Paul Alexander’s life was truly unique. For most of his years, he relied on an iron lung, making him one of the few remaining individuals using this vintage respirator from 1928. Despite these extraordinary challenges, he embraced life to the fullest and refused to settle for anything less.
“I won’t let anyone impose their limitations on my life. I refuse to do that. My life is amazing.”
At the age of six, Paul dashed into his family’s home in a Dallas suburb, telling his mother he felt unwell. Up until that point, since his birth in 1946, he had been a lively and energetic child, but something was clearly amiss now.
“Oh my God, not my son,” Paul remembered his mother exclaiming.
Following the doctor’s advice, he spent several days resting in bed, but it became evident that he had contracted polio, and his condition was not improving. Less than a week after he first felt ill, he was unable to hold anything, swallow, or even breathe.
His parents hurried him to the hospital, where he joined many other children suffering from similar issues.
Before the introduction of vaccines, polio had paralyzed over 15,000 individuals. This highly contagious virus can spread even when an infected person shows no symptoms.
Common symptoms of polio include fatigue, fever, stiffness, muscle aches, and vomiting. In more severe cases, it can lead to paralysis and even death.
After being declared dead by one doctor, Paul received a second chance at life when another doctor intervened. This second physician performed an emergency tracheotomy, and Paul was then placed in an iron lung.
When he finally regained consciousness three days later, he found himself surrounded by rows of children in similar situations. ‘I was confused about what had happened. I imagined all sorts of scenarios, thinking maybe I had died. I kept questioning myself: Is this what death feels like?
Is this a coffin? Or have I ended up in a place I don’t want to be?’ Paul shared with As It Happens host Carol Off in 2017.
Paul, who had undergone a tracheotomy, was unable to speak, which made the entire experience even more frightening.
“I attempted to move, but I was completely still. Not even a finger would budge. I wanted to touch something to understand what was happening, but I never managed to do so. It was quite an odd experience.”
The machine, created in the late 1920s, was the first to provide ventilation for humans. In its early days, it was commonly known as the “Drinker respirator.” This device is sealed tightly from the neck down and generates negative pressure within the chamber, allowing air to flow into the patient’s lungs. If it creates too much pressure, the air is expelled from the lungs, enabling the patient to exhale.
Paul spent a year and a half in a metal canister recovering from his initial infection, and he wasn’t alone in this struggle. The year he contracted the virus, 1952, was particularly grim, with nearly 58,000 cases reported in the U.S., mostly among children.
Tragically, 3,145 of those children lost their lives. “As far as you can see, rows and rows of iron lungs. Full of children,” he recalled, as reported by The Guardian. While some may have lost hope, Paul’s determination only grew stronger. He often overheard doctors saying,
“He’s going to die today” or “He shouldn’t be alive,” and he was determined to prove them wrong.
And that’s exactly what he did!
After being released from the hospital in 1954, he quickly realized that his life had changed significantly. “Back then, people didn’t seem to like me much,” he shared in a 2021 video interview. “I sensed their discomfort around me.”
However, with the support of his therapist, Mrs. Sullivan, who met with him twice a week, his situation gradually started to improve.
She made a promise that if he could practice a technique called ‘frog-breathing’—where you hold air in your mouth by flattening your tongue and opening your throat—for three minutes without the iron lung, she would reward him with a puppy.
It was a challenging journey, but after a year, Paul found himself spending increasingly more time outside of the iron lung. At 21, he made history as the first person to graduate from a Dallas high school – with honors! – without ever stepping foot in a classroom.
He then aimed for college and, after facing several rejections, finally got accepted to Southern Methodist University. “They told me I was too disabled and lacked the vaccination,” he remembered. “After two years of persistence, they agreed to let me in on two conditions:
I had to get the polio vaccine, and a fraternity would need to take responsibility for me.” He successfully graduated from Southern Methodist University and went on to law school at the University of Texas at Austin, where he passed the bar and became a lawyer in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. “And I was quite good at it too!”
Despite a remarkable 30-year career in the courtroom, he remained active by writing a book, which he typed entirely on his own using a pen attached to a stick.
According to Gizmodo, Paul is thought to be among the last individuals to use this nearly obsolete machine. He has been reliant on his old iron lung around the clock and has spent a significant portion of his life in it. “I have traveled with it — loaded it into a truck, taken it to college, and lived in a dorm. It definitely surprised everyone,” he shared. Paul’s specific model of iron lung hasn’t been produced in over fifty years, as modern ventilators have become far more advanced.
Nevertheless, the polio survivor chose to stick with his metal chamber, despite the availability of newer technology. Seven years ago, the Dallas attorney had to make an urgent YouTube announcement when his iron lung nearly failed.
Thankfully, there are still many abandoned machines across the country, providing a wealth of spare parts. Paul has also received support from enthusiasts who appreciate vintage technology. The suit fits!! We invite you to join us this Friday at Maggiano’s Northpark at 11:30 for World Polio Day, featuring our incredible speaker, Paul…
On October 22, 2014, the Rotary Club of Park Cities shared a poignant story about Paul Alexander, who, despite being confined to an iron lung, achieved remarkable feats, including earning a law degree.
He reflects on the remnants of iron lungs he has discovered in various places, emphasizing the importance of perseverance.
The excitement following World Polio Day is palpable, as his journey inspires hope that we can eradicate polio for good. Paul expressed a desire to prove naysayers wrong and fulfill his dreams.
While polio has been largely eliminated in the U.S. since 1979, occasional vaccine-derived cases still raise concerns.
Paul Alexander cause of death
Paul Alexander, widely recognized as ‘The Man in the Iron Lung,’ sadly passed away in March 2024. Although he spent most of his life reliant on the metal machine for breathing, those who knew him best remember his kindness and lively spirit rather than his condition.
His brother, Philip Alexander, shared touching memories of their relationship, describing Paul as a ‘friendly, warm individual’ whose ‘radiant smile’ could instantly make anyone feel welcome. ‘To me, he was just an ordinary brother,’ Philip recounted to the BBC.
‘We had our fights, enjoyed playing together, shared love, celebrated, and attended concerts – he was simply my brother, and I never focused on anything else.’ Philip also highlighted Paul’s resilience and independence, even when faced with significant physical challenges.
‘He was in charge of his life, guiding others to assist him,’ he remarked, praising how Paul managed to retain control over his daily activities despite needing help with fundamental tasks like eating.
Paul truly served as an inspiration. He shaped his life despite numerous challenges, and his brave and captivating journey is one I wish everyone would share.
His unwavering determination illustrates that the only boundaries we face are those we impose on ourselves. Please spread his story to your friends and family to motivate others.