Martha Lillard, one of the last polio survivors to live inside an iron lung, has died at the age of 78 after the machine became too old to repair. Lillard spent over 70 years living inside the 1940s device.
She was diagnosed with polio on her fifth birthday in 1953, and her condition worsened rapidly, leaving her unable to breathe or move. Lillard was eventually placed in an iron lung, a device that generates negative pressure to force the lungs to expand.
The iron lung became an integral part of Lillard's life, with her spending 23 hours a day inside the machine. She used her one hour of free time to rehabilitate her paralyzed limbs. Although she was able to live a relatively normal life, needing only nine hours a day in the lung, her health began to decline in recent years.
Lillard contracted Covid-19 twice, as well as shingles, and her iron lung began to break down. At one point, a tornado knocked out her power, and her husband had to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on her until she received further aid. As her condition worsened, Lillard needed to be in the iron lung 24 hours a day.
The pieces of her iron lung were too old to replace, and her sister said that some of the parts were from the 1940s, making them hard to locate. A GoFundMe fundraiser was set up to honor Lillard's legacy, describing her as incredibly creative, with a wonderful fighting attitude.
Lillard was able to pursue her interests despite her condition, painting, writing poems, and composing music for the left hand piano. Her determination and resilience inspired many, and her legacy will be remembered long after her passing.
Lillard's story is a testament to the importance of medical advancements, particularly the development of vaccines. Two years after her diagnosis, a vaccine was created, which eradicated polio. Lillard's experience serves as a reminder of the progress made in medical care, but also highlights the need for continued support for those affected by polio.
