Science
Last known US polio survivor using iron lung dies at 78
Synthesized from2 sources
Last known US polio survivor using iron lung dies at 78
Martha Lillard, who relied on an iron lung for breathing after contracting polio as a child, has died in Oklahoma at age 78.
- Lillard died on 26 June in Oklahoma, according to an online obituary.
- She contracted polio at age five and used the iron lung machine to breathe for most of her life.
- Cindy McVey, Lillard's sister, said the death certificate lists chronic pulmonary failure and post-polio syndrome as causes, and she believes a long-term case of Covid-19 contributed.
- Two years earlier, Paul Alexander, another long-term iron lung user, died at age 78.
Latest developments
- Lillard's sister said she lived a rich life despite the iron lung, including driving, painting, and caring for her beagles.
- Her sister noted that Lillard's will to live and resilience defined her life.
Coverage
Read the original reportingThis brief was compiled from 2 outlets, over 32 hours of coverage. Each is listed below with the headline it led on, so you can compare them yourself.
Every story is brought together from multiple sources into a single, clear summary — with every perspective kept, not flattened.