Paul Alexander passed away on March 11th, 2024 and with his passing, we say goodbye to a truly remarkable man. You might know him as “Polio Paul” or “the man in the iron lung.” His story is one of the most incredible examples of human strength and perseverance you’ll ever hear.
When Paul was just six years old, back in 1952, he caught polio during a major outbreak in the U.S. Within days, he was paralyzed from the neck down. He couldn’t breathe on his own, and doctors didn’t expect him to survive. But they placed him in an iron lung, a large, tube-like machine that helped him breathe and that machine kept him alive.
Most people who ended up in an iron lung didn’t live very long. But Paul did something extraordinary. He lived for more than 70 years inside that machine.
Living inside an iron lung, most people would assume a life of quiet existence, devoid of achievement. But Paul consistently defied limits, defining life on his own terms. He graduated from high school, then college, and went on to earn a law degree. He became a lawyer, practicing in Dallas, and even published a memoir, “Three Minutes for a Dog: My Life in an Iron Lung.” Think about the sheer determination required to read, study, and communicate from within that machine. Paul’s life is a powerful testament to the idea that our biggest barriers are often those we impose on ourselves. He taught us that with enough grit and ingenuity, we can achieve far more than we ever thought possible, proving that true resilience isn’t just about bouncing back, but about pushing forward despite everything.
He always said that life was worth living, no matter the circumstances. And he proved it, every single day.
Perhaps the most profound lesson from Paul’s life is the simple yet powerful truth that we can live fully, no matter what. He didn’t wait for a cure or a miracle; he made the most of the hand he was dealt. He embraced technology, found ways to connect with the world, and pursued his passions with an unwavering resolve. His life wasn’t defined by his disability but by his extraordinary ability to adapt, learn, and contribute. He reminds us that true living isn’t about the absence of challenges, but about how we choose to face them. Paul Alexander embodied the ultimate iron will, showing us that even when circumstances try to cage us, our spirit can always find a way to soar free.