Martha Ann Lillard, 78, who survived polio and depended for decades on a 1940s-era iron lung to breathe, dies on June 26, according to reporting from multiple outlets. Lillard is described as the last known U.S. polio survivor living in an iron lung. She spent more than 70 years using the mechanical ventilator after her polio illness left her unable to breathe independently. One account states that her death followed a breakdown of the aging machine that maintained her breathing and that it could not be repaired due to the device’s age. Other coverage emphasizes her long reliance on the historic device and her status as a final living representative of that specific medical circumstance for polio survivors in the United States. Together, the reports highlight her decades-long use of the 1940s breathing machine and her death at a time when iron lung patients are exceptionally rare, underscoring a shift from polio-related respiratory disability toward prevention and modern care.
Martha Ann Lillard, last U.S. polio iron lung survivor, dies at 78
Martha Ann Lillard, 78, who survived polio and depended for decades on a 1940s-era iron lung to breathe, dies on June 26, according to reporting from multiple outlets. Lillard is described as the last...
- Martha Ann Lillard dies at age 78 on June 26.
- She is described as the last known U.S. polio survivor living in an iron lung.
- She relies on a 1940s-era iron lung for breathing for more than 70 years.
- One report says her iron lung broke down and could not be repaired because of its age.
- Her death marks the end of a rare long-term iron lung reliance in the U.S.
Martha Ann Lillard, 78, died on June 26 having spent more than seventy years relying on the device.
2 hours agoMartha Ann Lillard, the last known U.S. polio survivor who relied on an iron lung, has died at age 78. Learn about her decades-long battle with the disease, the historic breathing machine that sustained her life, and the legacy she leaves behind.
6 hours ago
King Charles and Queen Camilla host Prince Harry, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet at Highgrove
King Charles III and Queen Camilla host Prince Harry, Meghan and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet,...
Tristan Peters hits for cycle as White Sox beat Athletics
Chicago White Sox rookie Tristan Peters hits for the cycle in a game against the Oakland Athletics. Multiple reports say...
NRL clubs oppose plan to give Perth Bears marquee salary cap allowance
Several NRL clubs oppose a proposed NRL head office plan to provide the incoming Perth Bears with a salary cap advantage...