Martha Ann Lillard, 78, who is described as the last known polio survivor in the United States to rely on an iron lung, dies on June 26 after decades using the 1940s breathing machine. Sources say she was diagnosed with polio at age five and became unable to breathe or move, requiring long-term mechanical ventilation in the device. Lillard lived in the iron lung for most of the day as her condition fluctuated. Reports describe an earlier period when she spent fewer hours in the machine each day, along with time for rehabilitation and school. Several outlets add that she later spent up to 23 hours daily in the iron lung, and that in the months before her death she needed it 24 hours a day. Multiple accounts also state the iron lung began to break down and was too old for key parts to be replaced, with her family citing difficulty locating components. The BBC and other outlets report that a tornado had caused a power disruption at one point, during which her husband performed emergency measures until further assistance arrived. Coverage also notes Lillard developed other health issues, including COVID-19 twice and shingles, and that she remained active in the limits of her condition.