Martha Lillard, a remarkable Oklahoma woman, has passed away at the age of 78, leaving behind a legacy as the last known polio patient in the United States to rely on an iron lung for breathing. Lillard's remarkable story is a testament to the resilience and determination of a generation that lived through one of the most devastating public health crises of the 20th century. Diagnosed with polio in 1952, Lillard's treatment involved prolonged use of an iron lung, a cumbersome but life-saving device that maintained a patient's breathing by vacuum-sealing their chest. As the world celebrates the near eradication of polio, Lillard's passing serves as a poignant reminder of the progress made in the fight against this crippling disease.
Oklahoma woman Martha Lillard, last US polio patient using iron lung, dead at 78 New York Post
