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Kid Berwyn

(25,698 posts)

7. Heartbreaking and Inspiring...

Sat Jul 11, 2026, 10:32 AM

Yesterday

According to her obituary and a GoFundMe page, Lillard lived with only 25% lung capacity, scoliosis, and a paralyzed right arm while pursuing creative passions such as painting, writing poetry, and composing music for the left-hand piano. She was also known for rescuing abandoned animals, especially dogs, across the U.S. Friends and supporters described her as determined to live as fully as possible despite her physical limitations.

Source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/insight/last-american-in-iron-lung-dies-at-78/gm-GM31FF9829

The best we could do until Jonas Salk and the vaccine. May good people continue to make life better for all.

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area51 doubleplusgood Boxerfan dalton99a senseandsensibility pinkstarburst

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Highlight:

Last U.S. Polio Survivor in an Iron Lung Dies After the Machine Started to Break Down [View all] dalton99a Yesterday OP

I feel sad for Martha Ann and the Lillard family oasis Yesterday #1

Easy to guess who is definitely NOT invited to the funeral. SouthBayDem Yesterday #2

I hope modern ventilators replace the need for those things BlueWaveNeverEnd Yesterday #3

Actually the polio vaccine did dsc Yesterday #4

How could they not fabricate new parts? NickB79 Yesterday #5

The full article doesn't say a break down or lack of parts was the cause muriel_volestrangler Yesterday #6

Long haul COVID, eh? Wednesdays 20 hrs ago #8

Heartbreaking and Inspiring... Kid Berwyn Yesterday #7

There is now no living person using an iron lung Because vaccines work LetMyPeopleVote 16 hrs ago #9