“76-Year-Old Man, Paralyzed by Polio at Age 6, One of the Last to Use an Iron Lung: ‘My Life Is Incredible’”

Initially, one doctor even pronounced Paul dead, but thankfully another doctor saved him with the emergency procedure. When he woke up inside the iron lung, he was terrified and confused, unable to move or speak, unsure if he was alive or dead. Despite these overwhelming challenges, Paul refused to give up.

With the help of a dedicated therapist named Mrs. Sullivan, he learned a breathing technique called “frog breathing,” which allowed him to breathe outside the iron lung for short periods. This small victory gave him hope and independence. Over time, he was able to spend more time out of the machine, slowly regaining control over his life.

Paul’s determination led him to incredible achievements. He became the first person in Dallas to graduate from high school with honors without ever attending classes physically. He fought hard to get into college, eventually enrolling at Southern Methodist University despite many rejections. He was accepted under the condition that he receive the polio vaccine and that a fraternity would take responsibility for him. He didn’t stop there; he went on to law school at the University of Texas at Austin, passed the bar, and practiced law in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for over 30 years.

Even though modern ventilators had become available, Paul chose to continue using his iron lung, the machine that had literally kept him alive. He even traveled with it, taking it to college and other places, surprising and inspiring those around him. When his iron lung nearly broke down years ago, he scoured barns, garages, and junk shops for old machines and spare parts to keep it running.Continue reading…