Paul Alexander’s life was truly unique. For most of his years, he relied on an iron lung, making him one of the few remaining individuals using this vintage respirator from 1928. Despite these extraordinary challenges, he embraced life to the fullest and refused to settle for anything less.
“I won’t let anyone impose their limitations on my life. I refuse to do that. My life is amazing.”
At the age of six, Paul dashed into his family’s home in a Dallas suburb, telling his mother he felt unwell. Up until that point, since his birth in 1946, he had been a lively and energetic child, but something was clearly amiss now.
“Oh my God, not my son,” Paul remembered his mother exclaiming.
Following the doctor’s advice, he spent several days resting in bed, but it became evident that he had contracted polio, and his condition was not improving. Less than a week after he first felt ill, he was unable to hold anything, swallow, or even breathe.
His parents hurried him to the hospital, where he joined many other children suffering from similar issues.
Before the introduction of vaccines, polio had paralyzed over 15,000 individuals. This highly contagious virus can spread even when an infected person shows no symptoms.
Common symptoms of polio include fatigue, fever, stiffness, muscle aches, and vomiting. In more severe cases, it can lead to paralysis and even death.
Paul Alexander’s life was truly unique. For most of his years, he relied on an iron lung, making him one of the few remaining individuals using this vintage respirator from 1928. Despite these extraordinary challenges, he embraced life to the fullest and refused to settle for anything less.
“I won’t let anyone impose their limitations on my life. I refuse to do that. My life is amazing.”
At the age of six, Paul dashed into his family’s home in a Dallas suburb, telling his mother he felt unwell. Up until that point, since his birth in 1946, he had been a lively and energetic child, but something was clearly amiss now.
“Oh my God, not my son,” Paul remembered his mother exclaiming.
Following the doctor’s advice, he spent several days resting in bed, but it became evident that he had contracted polio, and his condition was not improving. Less than a week after he first felt ill, he was unable to hold anything, swallow, or even breathe.
His parents hurried him to the hospital, where he joined many other children suffering from similar issues.
Before the introduction of vaccines, polio had paralyzed over 15,000 individuals. This highly contagious virus can spread even when an infected person shows no symptoms.
Common symptoms of polio include fatigue, fever, stiffness, muscle aches, and vomiting. In more severe cases, it can lead to paralysis and even death.
