Texas man who lived in iron lung for seven decades dies

Mar 14

Karah Rucker Anchor

By Karah Rucker (Anchor), Brock Koller (Senior Producer), William Jackson (Producer), Ian Kennedy (Video Editor)

Paul Alexander, a Texas man who spent seven decades living in an iron lung after being diagnosed with polio in 1952, has died at the age of 78 according to his brother Philip. Paul Alexander became a social media sensation in recent months. Diagnosed at the age of 6 as the disease swept through Dallas, Alexander was left paralyzed from the neck down and dependent on an iron lung to breathe.

Despite these challenges, he achieved remarkable milestones, graduating from college, earning a law degree, and practicing law for 30 years. Alexander also penned an autobiography, sharing his life’s journey.

“It is absolutely incredible to read all the comments and know that so many people were inspired by Paul. I am just so grateful,” Philip said on the GoFundMe page.

His cause of death has not been specified, but his passing comes weeks after being hospitalized with COVID-19.

We share the sad news today that long-time polio eradication advocate, Paul Alexander, widely known as “Polio Paul,” has passed away. Let's honor his over 70-year fight against the disease and #EndPolio once and for all. https://t.co/GFMDv0IedZ
— EndPolioNow (@EndPolioNow) March 13, 2024

In January, Alexander launched the TikTok account “Polio Paul,” quickly amassing hundreds of thousands of followers. Through his posts, he answered questions about his life and strongly advocated for polio vaccination for children, drawing widespread attention to his story and the importance of the vaccine.

“The doctors told us Paul could not possibly live,” Doris Alexander, Paul’s mother, said in his autobiography. “There were a few times when the electrical power failed and then the lung had to be pumped by hand.”

Tags: Dallas, Texas, Vaccinations

[KARAH RUCKER]

FINALLY THIS MORNING – A TEXAS MAN WHO LIVED IN AN IRON LUNG FOR SEVEN DECADES AND BECAME A SOCIAL MEDIA STAR IN RECENT MONTHS HAS PASSED AWAY.

PAUL ALEXANDER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH POLIO IN 1952 AT THE AGE OF 6 – AS THE DISEASE SPREAD ACROSS DALLAS.

WITH ALEXANDER PARALYZED FROM THE NECK DOWN AND UNABLE TO BREATHE ON HIS OWN — DOCTORS PLACED HIM IN AN IRON LUNG.

DEFYING EXPECTATIONS – HE GRADUATED COLLEGE, EARNED A LAW DEGREE AND PRACTICED AS AN ATTORNEY FOR 30 YEARS. HE ALSO WROTE AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY.

HIS EXACT CAUSE OF DEATH REMAINS UNCLEAR BUT IT COMES A FEW WEEKS AFTER HE WAS ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL AFTER CONTRACTING COVID-19.

IN JANUARY – ALEXANDER STARTED A TIKTOK ACCOUNT CALLED “POLIO PAUL” — REACHING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FOLLOWERS — WHERE HE ANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS LIFE AND ADVOCATED FOR CHILDREN TO GET THE POLIO VACCINE.

PAUL ALEXANDER WAS 78 YEARS OLD.