'Polio Paul' invents new way of breathing after living in iron lung for 70 years

01 August 2023 , 20:01

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Paul Alexander, crudely nicknamed 'Polio Paul' decades ago, has lived in an iron lung for 70 years and accomplished more than most (Image: Dallas Morning News/Youtube)

Paul Alexander is world-famous for spending a Guinness world record amount of time living in an iron lung - but the man nicknamed 'Polio Paul' says he's lived an amazing life despite being stuck in an iron lung for 70 years.

In 1952 America was experiencing a widespread epidemic of polio. Paul, a Texas native, explained that he was one of 60,000 cases nationwide. His infection was so severe that doctors had to perform a tracheotomy and then placed him into an iron lung, a specially-designed capsule that would keep polio patients with respiratory issues safe.

Children typically recover and can be removed from these tubes - but not Paul. He was still in one, months later. Doctors assumed he didn't have long to live and sent him home. He was nearly entirely paralysed by that time and stuck inside the iron contraption.

‘Polio Paul,' read name Paul Alexander, has lived inside 7ft Iron lung for 70 years - but he's invented a new way to breathe so that he can leave (Dallas Morning News/Youtube)

But Paul lived. He's currently 74, and even survived the Covid-19 pandemic. Though he's still technically in the iron lung, he actually invented a new way of breathing when he was younger that allows him to leave his medical device behind for short periods of time.

At eight years old, Paul was already distrustful of the medical system that had pegged him as a goner. He'd also endured many appointments where doctors would force him to try to breathe normally outside of his lung that resulted in him turning blue and passing out, according to the Guardian. But his mother met a therapist that thought she had the trick.

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Mrs Sullivan, who worked for the March of Dimes Foundation that worked to eradicate polio, taught Paul about “glossopharyngeal breathing." It's a technique where you 'gulp' the air, similar to a frog, says Paul. By opening his mouth and trapping air and forcing it down - Paulwas able to breathe.

A physical therapist taught Paul Alexander how to breathe 'like a frog' as a child by bribing him with a puppy - which he eventually named Ginger (Youtube/Nick Isenberg)

The therapist recognised Paul's tough spirit - and told the boy that if he learned to breathe for three minutes on his own, she would give him a puppy.

And the bribe worked. According to interviews, after a year of perfecting his alternative breathing method, Paul managed 180 seconds of unassisted breathing and was given a puppy, Ginger, for his efforts. He was also able to walk unassisted to the porch and garden - which made him realise he wasn't as limited as he thought.

He graduated high school, and went law school at the University of Texas without ever setting foot in class. Instead, he lived in the dorms, in his iron lung - and became a trial attorney. Paul says he's travelled via airplane, gone to church, fallen in love, and even been in a strip club, learning to live with his different abilities.

Alexander says that he's like a 'remarkable' life after doctors told him he'd be dead at six years of age - instead, he's 74 (Mitch Summers/YouTube/ Kansas City Star/YouTube)

A few years ago, Paul put a pen in his mouth and began penning a memoir. It was published in 2020 after five years of Paul writing it, and has high reviews from individuals that are fascinated with his ability to live life. The book is titled 'Three Minutes for a Dog: My Life in an Iron Lung.'

“No matter where you're from or what your past is, or the challenges you could be facing. You can truly do anything. You just have to set your mind to it, and work hard," Paul wrote.

Yelena Mandenberg