Paul Alexander, from North Texas, has died. He spent most of his life in an iron lung.
His death notice says that he passed away on March 11. He was 78 years old.
People outside of Dallas knew Paul Alexander as “the man in the iron lung” or “polio Paul,” but his younger brother Philip looked up to him.
Philip Alexander said, “He did want to change the world.” “I want to help people.” In his mind, he wouldn’t leave this world until he did something extraordinary.
Paul Alexander iron lung man
Paul Alexander got polio when he was only 6 years old during an outbreak in Dallas in 1952. Since the sickness weakened his neck, he couldn’t move or breathe independently. Paul Alexander was put in an iron lung, a machine that helps his lungs grow by controlling the air pressure around him.
With the help of family and friends, Paul Alexander ensured he could breathe when his machine lost power. He helped them by making them feel better and giving them a positive view of life.
“Life is such an extraordinary thing.”
“He was a person, disability or not.” Philip Alexander said, “He liked everything else that we all have; he just had to do it differently with a little help.”
Philip Alexander said his brother had to change a lot in his life. Paul Alexander learned to use a stick and his mouth to write, type, and paint. He also didn’t let his disability stop him from doing well in school.
Paul Alexander graduated from Southern Methodist University with a degree in economics. He then went to the University of Texas and got a law degree. He passed the bar exam and worked as a lawyer in Dallas. He also wrote a book and pushed for more study into polio.
The Guinness Book of World Records said that Paul Alexander was the oldest iron lung patient ever living in March 2024.
“He would never have made it if he didn’t have adamant, good parents.” Philip Alexander says, “He would never have made it if he didn’t have family and close friends all these years.”
Paul Alexander even went on social media and shared many videos with happy and hopeful messages. He has thousands of fans from all over the world.
His posts sometimes showed how hard things were for him all the time.
“I miss the sun a lot.” In a TikTok film, Paul Alexander says, “It’s lonely.”
People worldwide will never forget his encouraging words, like “Just hold on because it’ll get better.”
After past caregivers abused Paul Alexander, a GoFundMe page was set up to help him. The money was used to fix up the Iron Lung, pay for housing, and pay for medical care.
“I am so thankful to everyone who gave money to my brother’s fundraiser,” Philip, his brother, said. “It kept him from having to worry in his last years.” During this challenging time, it will also pay for his funeral. Reading all the notes and learning that Paul inspired so many people is truly unique. I’m just so thankful.”
His social media boss put up a video a few weeks ago saying that he was taken to the emergency room and hospitalized after getting COVID-19. After that, he was let out of the hospital.
Paul Alexander knew that if he ever got the virus, it would probably kill him. It took his life in the end. But not before he said that he had lived a good life.
“The night before he died, he just opened his eyes and looked at me and said, ‘This is perfect,'” he said.
The Guinness Book of World Records says that Paul Alexander lived longer than anyone ever because of the iron lung.
Philip Alexander adds with tears in his eyes, “Even at the end, I don’t think he knew how much of an impact he had. He wants people to remember that you can overcome any struggle; it’s all about how you treat each other.” That was the reason he lived.
The Alexander family said Paul’s funeral will occur in Dallas on March 20.
