**Paul Alexander: Life Inside the Iron Lung**
Paul Alexander spent over 70 years in an iron lung after polio struck him at age six in 1952. Nearly declared dead, a doctor saved him with a tracheotomy, and the machine kept him alive ever since.
Refusing to be defined by his condition, Paul learned to “frog breathe,” finished school remotely, and later earned a law degree. He practiced law for more than 30 years and even wrote a memoir. “I didn’t want to be dependent,” he once said, choosing the iron lung over newer machines for its “familiar rhythm.”
As parts for the iron lung became rare, he searched for them himself to stay independent. Paul continued to live fully, even traveling and inspiring many.
He passed away in March 2024, remembered not for his illness but for his determination and strength. His story proves that even within limits, “a truly extraordinary life” is possible.
