Paul Alexander, who contracted polio as a child and spent most of his life in an iron lung, passed away Monday at the age of 78. Despite his paralysis from the neck down, Alexander managed to train himself to breathe independently for part of the day, earned a law degree, wrote a book about his life, and inspired countless people with his positive outlook.
Alexander contracted polio in 1952 at the age of 6, and he began using an iron lung, a device that encased his body and used air pressure to help him breathe. He had millions of views on his TikTok account, where he shared his story and spread positivity.
“Being positive is a way of life for me,” Alexander said in one of his TikTok videos.
His friend Daniel Spinks said that Alexander’s optimism had a profound effect on those around him. “Being around Paul was an enlightenment in so many ways,” Spinks said.
Alexander learned to “gulp air down his lungs” to spend time outside the iron lung, using a stick in his mouth to type on a computer and use the phone.
As he aged, he had more difficulty breathing outside the lung for extended periods, according to Spinks. “As he got older he had more difficulties in breathing outside the lung for periods of time so he really just retired back to the lung,” Spinks said.
In 2020, Alexander published a book about his life titled “Three Minutes for a Dog: My Life in an Iron Lung.” The title refers to a promise his nurse made him as a young boy: he would get a dog if he could learn to breathe on his own for three minutes.
Alexander earned a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1978 and a law degree in 1984 from the University of Texas. His strong faith in God and driven nature inspired those who knew him.
Polio was once a feared disease in the U.S., causing thousands of cases of paralysis each year, primarily in children. Vaccines became available in 1955, and by 1979, polio was declared eliminated in the country, meaning it was no longer routinely spread.
Alexander’s friends and supporters remember him as someone who loved to inspire others and show that disabled people have a place in society. His vibrant and joyful energy was contagious, and his determination to overcome challenges will continue to inspire many.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.