The Last Few Polio Survivors - Last of the Iron Lungs | Gizmodo
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 พ.ย. 2017
- Paul Alexander is one of the last few remaining polio survivors that depend on iron lungs-half-century-old machines that force inhabitants to breathe. I met Alexander a few times in his small house in Dallas. He spends nearly every moment in his iron lung in the center of his living room, which is decorated with degrees, awards, pictures of family, and a drawing of the Scottish folk singer Donovan, who had polio. When people enter the front door a few feet away from him, he usually greets them with a warm upside-down smile, reflected in the mirror above his head.
One of the times I visited Alexander, I walked in on him editing a memoir that’s set to be published in a few months. He types and answers the phone with his mouth, using a capped pen attached to a plastic wand he clenches with his teeth. During another visit, his friend and mechanical savior Brady Richards stopped by to check in on Alexander.
Alexander, who got polio in 1952 when he was 6, is almost entirely paralyzed below the neck but that hasn’t stopped him from going to law school and becoming a trial lawyer. “When I transferred to University of Texas, they were horrified to think that I was going to bring my iron lung down, but I did, and I put it in the dorm, and I lived in the dorm with my iron lung,” he told me. “I had a thousand friends before it was over with, who all wanted to find out what’s that guy downstairs with a head sticking out of a machine doing here?”
Alexander, who got polio in 1952 when he was 6, is almost entirely paralyzed below the neck but that hasn’t stopped him from going to law school and becoming a trial lawyer. “When I transferred to University of Texas, they were horrified to think that I was going to bring my iron lung down, but I did, and I put it in the dorm, and I lived in the dorm with my iron lung,” he told me. “I had a thousand friends before it was over with, who all wanted to find out what’s that guy downstairs with a head sticking out of a machine doing here?”
-Jennings Brown
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Kursedas rude
Somebody give this guy Siri please. He survived alot already. He shouldn't be forced to use his mouth to click on a mouse.
Gizmodo wow
What kind of life is this? Why do scientists and doctors insist on keeping people alive regardless of the outcome, THIS ISN'T LIVING!
@@jasonhendry8136 fr
HE WROTE A BOOK WITH HIS MOUTH WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT THIS!!
because we didn’t know
SeQuoia Myles if you watched the video you’d know
@@arlindaismaili5575 dumbass, we have watched the video but nobody knew because nobody gave a shit till reality hit
somebody give this man an award omfg 😳
ariyanbutter 5:51 now do u see? -_-
He may have an iron lung, but he has a golden soul and a diamond heart.
Calvin Abad I want to like the comment but I don’t want it to change from 69
Itsa me 😂
@@cjn9781
That's a metaphor
@@cjn9781
You should say god because it will probably offense someone
@@cjn9781
I dunno probably a religious guy from another religion
He died on March 11, 2024. Rest well buddy.
Rip
RIP Paul ❤
That news brought me here. RIP, what a inspiring attitude and view on life and it's struggles
it’s good to know that even though he’s passed, Paul is finally free from his pain
Holy shite he had a long life!
Rest In Peace Paul Alexander 1/30/46-3/11/24. A man of incredible willpower, perseverance, and intelligence. To live in that state for so many decades yet still work in the legal profession and write a biography with solely his mouth is nothing short of incredible.
i cannot imagine being only 6 years old and losing my entire childhood. it’s rly amazing to see how he overcame it and went to law school.
If I had been in this man's situation, I would've committed Suicide a long time ago. That he now thinks in old age that a life spent in an iron lung was worth living clearly shows he is mentally Ill as well. The Rational Decision would've been kill himself as a young teenager. For me, Life Is NOT Worth Living Unless There I Some Quality To That Life Too. I idea that a life in an iron lung is worth living would be Laughable if it weren't so Absurd.
@@JosephKulik2016 1. why the hell did you comment this. that’s so messed up to call a paralyzed old man making the best of a bad situation “mentally ill”. 2. it’s extremely ableist to say that if you were disabled like him you would kill yourself, implying that someone who isn’t able-bodied is worthless. you are disgusting.
@@JosephKulik2016 Who are you to tell someone else their life isn't worth living?
Clearly he would rather be alive. On top of that he got an education and made something of himself.
He's a far greater man than you'll ever be.
@@JosephKulik2016 who are you to judge him?!
@@minion_luvr_ what did he say?
At first I was like “ awe man poor guy, he’s probably done nothing in his life because of that horrible machine” but when I saw that he had accomplished so much even with his holdbacks, it made me realize what a lazy sack of shit I am
I laughed at the end part, that's sad
Meeee too.
same
You’ll do great thing whether you like it or not 🤗
Gfuel SoccerMom hey don’t worry, I’m a lazy sack of shit too!
This is impossible to understand how it is possible to survive this situation for 70 years and still be mentally ok. What a strong good mind in this man and all respect for this unbelievable acceptance he has and this will power to go to school and learn and everything when most people would give up and stop living life.
Yeah..
Off topic but I love your name
Nice name
No actually it’s quite easy to understand. It’s possible to survive something like this if you were born from a generation that existed before the internet. People born before the internet had a different outlook on life and simply just made different. Life to them had a completely different definition. Not like today where kids are a bunch of woke idiots being influenced by the internet not knowing what gender they are and go committing suicide because they’re not good enough for society. Mental health and all this extra shit we have these days didn’t exist back then. Surviving wasn’t a choice. It was something people just had to do and if they survived something, they were considered lucky and blessed.
@@jngostylethis comment started good until you brought up shit about wokism and crap
The fact he was able to become a lawyer & start his own practice despite all this is incredible. Dude is an inspiration
This guy got polio, and is still an accomplished lawyer?! Truly inspiring.
Inspiring!!
fax
@Ariana Fedorczyk WTF, he didn't took the vaccine
@Ariana Fedorczyk im not a kid, but neither an adult, im 16 , im sorry, but i thought you were saying that to make people become anti-vaccine.
@Ariana Fedorczyk i know that , that's why i got that angry. Im sorry.
You're telling me that in nearly 70 years no one was able to give this man a more reliable and modern breathing device?
They did but modern versions are more invasive and require a tracheotomy so he said he prefers the iron lung
Ah
They could but they risked him dying
...and yet ma took a stroll on the moon. Fo what?
I think that Christopher Reeve used one of the modern alternatives.
I’ve realized that I’ve never had a bad day in my life
Prayers for Paul and his amazing strength
Can't believe there are people who are willingly risking their childrens health/lives by not getting the polio vaccine. It's rare now but polio never left completly This man is so unbelievably strong, and brilliant. He's accomplished so much.
Yes, we should worry about a disease that was cured 50 years ago, not about everyone becoming poor and more and more countries trying to start a war
@@acacacacacacaccaca7666 First of all, you are an idiot.
Second of all, this disease is not curable. It is preventable by vaccination. Which is a main point of concern, now that more parents choose not to vaccine their kids with anything at all, basically bringing back easy-to-prevent diseases.
And finally, what does everyone becoming poor and countries starting wars have to do with this video and comment? And when did diseases and health problems stop becoming a problem to worry about?
@@acacacacacacaccaca7666 The disease still exists, without vaccines it can come back. We can pay attention to more than one thing at a time, well maybe not you, but most people/agencies/groups.
@@acacacacacacaccaca7666 You have an incredibly myopic view of the world
@@watchuwant1560 yes but we won't
We will fight for non issues that affect nobody
We will ignore the rest of the world
We will eat mediacrap and shit mediacrap and when we are told something is wrong we won't ask why
We will vote knowing nothing about what we are voting about
And we will feel proud
And it all will be by design
Because decades and millions of dollars were invested in knowing exactly how you tick
And a true facist society is a society where nobody knows what facism is
This man didn't let anything stop him. What an incredible person. Seriously. The amount of strength he has is amazing.
Amazing that hes still here after all he went trough. this guy has all of my hopes and respect.
Hi! I know you might find this weird, but I’m a Christian, and I try to spread the good news of God to people. Would you mind talking with me about God? Also, I’ll be glad to answer any questions you have! Have a good day!
@Yusuf Karim, okay! So, Jesus lived on earth as a human about 2,000 years ago. He’s currently in Heaven. Jesus is (and was) simultaneously God and God’s Son. When Jesus was on earth, He was simultaneously God and a man. He faced difficulties and temptation to do wrong things like we do, but even as a child, He never did anything wrong. He was the only perfect human to ever live. Hypocritical religious leaders didn’t like Him, so they crucified Him. This needed to be done, because there needed to be blood to pay for sins. People used to sacrifice animals for sins, that’s why Jesus is called the Lamb of God. God was crucified as Jesus to give us the chance to be forgiven for what we’ve done wrong and to be saved, that’s how much He loves us! All we have to do to be saved is obey God fully (it may sounds scary, and it’s hard sometimes, but His burden is light) and accept and believe what He did for us as Jesus. You don’t have to do anything fancy to be saved: It’s a free gift! Just commit to God, do good works (They don’t save us, but we should do them if we love God) and believe what He did as Jesus for you! Have a good day!
@Yusuf Karim, also, rest! Don’t stress yourself out!
He THINKS to breathe. I cant even manage push-ups for over a minute, and this man has to make himself breathe all the time.
The lung isn't the only thing that's iron, so is his will. Guy's a badass, being able to write a memoir on a computer with only his mouth among the other things he's done
jarrod nash yeah this guy has the will, spirit, and soul of a freight train. Incredible level of respect for him and his mechanic as well.
Couldn’t agree more
Andrew York no way I just got your 1500th like
@@andrewyork3869
Never considered "freight trains" as having souls. Maybe passenger trains...
@@muffdiver240 haha, but yes....
I'm so glad we have a vaccine for this now 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 R.I.P. to all the poor children who where affected by this😥😥
They should require all anti-vaxers live in an iron lung for a week.
Fun fact: its creator, Jonas Salk, had a chance to put a patent on his vaccine and make a fortune... instead, he gave it away for free.
Direct quote: "There is no patent. Would you patent the sun?"
and RIP to all the kids of antivaxxers...
@@comradebroosk9396 antivaxxers should be fined imo they are literally killing childs in the long run
@@comradebroosk9396 brainwashed by government, history history history repeats itself
今日亡くなられたというニュースを聞きました。この場を借りて哀悼の意を捧げます。
遠い異国の彼を見て人間の意志の力の素晴らしさを感じ、自身がつらいときやくじけそうになった時にポールさんのことを思い奮い立ったものです。
少しでも彼のような強く・優しい人間になれるようこれからも頑張っていきたいと思います。
本当にお疲れさまでした。そしてありがとうございました。
I’m gonna be blunt with you. I would rather die than go through that. That is one of the strongest men I’ve ever seen in my life.
Same..
Is he still alive?
I think I would also agree with you on that one. I just can't imagine how its like to live in his state and be bother living 😕. Props to him though for not giving up!
he is so unlucky to get it a couple of monts before the vaccine
Even though you said that, this man lived, and still lives a fulfilling life. He graduated school and college, got a bachelor's degree (He's a lawyer). In his classes, he was one of the best, only behind one other person.
He also is not always in the iron lung, he can still breathe if he focuses on it.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Alexander_(lawyer)
Let's just appreciate the fact that he held on for so long, imagine how much persistence that takes.
You again, I find you in every video lol
This is all he has experienced for the decades he's been alive. What a horrible life.
and agaaaain
Imposter! kau adalah imposter
YOU
You were a true inspiration. Rest in Peace, Paul. You are now free from the Iron Lung ❤❤❤
His determination to survive is insane. I'm truly amazed at what the human mind can accomplish. God bless Alex, I would have given up so long ago. Mr Alexander your story is extraordinary. Your will and intelligence is incredibly fascinating. Thank you because I will never be the same again. You have inspired me.
🤓
@@chrisdawson1776 your a disgrace to humanity calling him a nerd because he wrote a comment grow up
he was a racist tho
@@chrisdawson1776 ok
@@chrisdawson1776weirdo
This guy is literally a legend like he writes a whole thing with just his mouth like bruh im showing some big respect now for this guy
Agreed, first he has survived Polio and now he's writing with his mouth which is amazing
@@V1_Ultrakrill i think he is also incredible cause he spit facts
How is that possible???
@@loveslyricslyricer1763 bro I'm sorry but I couldn't live like that.... kill me one time
... this man is a legend
Man writes articles with his mouth my head ass can’t even pass English
This person needs to win some world recognition, he wrote a book with his mouth. He became a lawyer, this is beyond.. needs to be in history book!!!
@Jet Pistol420 oh fuck you man
He needs a Hamilton style musical
Yess
Similar type of disability happened to Jean-Dominique Bauby. He was a chief editor of Elle magazine. He had a stroke and was paralized. He didn't even have facial expressions. He wrote a book only thanks to his only eye movement. I suppose there are not many people like them. History of Jean-Dominique is presented in a movie Le scaphandre et le papillon.
@@wojciech8175 amazing 🙆♂️
Just In; Mr. Paul Alexander has Already Passed Away Today 031224.
My Deepest Condolences to the Berieved Family. Thank you for Sharing your Wonderful Life to Us. Your Story Will Never be Forgotten Sir! Salute.... From Philippines 🇵🇭
My grandma has polio. She's almost in her 70's now, She got it when she was 4. She was stuck in the Iron lung for a year straight. All the stories she's told me are the worst things I've ever heard. She couldn't see her family, and she was so young she didn't understand. She was in a hospital that was almost like an auditorium. There were hundreds of children in iron lungs, screaming in pain. She was the only one to survive out of all those kids, and she heard every single one of them die.
I'm not entirely sure about the medical parts of it, but I know something happened to her right foot/leg. She can't move it. She has to use a scooter everywhere she goes, but she can still walk around the house short distances. Her and my grandpa have been married for about 55 years. He takes care of her full time, but they've somehow managed to take me traveling all over the US. They have an RV that accommodates to her scooter, so I've been able to experience amazing things with her. Such as seeing Niagara Falls, Las Vegas, New York City, Disney world, etc. I'm extremely grateful for her and my grandpa.
Edit: To all the people that are replying saying they don't give a fuck, why are you taking the time to read my entire comment and then reply? Why'd you even click on this video if you don't care about polio survivors? Show some damn respect. Not for me, but for everyone that had to go through this.
That's fucking horrifying.
Your grandmas an absolute legend
May god grant your grandparents good health my friend
@@Gummyxx have some bloody respect. I'm sure it wasn't easy for her to see the suffering her grandma went through and for you to say that is just so low
@It’s ye boy I care so stfu
Anti-Vax Moms: Protect them. Don't inject them.
Polio:
(Edit: Don't take this seriously, I feel bad about this guy too. I just want to give a little laugh in this dark area.)
@@3akeking539 because of vaccine
@@3akeking539 the fact that you're calling people idiots yet using incorrect punctuation and grammar amuses me
kids amr
@@3akeking539 very funny did laugh have a thumb's up kind stranger
DIO DIO!!!
Who's here after hearing that Paul Alexander passed away?
Paul is really an example of
Saint Joan Arc's quote
"All battles are first one or lost in the mind."
He just encouaged me to do more with my life& bought his book. Thank you Paul. And God bless
Now THAT'S a man that doesn't give up
respect 10000000000+
VT_ gaimng he’s dead now.., rip..
@@lil8348 how do you know
@@moonshatter785 Google?
@@droftrop4135 what if it does not show on Google
[EVERYONE LIKED THAT]
That hero lives near me. Rip he passed away a bit ago. Wish I could meet him
RIP in peace.
F
whats his name lol
efren angeles 😑🙆♀️
Well at least he doesn't have to suffer the feeling of not being able to move
I'm crying rn rip
Just Amazing! So many gems in Paul’s story. A true inspiration. Thank you ❤
Your not crippled in my mind Paul your a hero and the strongest man I have ever met in my life and an inspiration to me and so many others. I wish I could read your book three minutes for a dog. I am sure it has inspired so many people. You show that no matter how many problems you or any of us could be facing you can always overcome them. You have a golden soul and a diamond heart!
Can we take a moment to appreciate the guy that took on rebuilding this life saving device with nothing but an instruction plate to go off of? Just think of how much of his free time and space he gave up to provide a lifeline to a stranger.
That is real craftmanship. Being so good at what you do that you can do this. Too bad that skills in crafts are no longer valued in today's world. Everyone just want cheap, fast and disposable.
@@yivunqp963 And not just that, the lack of right to repair making certain components proprietary and unrepairable.
@@yivunqp963 If there was a market the Chines would clone one overnight. It would break in two days.
@@MiGujack3 Probably liability issues should a repair fail.
@@jackrodgersjr Not at all, in this case it's just old. I'm sure the schematics are available or the machine is easy to reverse engineer. If this happened today the manufacturer would not help you at all or rip you off, when an independent shop would fix it properly for 1/100 of the price and do a better job as well. This is what right to repair is all about and it applies to everything. Learn about it, it's something literally everyone would agree on.
it's a shame that this man had to live in an iron lung for most of his entire life.
what a sweet old man.
We should put ani vaxxers in the iron lung
I honestly can't figure out why he doesn't have a modern ventilator, he could have a much better life.
I've read about this man somewhere. He tried using newer types of ventilation, but he returned to iron lung because he was not satisfied with the way newer devices work.
Pixel I would rather just be dead
Logan Farris same
What a truly amazing man. His optimistic and positive outlook is what has gotten him through his physical limitations. Just amazing. Evaluate your problems and put them into perspective.
Paul has now sadly passed away he did so much while trapped in that and still looked forward to life rest in peace
Everybody is crying about the condition he’s in right now, but nobody appreciates that this man had a long, successful life and is happy with what he has. We should all be happy for him, instead of just grieving 😃
Absolutely! 👍
Definitely
I really wish more people would have this mindset.
Imagine how dehumanizing it would feel if you had a horrible disease but your entire existence involved you working your ass off and accomplishing more in your life than many people with no hardships at all do in spite of it and people who looked at your existence saw it as sad compared to everyone else's instead of something to be proud over.
The people who made this video are probably the most at fault for using editing that seems to try to tell the viewer how awful this man's life is along with adding the sad music when this man probably just wanted to tell his story and how he had worked through everything and made something out of himself. I guarantee if they simply edited this with a more positive tone this would be a completely different comment section with completely different opinions.
@@totallynotarobot5476 Yes! Thank you so much for this. 👏
I'm proud of him for sure
CAN WE GET THIS GUY A VR HEADSET for the love of christ.
That actually is an amazing idea !
@@silverbeb4e it' is
It's a good idea,but how will he moves in the vr tho?
@@areserdogan9929 Awwww shit. Maybe let some one control the control and he can have the headset on.
@@areserdogan9929 he cant just watch movies or ride coasters
Iv watched a handful of videos on this guy and really I’m in awe of him. He is so strong, and such an awesome guy. Pretty cool that we get to all met him
परिस्थिति जस्तो भए पनि मनस्थिति बलियो हुन सके जीवनमा जे पनि गर्न सकिन्छ ।
हार्दिक श्रद्धाञ्जली पाउल एलेक्जेन्डर🌹
This guy who lived his entire life as a head has done more than me in my entire life.
Hey has a body too.. he’s not just a head.
Sir, don't get me started!
"Life as a head" that cracked me up more than anything else has in a long time lmao!!
Yeah. This makes me feel like a big whiner who doesn't deserve what he's got.
Polio sounds a lot scarier than the coronavirus
It is. It's way more dangerous than the coronavirus
Yea sure is
It is.
It is
@@HereticDuo I completely agree with you my friend thinks i'm insensitive because I always say the Government is taking this way too far and the fact I can't go to work and get money to buy groceries is insane
Rest in peace, Paul. God bless you.
there are a handful of TH-cam videos I often circle back to to see again as they so inspirational like this one , the amazing human spirit
I remember how terrified my mother was of this dreaded disease. She would never take me near crowds. When Jonas Salk brought us the miracle of the vaccine, she wept with gratitude for what he did. I will never forget those days.
Doctor Salk is a saint his serum saved millions!!
God bless that man !
@@georgejob7544 Amen to that,
Wasn’t water the real culprit?
don't you find it a little shocking that they "found" a vaccine within a few months. Anybody ever wonder if they actually had it beforehand. How do you make something that works the very first time...no trial or error? Everything has trial and error when creating something we all know that. Things are not made perfectly the first time.
@@confetti_kisses427 Polio had been around since 1894. It actually did not take a few months for them to find a vaccine. It went through tough trials and could not get it right.
"I may be crippled, only in your mind not mine."
Beats my perception on reality.
Anuj Falcon I m a fucking stupid morron with my disability not doing much more of my life for now....
People are telling me I m courageous, people wishes me luck, if some aren't feeling pityfull.
But the reality is that guy has so much good mindset, I cant stand half a second at my own position...
He make the good point pointing at developing countries, we do have a nice situation in our western world (I m from France)... I m feeling bad about not doing something for every mediocre/bad disability situation....
I m not in the right mindset, I have to evolve now !
Thank you iron man showing me that path!!!!
You’ve got my respect!
deltafox52 j'ai pas très bien compris, j'ai juste compris que tu étais français :)
Anuj Falcon yeah. He have that spirit and dignity.
No matter what, this is a terrible way to live.
RIP Paul Alexander
One of the strongest men not physically but mentally to get over such a debilitating disease and live a good 78 years. May God embrace you in eternity, sir.
✝️🙏🕊
The fact that he endure so much and still managed to be so optimistic. Truly inspiring.
this is honestly heartbreaking, i can’t imagine living this like this.
@@Trim_someone bro ur so Rude..
blake vortex club bruh stop talking, how would you feel if somebody made fun of you if you were in one of those machines
@@Trim_someone lmao
@@Holosomething he deleted his comment hahahhahahahahahha
i have claustrophobia tho
Five days. Wow. Five days. That's got to be terrifying. One day, your legs, another day, your arms, and finally your lungs. Bless this man.
Tamayako I kind of have an idea of what it’s like, and yes it is. I developed undiagnosed PTSD November 2017, and the stress made it so I was eating less and less, not on purpose, it’s just that if I get too anxious or sleep-deprived, my body just automatically vomits. So I was getting enough nutrition. I was in and out of the hospital last spring when I nearly had my kidneys shut down, and a blood infection at the same time where people had to wear gowns and gloves, etc. to enter my room.
By April I found I was having a hard time standing or walking. Even though my bathroom is only about 2.5 ft from my door - I couldn’t make it there. I had to have a portable commode brought up next to my bed, and needed help getting up on and off it. I even needed someone to wipe me. Soon I couldn’t walk at all. I could barely move myself up and down my bed. Then not too long after Mother’s Day my mom found me unresponsive, even the paramedics couldn’t get me to respond. For nearly 24 hours I was unresponsive and woke up confused in an ambulance as I was being transferred to a specialist hospital. Then I don’t remember much - I was constantly in and out of consciousness, and the next time I CLEARLY remember anything was to hear: “She has a 60/40 chance. I’m almost afraid to put her on the operating table.” I couldn’t respond that I could hear, but my mind was like, okay - death like this isn’t so bad. Ends up my liver was failing RAPIDLY. They barely had time to take a biopsy of my liver, and insert a feeding tube before it became too dangerous to leave me on the table. We thought perhaps we dodged a bullet - next day (at least to me), I wake up in ICU and not my room thinking I had pneumonia. What I had was respiratory failure - take away my oxygen and my saturation levels immediately went to 82%, and the body starts freaking out at 88 - 89%, so that’s how bad I was. For a week or more I was in ICU (I was ecstatic when I got back to my room, because my hospital had ONLY private rooms that were huge with huge flat screen TVs and nicer than some hotel rooms) with oxygen making me feel like I was suffocating (likely because my body was trying to let my lungs fail), I had no idea of passage of time, and I was hooked up to multiple machines to keep me going. I was constantly hallucinating, and I still don’t know if some stuff I think happened, actually did. My body was trying to kill me, but the doctors who did my gastric bypass, saved my fucking life, because if I had stayed at the other hospital I’d be dead.
What ended up happening was that I had become extremely malnourished (my weight loss for the surgery was at the right pace before the November fiasco happened), and my liver was failing and I had jaundice. I had also lost pretty much ALL my muscle mass - my legs and arms were thin as boards - hence why I couldn’t walk and could barely use my arms. And just hooked up to sooo many machines, and so many things attached to your arm you’re paranoid to move sometimes. And having your machines waking you up in the middle of the night because your feeding bag is empty so nothing is coming through your feeding tube...The embarrassment of using a bed pan for bowel movements, or being unable to control your bowels (which happened a lot) and having to have you and your bed changed constantly. They HAVE to give you meds that make you urinate and have bowel movements sometimes every 15 or 30 minutes sometimes, just so they can get all the toxins out of your system since your liver couldn’t/can’t do it. And constant shots to prevent blood clots, and developing neuropathy (in my right foot), which is when the nerves are constantly firing off from little to no stimuli - the nurses moving it even gently could send me screaming, and even air hitting it could cause constant pain.
And then I had to relearn how to eat, and actually keep food down - and now I can’t always eat the same foods because they’ll make me drastically ill. The worst - relearning how to even STAND and not fall even with 2 or 3 nurses holding me, never mind relearning how to walk. And even though my respiratory system was no longer failing, I got winded easily. Being aware as you’re dying, spending day after day confined to bed after the possibility of death (which lasted 2.5 weeks for my poor parents), being unable to do the simplest things for yourself...Many times I WISH I had died. I was stuck in hospital for 4 weeks, and a rehabilitation home for 3 weeks. I had a feeding tube from May to beginning of August, forcing myself even though I really no longer feel hunger anymore, to eat (and not using the feeding tube because it was a pain) on my own. Got my feeding tube out months before they thought I would. Same with walking - by August I could walk without any assistance (except a walker if I was feeling week for some reason). Before the end of July I was able to get my liver numbers back to normal, even though the liver doctor who saw me (and was my liver doctor in hospital) wrote me off as dead in May because my numbers were that bad.
Yeah I survived but the after effects have been horrendous. I can’t eat like I used to, my thyroid is permanently ruined and now I have to take medication, I began to lose so much hair I was going bald and looked like I had cancer (I almost had to shave my head, but fortunately a great hairdresser was able to cut it so that the spots were less notable), my teeth have started rot away, and in less than a year I went from 300 lbs to 138. That is WAY too fast for someone at my starting weight - in the 600+ lbs starting weight, it MIGHT be fine, but not for mine. Even worse? It increased my PTSD to such a point that nearly every week I could have ended up in the psych ward, and I’ve been put on Xanax. Never mind the multiple falls I had before April when I was beginning to lose the ability to walk made my bad back (from a bad fall in 2015) even worse. So now I’m on about 4 or 5 meds to help with pain. Sometimes at night I wake up completely rigid and in pain, and I have to use my cell to call my mom, who lives in the SAME house, to pull my limbs. And when she does, the pain is so bad I cry, and nearly I scream and sometimes I do. And some days I walk perfectly fine but with a slight limp - other days I’m weak and need a cane, walker, or motorized cart - and other days I’m stuck in bed in too much pain to walk.
And the worst - all of this happened when I was 28. 28!!! So I had a dinner party this January when I turned 29 - because according to nearly every doctor I had while in hospital (and I had a HUGE team), I should be in a grave right now. So even though I didn’t progress as fast as he did, and it took months instead of days to reach each stage, but I was fortunate to recover every faculty unlike him - God, yes. It’s horrible, something you wouldn’t wish on your wish enemy - not even on the ex-friend (who falsely accused me of physical assault on Facebook and her boyfriend - who claimed to get my number from public records even though he lives STATES away - hence she probably gave him my number, threatened to call the police and arrest and make up that he heard the argument and assaults she claimed happen) who gave me PTSD so severe that I suffered hallucinations (when I NEVER have even though I have mental illness), and in February for 2 weeks, lost all ability to feel ANY emotion - couldn’t even smile or cry. And many days I still wish I died, and I hate going out because of a fear having something trigger my PTSD. So I have to hand it to him to make it through all this with such a positive attitude - especially about the whole “cripple” thing - because on my worst days that’s what I feel like and I feel I would be better off dead instead of having to have people help me with things (though now it’s only a few minor things), and making my 70 something year old parents care for me. The psychological aspect is the worst - so I applaud him for overcoming it, and leading the full life he has.
@@kimberlyhaines107 man you've gone through a lot . Hope you're doing well now. 💗❤
Kimberly Haines One thing that you do have Is the biggest heart in the whole entire world you’ve had to overcome tremendous stuff. I hope you overcome everything and when you do, you will definitely have one of the greatest stories in the world. Respect
Kimberly Haines fucking hell no one asked for you’re life story
Its the stupid parents at that time who did this to him
Such an inspiration.. wow i 'm amazed with the determination of this man... You re amazing Paul!!🙏🏽💯
What an incredible man! This is utterly heartbreaking. His sheer will and determination to live on are truly inspirational. May God bless him.
He’s actually typing a memoir only with his mouth and a homemade tapping stick? Incredible
M Vee ikr
M Vee And I have trouble writing a school research paper...
Talk about motivation
gunnyman100 Yeah exactly. I really admire those who can write and the words just flow out. I had trouble just finding the words to do a basic book report.
M Vee please someone get that man voice to text softwares
Fuck that insect picture freaked me out
My heart hurts for him. He didn’t deserve this.
Poor guy
so does my mouth
Nobody deserves the cruel things that happen to them, especially children. I've recently found out I have arthritis in my hand from an injury and I'm only 20 but I stopped thinking to myself how unfair life can be because reality is sometimes a cruel bitch.
@@MrIceDragon22 hopefully you get better
Fr
Thank you so much, you gave me strength, you changed my life, where ever you are thank you, i respect.
He’s a total inspiration to everyone . He accomplishments are a testament that despite any set backs in life. The impossible is possible.Such an amazing, extraordinary man that I’ll never forget.
69 years in that horrible tube. he is such an inspiring man that has helped me realise how lucky I am. Absolute legend.
he can leave for a few hours at a time... regenerative medicine and stem cells is the solution
@@Jonas_Albert do u think that’s funny
@@Jonas_Albert well its not grow up bud
@@Jonas_Albert ofc u would...the poor kids of modern gen
@@Jonas_Albert you must be a immature 10 year old smh of course you had to point that out🤦
This is one of the most inspiring stories I’ve ever seen. Humans are so adaptable. At least Paul is. Wow.
I saw this some years ago and looked it up again recently. This video left a huge impression on me; everyone should see it. I'd love to read his book.
Thats the result of the shit world we have thankful to the United States , that’s not “adaptation”
@@nefandusmalummortifer 🎉🇺🇸🎉🇺🇸🎉🇺🇸🎉🇺🇸🎉🇺🇸🎉
How is this inspiring? What kind of life is that to live?
When man is a virgin
True hero who never gives up against any adversary. Inspiring struggle of survival motivation to humanity. Keep it up. God bless
Rest in peace gladiator of life.
Thank you for sharing your life. You never gave up. You taught us with your example.
My condolences to his family and friends.
"Paul just finished writing a memoir using only his mouth"
This man is beyond inspiring oh my god
I hope somebody told him about speech to text
Ikr like
@MrBéast hes on this comment too jesus christ, im gonna count every comment hes on
@@gaminggoose2329 technically you use your mouth for that so I assumed he did use it.
He’s inhuman
Heartbreaking:
He's paralysed, he struggles, he barely ever leaves.
I would have given up, but he does not. Amazing
I couldn't go thru what he went thru
@@NiceDiceAlpha I hope you know he could get doctors to do it
@@a.f.7246 I wouldn't of wanted to go through that - but he literaly had no choice. Very troubling to me.
@@NiceDiceAlpha Exactly! He can't kill himself due to the paralysis! Think about that.
@@flyman451 I would have called dr. Kevorkian to ask him for a. Injection
Paul is here to inspire all of us to be grateful for what we have
He's a hero what a awesome, strong, virtuous man! You'll inspire billions!
"I'm Paul Alexander, human being." That line put me to tears. This is genuinely one of the most touching stories I have ever heard.
I broke down when he said that too. I feel sorry for him, but very proud of him.
I can't imagine going through this for a month even. He has gone through it for 40 years and made the most of every second. Its amazing
Let’s hope a cure is invented before he dies
Knight Of the abyss
There’s no possible cure for Polio. Treatments are the only thing that helps.
@@hannah-tl1yy Do we know that for sure? If we invent immortality (or a way to live above 100 years old without fault) before we cure polio (and he's still alive when immortality is invented) then maybe he still has a chance at getting a cure before he dies.
Why is nobody talking about the fact that he wrote a memoir with his mouth!!
I can’t write homework with both hands
Right??? That's so impressive
exactly ! i was about to comment this
Because you!
that's Impressive but he could just talk and let someone else do the writing
Rest in peace, sir.
You lived well.
This makes me want to cry and is truly inspiring. Thank you for sharing. You are a brave kind soul. I hope you are happy, I wish I could meet you. Such an inspiration
he dead aready
He graduated from law school, passed the bar AND wrote a book while living confined to an iron lung because of Polio??? LET ME GET UP OFF MY ASS! It's a blessing to be ABLE to do those things.. He's no where near physically able and still made it happen!! I pray they find a way to help him to live without that machine..
I think he’s dead
@@brsybkirbfz262 his not dead his still living
@@ettachase6783 nope i looked it up he’s dead
@@brsybkirbfz262 lmao
@@brsybkirbfz262 lair!
You have no proof!
A girl in Cleveland Mo was in iron lung.A tornado came through we have no power.All the kids in town took turns riding a bicycle with belt that kept machine running. In think 1960 or 62...
Thats what I did to charge my phone in 2012 blizzard back in boarding school
I just read this and it blew me away! That was beautiful!
Aww so sweet of those kids!
What a sweet thing of you all to do for her
Thats so cute of them . Nowadays most of them would’ve cared less . But obviously technology advances
He is absolutly amazing man and a legend, realized most of the people how lucky they are, having good health.
You are such an inspiration to many. You had lived your life to the fullest. May you rest in peace and sweet freedom.
This man is stronger mentally then 99 percent of all humans. Respect to the millionth power
Respect^10^6
More like 99.9%
That’s a lot of numbers
My uncle had polio, he was “lucky” and was paralysed from the waist down he was really young. He became antisocial and I was one of the only people he talked to. I cared for him.. he died during quarantaine. I miss him may he rest in peace
sorry for your loss bro, stay strong
You meant asocial.
im so sorry. Rest in peace, sir.
I’m sorry for your loss. May he Rest In Peace
May he rest in peace, he's watching over you, smiling, and he'll never not love you :)
Just now I saw this video and I got tears in my eyes ..
Hats off to you..
I can't even tell how sorry and hurt I feel for this beautiful soul here. May God always be with him❤️
*"I'm crippled in most peoples minds, except mine. I've experienced everything in life that you have, and more."*
Ladies and gentlemen, this is strength. Truly inspiring.
Read this in total sync with the vid
it would've been so easy for him to give up, and succumb, hell, most people would do so, and no one would blame him, and yet, he shows a force of will that is amazing to see, trully inspirational.
keep fighting paul never give up you are an insperation to others and prove that no matter what you can move on in life so stay strong brother
Except walk on the beach in maui or see the world but understand the message
So does the vaccine make you immune to that shot or is it like the flu
He typed his memoir with his mouth, what a hero.
i know not many ppl are talking about it like wth that's insane
Good on him for making it work, but surely there are better input methods then typing on a keyboard with a pen attached to a stick.
@The right honourable Matty Mc Hoon there's a program that more or less does that called Dragon. Windows and Mac OS also have versions of speech control built-in, though I've not used either of them extensively so I don't know how well they work.
It really scares me when he reverse talks, ie during inhale.
@Cocaine Cowboy Your definition of what a hero is so old school. These days you don't need to risk anything to be a hero but do something good, and be an inspiration to others and give them strength. People can still be heroes in your definition, but the definition has broaden currently.
A warrior and champion who fought until the bitter end a true inspiration 🙏❤
Rest in Peace Paul, you were a true warrior 🙏
My grandpa, whom was a surgeon, treated people with polio. He’s likely the last doctor to use the Iron Lung to treat people.
@Tom H You don’t know what they’ve been through, being able to walk and go out is a dream
@@SR0144 pretty sure he was joking, well I hope he was XD
@Tom H Maybe being in iron lungs for a bit would be nice but having it for a long time would not be pleasant.
@Tom H You live to work and have fun. Once everything is done, there is no reason to live. This guy can't walk, can barely talk, can't play, can't run, can't FUCK, can't beat his meat, can't drive, ... No one wants that. NO ONE.
@Tom H thanks
Rest in peace, an absolute legend🌹 showed the world how to never give up❤️
“I’m Paul Alexander - Human Being.” I’m about to tear up. This man is inspiring me to take nothing for granted.
@MrBéastthis isnt a proficient way of getting followes mate
😔 It makes all my concerns so petty in comparison. Gosh this makes me so sad.
Didn't think I was gonna cry watching this till the last 5 seconds.
What an incredible man! Really makes you think about how good you actually have it
Salute to this legend. You are a true soldier and will be missed. You taught me a lot about facing hardship through your story. May Jesus bless you. 🫡
No one gonna talk about the kind man who fixed his iron lungs machine?. Thank u kind sir. Good people like u are indeed what this world needs. Salute👏👏👏
Seriously, making parts from scratch is one of the most labor intensive things you could do. For that man to do that for him is truly something amazing.
Sky Sweeper he wasn’t trying to be rude OK
uh.... read my comment again dude, didn't say anything rude.
10 points for griffendor
Amen
He went through law school...wow, this man is incredible.
David Barna yeah
He's kick a*s when it comes to typing with his mouth!
David Barna yep
Incredible person, a truly example of bravery.
Life is cruel for some and fragile for most. But this is beyond words.
I feel for you Paul.
“I’m Paul Alexander. Human being”.
And a better one than many others, might I add.
Great thing it's not a competition though. Or it seems the ones like Jeff Bezos would certainly lose. Yet they're the richest cos being a greedy asshat pays off in wonderful prizes, while being a good guy usually doesn't. That's why the promises of heaven and all that to try and keep us good rather than all competing to be the next Bezos asshat.
@Anonymous Channel why do you gotta do that
@@handle.handle.handle Its rick roll or just his video,right?
@@user-ej4eq5im4r its his fortnite video
@Anonymous Channel dude this video is about a person that is super sick and you send fortnite videos, have some respect
Sad story,
Strong man..
FSXNOOB - GᗩᗰᕮS & ᗰOᖇᕮ yeah he is a tough guy who's been through hell and back.
1000th like coming in hot
Very strong and patient indeed
I can never do it
If I get to his position I would try everything to end it
But god gave him patience and that’s very hard to achieve
S1l3nt Marksman why hell its palio. Bro
Wayne Marion bruh theres only 1 god bro
Rip Paul you will be remembered by everyone
This got me out of bed today when I thought I had nothing left. Thanks Paul
A living legend.
Hi verifed person
ss inhhg
U again
Hi
Would u swap lifes with him then if he’s such a legand?
This guy makes me feel weak. No reason to complain about my life when I'm healthy and fed, and yet I sometimes do. This guy is tough.
There was this post I saw about a guy with Parkinson disease trying to button his shirt. Below that, many were complaining about how they take their lives for granted and later that day the guy in the video had a comment saying how even he takes many things in his life granted and how he undermines many things that are readily available for him. So, don't worry about things you take for granted because everyone wants more than what they have. Nothing wrong with that. :)
This man is incredibly strong and a true inspiration to all of us. But don't feel like one person's success undermines your own problems. You're allowed to feel like things are unfair, it's a part of being human.
Nazi cat
RIP 💐🕊️ Now you are free
Wow just wow, it takes alot for me to be speechless but this takes the cake. I am inspired, lost, confused…. Sad and happy at the same time. This man has got to be the strongest man on the planet, both mentally and physically.
This man can write his memoirs with a stick laying down in an iron lung and I can't even finish my term paper 😩
They have less standard to him
@@orctrihar a peasant like u won't even live that long if u were him.
@@peachy6009
? You should follow to be what your name is cause you seem salt for now.
@@orctrihar they don’t have less standard they stated he got a b because he didn’t dissect you’re just being a pessimist
Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and you will be saved. John 3:16 (share the good news of the gospel around the world!) Have a wonderful day/night, may the LORD bless you all, and farewell!,.,,,,,,,,.,.,.,.,.,.,.
The fact that he lived basically his entire life in that is remarkable to me. If I had to go through that I would try to end it all after the first day. This is one of the strongest persons I have ever seen
l Ency l
I love you, hopefully you are having a great time and using it effiCienToy Break it down for me shawty #CJYQUJ0Q I love you, hopefully you are having a great time and using it effiCienToy
@rabeh el houjeiri what did I say??
But how can he? He’s only a head with a mouth to do stuff.... torture
Same
Does the machine flip up in to a standing position? How was he able to eat, or even get cleaned up after going to the bathroom? Did his family cut out a piece of the roof so he could watch tv on the ceiling. It would be annoying with your head turned to watch tv. He would not even be able to read a book. That is an awful life to live. I hope he is walking around enjoying the beauty of heaven.
Wow! Such an amazing man! We take seemingly normal life for granted! Brady Richard’s what a saint of a man! 👏🏼👏🏼 there’s a special place in heaven reserved for both these guys!