Last U.S. Iron Lung Patient Martha Lillard Dies at 78

Lillard’s death marks the end of a specific era of American medical history, occurring two years after the passing of Paul Alexander, a Texas man who also spent much of his life in an iron lung. Lillard’s death certificate cited post-polio syndrome and chronic pulmonary failure as the causes of death, though her sister, Cindy McVey, believes the effects of long-term Covid-19 also contributed.

Life and Adaptation Inside the Iron Lung

The iron lung—a metal cylinder that uses changing air pressure to force air into and out of the lungs—became a symbol of fear during the polio epidemics of the 1950s. For Lillard, the machine was a necessity for survival. In a 2013 interview with NBC News, Lillard described the initial experience of being placed in the machine as a relief, noting that it makes all the difference when you’re not breathing.

Despite the limitations of the device, Lillard pursued an active life. She attended grade school for two hours every day and completed her remaining education through tutors. Her family facilitated travel via road trips to Missouri using a custom trailer; her father coordinated with hotels to ensure doorways were wide enough for the machine. Lillard was also able to drive for a period of time.

For more on this story, see Last U.S. Polio Patient in an Iron Lung, Martha Lillard, Passes Away at 78.

“They told her she wasn’t supposed to live past 20 years old. She had the enthusiasm and the drive to continue living and make the best of her life.”

Cindy McVey, sister of Martha Lillard

The 1955 Vaccine and U.S. Elimination Timeline

Lillard contracted polio just one year before the first vaccines became available. The timing was narrow; McVey recalled a friend who tested the vaccine the same year Martha fell ill, stating, It was that close.

The rollout of vaccination campaigns in the late 1950s fundamentally altered the trajectory of the disease in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that annual cases dropped to fewer than 100 in the 1960s and fewer than 10 by the 1970s. By 1979, the U.S. declared polio eliminated, meaning the virus was no longer routinely spreading among the population.

The severity of the disease is underscored by World Health Organization data, which indicates that one in 200 polio infections results in irreversible paralysis. Of those paralyzed, 5% to 10% die when their breathing muscles become immobilized.

Modern Vaccine Hesitancy and the ACIP Debate

While the iron lung has largely disappeared—replaced in the late 1950s by breathing devices inserted directly into the throat—the debate over vaccination has resurfaced. Health officials in the Trump administration have suggested making more vaccines optional, a shift that has drawn criticism from families of survivors.

Kirk Milhoan, the chair of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) at the CDC, suggested earlier this year that polio vaccines should be optional. Milhoan argued that current conditions differ from the mid-20th century.

This follows our earlier report, Martha Lillard, Last Iron Lung Polio Survivor, Dies at 78.

“As you look at polio, we need to not be afraid to consider that we are in a different time now than we were then. Our sanitation is different, our risk of disease is different, and so those all play into the evaluation of whether this is worthwhile of taking a risk for a vaccine or not.”

Kirk Milhoan, ACIP Chair

This perspective is sharply contested by those who remember the disease’s physical toll. Cindy McVey expressed concern that the distance in time has erased the memory of the disease’s severity, stating that polio is terrible and that it disfigures, disables and leaves people trapped. She warned that while some may worry about vaccine problems, there’s a whole lot more problems if they don’t vaccinate.

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