show in the radiotopia family.
0:06.8	It's called The Recipe with Kenji and Deb. I'm sure a lot of you listen to podcasts while cooking,
0:12.0	well the recipe is the podcast that will teach you listen to podcasts while the recipe is the
0:13.4	podcast that will teach you how to be a better cook with tips from two
0:16.9	seasoned pros, pun intended. hosted by Kenji Lopez Alt of the
0:21.7	Walk and Deb Perlman of Smitten Kitchen.
0:24.4	The recipe not only lets you learn new recipes, but also teaches you techniques and secret
0:28.9	ingredients that will up your cooking from just okay to restaurant quality. So welcome
0:34.4	I'm to the radiotopia family. Find the recipe with Kenji and Deb right now
0:38.1	where every get your podcasts.
0:41.0	Radio topia. From PRX is Radio Topia, this is Radio Diaries. I'm Joe Richmond.
0:49.4	This is polio. Pol is not over for thousands.
0:56.4	polio is not over for thousands. polio is not over for you.
0:59.4	In 1952 polio was spreading across the country.
1:03.8	Victims found themselves with a stiff neck or difficulty breathing.
1:07.5	Many of them were children.
1:09.5	One remedy was the iron lung, a big metal ventilator that encases the body from the neck to the toes.
1:16.0	It uses bellows to suck air in and out, allowing the person to breathe.
1:21.0	Ladies and gentlemen, you are looking at the business end of an iron lung and that sound
1:26.7	that you hear is the air being forced into the lungs so that the patient can breathe.
1:31.5	Today the iron lung is obsolete. In recent years only two
1:35.8	people in America have continued to use the machine. One was Paul Alexander.
	...

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