Paul Alexander, who passed away on March 11, 2024, leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of courage, resilience, and determination. Known to many as “Polio Paul” or “the man in the iron lung,” his life story stands as one of the most powerful examples of human perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds.
At just six years old, Paul contracted polio during the devastating 1952 outbreak in the United States. The disease quickly left him paralyzed from the neck down and unable to breathe without assistance. Doctors didn’t expect him to survive, but he was placed in an iron lung — a massive, cylindrical machine that mechanically breathed for him — and he defied those grim predictions.
While most people in iron lungs only lived for a short time, Paul did the unthinkable: he lived over 70 years inside one. But his story is not just about survival — it’s about thriving.
Despite the severe physical limitations, Paul refused to let his condition define or confine him. He graduated from high school and college, then earned a law degree and became a practicing attorney in Dallas. He even wrote a memoir, Three Minutes for a Dog: My Life in an Iron Lung. His achievements were not only rare but remarkable, considering they were accomplished entirely while confined to a machine.
Paul Alexander proved that the biggest obstacles we face are often the ones we place on ourselves. His life is a testament to strength of will — to the belief that no matter our circumstances, we can still pursue purpose and passion.
He often said that life was always worth living — and he lived that belief daily. Paul didn’t wait for miracles; he became one. His story reminds us that true freedom and fulfillment are found not in perfect conditions, but in how we choose to rise above them.
