Last U.S. Polio Patient with an Iron Lung Dies
Martha Lillard had just turned 5 when she was diagnosed with polio and depended on an iron lung to live.
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reinheitsgebot
Joined 2006/11/29Visited 2026/07/14
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Martha Lillard, the last U.S. polio patient using an iron lung, has died at 78 in Oklahoma.[image or embed] -- The Associated Press (@apnews.com) 2:00 AM · Jul 11, 2026
Martha Lillard, the last U.S. polio patient using an iron lung, has died at 78 in Oklahoma.[image or embed]
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I was terrified of the iron lung as a kid.
This won't be the last one of those. MAGA has a plan.
#1 | Posted by Zed at 2026-07-12 08:36 AM | Reply
McVey attributes her sister's death to the effects of long Covid.
Why didn't they pump her full of horse paste?
~MAGA dumfux ~
#2 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-07-12 08:41 AM | Reply
Years ago, during residency I was asked to go to a nursing home and see a consult. The lady had been in an iron lung for years and had transitioned to an assistive breathing device. I was asked to consult regarding panic attacks, with the staff expecting me to start her on medication. Turns out she was anxious/panicky as there had been a brief power outage recently and she couldn't breathe. She was afraid there would be another one. Her iron lung had a battery back and her new device didn't. We arranged for a battery backup, demonstrated it and she was content. No more panic attacks. I met with her a few more times. The last time she joked that there was a need for calming medication, for the nursing supervisor. "Listen to your patient; he is telling you the diagnosis." Sir William Osler
#3 | Posted by mattm at 2026-07-12 02:02 PM | Reply
Don't worry there will be more before RFK Jr is done at HHS.
#4 | Posted by qcp at 2026-07-14 02:49 PM | Reply
America needs a resurgence of polio and small pox so people can shut the ---- up about their antivax beliefs.
#5 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-07-14 02:52 PM | Reply
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