Martha Lillard, last US polio patient using iron lung, dead at 78 in Oklahoma

Key Points:

• Martha Lillard, the last US polio patient using an iron lung, died at age 78 in Oklahoma on June 26, with her death attributed to chronic pulmonary failure, post-polio syndrome, and long-haul COVID-19 effects.
• Diagnosed with polio at age 5, Lillard lived most of her life dependent on an iron lung and overcame significant physical limitations, regaining partial use of her left arm and legs through therapy.
• Despite her condition, Lillard led an active life, attending school via intercom, traveling with family using a custom trailer, living independently, and connecting with her future husband online, whom she married in 2023.
• Polio, once a widespread and feared disease in the US, was declared eliminated in 1979 due to vaccination campaigns, making Lillard's reliance on the iron lung a rare and historic circumstance.
• In her later years, Lillard was an artistic individual who wrote poems, composed songs, volunteered for animal rescue, and authored her own obituary, highlighting her resilience and creativity despite health challenges.