Last U.S. Iron-Lung Polio Survivor Martha Lillard Dies at 78

Last U.S. Iron-Lung Polio Survivor Martha Lillard Dies at 78

Santé

Martha Lillard, the last known U. S. polio survivor who relied on an iron lung, died in Oklahoma at age 78, with chronic pulmonary failure and post-polio syndrome listed as causes, AP News reported. She had lived with the effects of post-polio syndrome for decades after contracting the disease as a child.

Lillard was recognized as the final American patient still using the bulky negative-pressure ventilator that became a symbol of the 1950s polio epidemic. Her sister, Cindy McVey, told Yahoo News Canada that Lillard remained resilient despite her health challenges. McVey added that the loss underscores the danger of declining vaccination rates, urging the public to maintain immunization programs.

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Martha Lillard Cindy McVey Baha Salh

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Articles

14 juillet 2026
1 au total
Hours each day in an iron lung kept her breathing, her will to live kept her alive
Hours each day in an iron lung kept her breathing, her will to live kept her alive

Yahoo News Canada • 14 juil. 02h20

Martha Lillard, the final known U.S. polio patient to use an iron lung, died at 78; her sister recalled her resilience and warned against declining vaccination rates.

Crédibilité 72% Manip. 35% Gauche
12 juillet 2026
1 au total
Polio survivor who was last American iron lung user dies at age 78
Polio survivor who was last American iron lung user dies at age 78

Fox News • 12 juil. 01h09

Martha Lillard, the final U.S. resident who relied on an iron lung after contracting polio as a child, died in Oklahoma at age 78 from chronic pulmonary failure and post-polio syndrome.

Crédibilité 72% Manip. 8% Centre
11 juillet 2026
3 au total
Martha Lillard, last US polio patient using iron lung, dies at 78 in Oklahoma
Martha Lillard, last US polio patient using iron lung, dies at 78 in Oklahoma

CNN • 11 juil. 16h00

Martha Lillard, the final American who relied on an iron lung for polio-related breathing support, died on June 26 in Oklahoma at age 78, with chronic pulmonary failure and post-polio syndrome listed as causes.

Crédibilité 72% Manip. 9% Centre
Martha Lillard, last US polio patient using iron lung, dead at 78 in Oklahoma
Martha Lillard, last US polio patient using iron lung, dead at 78 in Oklahoma

New York Post • 11 juil. 04h15

Martha Lillard, the final American polio patient who relied on an iron lung, died on June 26 in Oklahoma at age 78, with chronic pulmonary failure and post-polio syndrome listed as causes.

Crédibilité 68% Manip. 8% Centre
Martha Lillard, last US polio patient using iron lung, dies at 78
Martha Lillard, last US polio patient using iron lung, dies at 78

AP News • 11 juil. 00h58

Martha Lillard, the final American polio patient who relied on an iron lung, died in Oklahoma at age 78, with chronic pulmonary failure and post-polio syndrome listed as causes.

Crédibilité 78% Manip. 9% Centre

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