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
Prefer the Guardian on Google The last known US person living with polio and relying on an iron lung has died aged 78.
Martha Lillard, who contracted polio at age five and spent most of her life dependent on an iron lung machine that helped her breathe, died on 26 June in Oklahoma, according to an online obituary .
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