Martha Lillard, last known US polio survivor using iron lung, dies aged 78
Martha Lillard, the last known polio survivor in the United States to rely on an iron lung, has passed away at age 78. She lived with the device for decades after contracting the virus as a child.
Why it matters
Lillard's death marks the end of a significant chapter in American medical history regarding the polio epidemic and the evolution of respiratory support technology.
Martha Lillard rests in her iron lung on 6 February 2026 in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Martha Lillard rests in her iron lung on 6 February 2026 in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Oklahoma Martha Lillard, last known US polio survivor using iron lung, dies aged 78 Lillard, of Oklahoma, contracted polio when she was five and slept inside cylindrical metal device to help her breathe
The article is a straightforward, respectful obituary reporting on the life and death of a public figure.
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