Paul Alexander: The Man in the Iron Lung
Paul Alexander lived over 70 years in an iron lung, yet he defied all odds. Struck by polio at age six in 1952, he was nearly declared dead before a doctor saved him with an emergency tracheotomy. From that point on, the iron lung kept him alive.
Despite his condition, Paul refused to be limited. He learned to “frog breathe,” graduated high school remotely, earned a law degree, and practiced law for over 30 years. He also wrote a memoir, traveled, and chose to keep using the iron lung over modern machines, trusting its familiar rhythm.
When replacement parts grew scarce, he hunted them down himself, determined to remain independent. Paul passed away in March 2024, remembered not for his condition, but for his courage and grit.
He leaves behind a legacy of resilience, reminding us that even a life lived inside a machine can be truly extraordinary.