Last U.S. Polio Patient Using Iron Lung, Martha Lillard, Dies at 78 in Oklahoma

Martha Lillard was a long‑time polio survivor. She was the last person in the United States still using an iron lung. Lillard lived in the state of Oklahoma. She died at the age of 78. Her condition highlighted the lasting impact of the polio epidemic. The iron lung, once common for polio patients, has become extinct in the U.S. Her death marks the end of an era for those who relied on the device. The story underscores the historical significance of early respiratory technology.