Hours each day in an iron lung kept her breathing, her will to live kept her alive
Martha Lillard, the last known US polio patient to rely on an iron lung, has passed away at age 78. Despite her lifelong dependence on the machine, she maintained an active life, pursuing painting and driving.
Why it matters
Her life serves as a historical touchstone for the polio era and highlights the resilience of patients living with long-term medical technology.
Image source, Cindy McVey Handout Image caption, Martha Lillard's sister said her sister had limited photos in the iron lung as she did not like being photographed in her bed
The article is a straightforward biographical obituary focusing on personal history and medical context without political framing.
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