Martha Lillard, last US iron lung polio survivor, dies at 78
Martha Lillard, the last known American polio survivor to rely on an iron lung, has passed away at age 78. Despite her condition, she lived a full life and became a symbol of resilience for those affected by the 20th-century polio epidemic.
Why it matters
Her death marks the end of an era for polio survivors in the United States, highlighting the historical impact of the disease and the medical advancements that eventually eliminated it.
Oklahoma: Martha Lillard, believed to be the last polio survivor in the United States to rely on an iron lung, has died at the age of 78 in Oklahoma.
The article is a straightforward obituary reporting factual events without political or ideological framing.
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