Iron Lung

Martha Lillard, the last known individual in the United States to be kept alive by an iron lung, passed away at the age of 78. Lillard contracted polio at the age of five, an illness that severely impacted her respiratory system, rendering her dependent on the iron lung for breathing for the majority of her life. The iron lung is a mechanical respirator that encloses the body and uses changes in air pressure to force air into the lungs. Lillard's death, which occurred in Oklahoma on June 26th, marks the end of an era for polio survivors who relied on this life-sustaining, albeit cumbersome, technology. Her passing is newsworthy as it signifies the last known case of long-term reliance on an iron lung in the US, highlighting the historical impact of polio and the advancements in medical care that have since made such devices largely obsolete for new patients.