Paul Alexander lives in iron creation/@musclesandnursing
We told you Paul Alexander's inspiring life story here exactly a year ago, but now you have the opportunity to catch up on his situation and ask him questions directly.
The man who has been lying on an iron ventilator (iron lung) for 72 years after contracting a severe infectious disease, recently joined TikTok and uses the platform to answer the public's questions and share fascinating insights into his life.
In 1952, when he was 6 years old, Paul Alexander contracted polio when an outbreak swept through his hometown of Dallas, Texas.
Polio is an infectious disease caused by a virus that can spread from person to person.
In some cases, the pathogen can attack the central nervous system and destroy motor neurons, leading to paralysis.
The paralysis is usually temporary, but about 1 in 200 cases leads to permanent paralysis.
Alexander was one of those unfortunate few who, except for an illness, was unable to move his body from the neck down.
He was rushed to the hospital and underwent tracheostomy - an emergency operation in which a hole is made in the trachea and a tube is inserted there connecting it with the outside air.
While the lungs of paralyzed polio survivors still work fine, they may have difficulty breathing due to paralysis of the chest muscles and diaphragm.
To overcome this problem, Alexander was put into an "iron lung", a machine that works by applying negative pressure to the patient inside.
The mechanical ventilator helps the patient inhale air by pumping it out of the machine - allowing their chest to expand.
As the air is drawn back into the machine, it causes the patient to blow the air that has accumulated in their lungs out.
Paul Alexander the Iron Creation - as a teenager and now/documentation on social networks according to Article 27 A of the Copyright Law, Mitch Summers/ YouTube
Paul is actually among the last people alive today in an iron cage, with only one other person believed to be in the US in his condition. He was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the person who spent the longest period of his life in this machine. He can get out of the machine for two or three minutes. Thanks to a learned technique he calls "frog breathing", which involves swallowing a lot of air using his throat muscles in order to force air into his lungs. However, this is not a long-term solution and so he spends the vast majority of his day inside the mechanical cell. It
is estimated that around 1,000 Iron lungs were in use in the US in 1939.
However, scientists have since developed less invasive breathing systems, and vaccines have done an amazing job of reducing polio rates worldwide (despite some recent increases).
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This is what his life looks like
@ironlungman Episode 1 of Convos with Paul!
We will be responding to comments and questions about Paul's life, his polio, and life in an iron lung!
Please be positive?
#PaulAlexander #poliopaul #ironlung #conversationswithpaul ♬ Chopin Nocturne No.
2 Piano Mono - moshimo sound design
@ironlungman Replying to @jyoung Being positive can be hard if you let your circumstances control your attitude!
I like to think of all the amazing people I have in my life!
#conversationswithpaul #ironlung #poliopaul #PaulAlexander #QandA ♬ original sound - NOFEELINGS.
@ironlungman Replying to @jyoung Being positive can be hard if you let your circumstances control your attitude!
I like to think of all the amazing people I have in my life!
#conversationswithpaul #ironlung #poliopaul #PaulAlexander #QandA ♬ original sound - NOFEELINGS.
@ironlungman Paul took five years writing "Three Minutes For A Dog" by typing into a computer using a pencil placed in his mouth!
The link to his book can be found below on Amazon!
#conversationswithpaul #ironlung #poliopaul #PaulAlexander ♬ 《电影与弦乐》雨后香气 - 时间电影的金
The iron lung did not prevent Alexander from living a "normal" life as much as possible.
After graduating high school in 1967 at the age of 21, Paul went to study law at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
In 1984 he passed the bar exams and was appointed a lawyer.
During his studies at university, Paul met a woman named Claire to whom he eventually became engaged.
However, Claire's mother disapproved of their relationship due to Paul's condition and the two broke up.
Paul never married and the closest thing to a relationship he had was with the nanny who became his "hands and feet".
He also spent five years writing an autobiography (Three Minutes for a Dog: My Life in an Iron Lung) by typing on a computer with a pencil placed in his mouth.
What does Paul do when he has to evacuate?
@ironlungman Replying to @ⁱˢᵃ ˡᵉᵗ ᵐᵉ ˢᵉᵉ ᵗʰᵉ ᵈᵘⁿᵏˢ Thank you for all of your questions!
Paul understands that even questions about the most basic functions of his life are valuable!
#conversationswithpaul #ironlung #poliopaul #PaulAlexander #QandA ♬ original sound - Paul "Polio Paul" Alexander
And what do you do when the machine stops working or there is a power outage?
@ironlungman Replying to @Michelle Great question!
We had an issue with the machine yesterday.
And Paul had to breathe on his own for a few minutes until we could replace the part.
Apologies for the squeaking from the replacement part of the machine.
#conversationswithpaul #ironlung #poliopaul #PaulAlexander #QandA ♬ original sound - Paul "Polio Paul" Alexander
In his latest venture, Alexander joined TikTok under the username @ironlungman, where he shares his stories and answers viewers' questions.
In one of the videos we were asked how he goes to the bathroom?
(With the help of the nurse, he disconnects from the machine and uses the potty like a patient in a hospital), what does he do during a power outage?
(He was once saved thanks to the soul he received from his nanny) and how does he remain optimistic in his situation?
("I learned not to let things hurt me").
You are invited to watch all his videos by clicking here.
More on the same topic:
lungs
polio