Paul Alexander, an inspirational figure who spent over seven decades in an iron lung due to polio, passed away at the age of 78 after a brief battle with COVID-19 on March 13, 2024, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and achievement against all odds.
Alexander’s death was announced on a GoFundMe page, originally set up to assist him financially, which turned into a platform for tributes and remembrance. His brother, Philip Alexander, expressed deep gratitude for the outpouring of support, stating, “It allowed him to live his last few years stress-free. It will also pay for his funeral during this difficult time. It is absolutely incredible to read all the comments and know that so many people were inspired by Paul. I am just so grateful.”
In the 1950s, during the worst polio outbreak in U.S. history, Paul was one among thousands of children who contracted the virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) statistics show more than 3,000 people died from polio in the US the same year Paul caught the disease. However, his spirit proved indomitable. Despite being paralyzed from the neck down and reliant on the iron lung’s rhythmic ‘whoosh’ to breathe, he achieved milestones most thought impossible for someone in his condition. Paul earned a law degree, ran a successful legal practice for thirty years, and penned an autobiography, “Three Minutes for a Dog,” named after the three grueling minutes he learned to breathe independently to earn a promised puppy.
Paul only began posting videos on TikTok this year. “Polio Paul” became a social media sensation on TikTok, where he garnered an audience of over 300,000 followers by sharing details of his extraordinary life.He tagged himself as “Polio Paul” and called his account “ironlungman,” became a vehicle to spread awareness and encourage polio vaccination, a cause close to his heart. “The millions of children not protected against polio. They have to be, before there’s another epidemic,” he implored in his first video.
The longevity of Alexander’s life in an iron lung was so remarkable that it earned him a spot in the Guinness World Records last March. The iron lung, a negative-pressure ventilator now largely out of use, maintained Paul’s breathing for the majority of his life and became synonymous with his endurance and tenacity.
Christopher Ulmer, the organizer of the GoFundMe fundraiser, captured the sentiments of many by saying, “His story traveled wide and far, positively influencing people around the world. Paul was an incredible role model that will continue to be remembered.”
While the iron lung is a relic of the past, largely replaced by modern ventilators, Alexander had chosen to stick with his “old iron horse,” as newer technologies could not offer the same comfort and familiarity.
Relevant articles:
– Paul Alexander, polio survivor in iron lung for over 70 years, dies at 78 after Covid diagnosis, NBC News
– Paul Alexander lived in an iron lung for more than 70 years. Here’s how he spent his life, abc.net.au
– Paul Alexander: ‘Polio Paul,’ who spent most of the past 70 years in an iron lung, dies at 78, CNN, Mar 13, 2024