Paul Alexander’s life story is extraordinary. Born in 1946, he was a typical, lively child until age six when polio struck, leaving him paralyzed and dependent on an iron lung—a massive ventilator device that encased his body and breathed for him. Paul became one of the last people worldwide to live in such a machine, yet he has led a remarkably full and inspiring life.
In 1952, the year Paul contracted polio, the United States faced a devastating epidemic with nearly 58,000 cases and over 3,000 deaths. With chest muscles paralyzed, Paul underwent an emergency tracheotomy and was placed in an iron lung, a pressure ventilator originally developed in 1928 that helped the patient breathe by creating negative air pressure around the torso.
Three days after being placed inside, Paul woke up disoriented, unable to talk or move, wondering if he had died. Yet, his determination never faltered. Despite doctors’ pessimistic predictions that he would not survive, Paul defied odds, eventually learning techniques to breathe outside the iron lung and gaining some independence with daily therapy.
By age 21, Paul became the first person using an iron lung to graduate from high school—without physically attending classes—and later excelled at Southern Methodist University and law school, becoming a respected attorney.
Though technology has replaced iron lungs with portable ventilators, Paul preferred his machine, traveling with it and adapting to life with its constraints.
Paul passed away in March 2024, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and courage. His story is a testament that physical limitations do not define one’s potential or worth—and he inspired countless people through his unwavering spirit.
