Martha Lillard, Final US Iron Lung User, Passes Away at 78
WHO:
AP News - Cindy McVey described Lillard as having "the enthusiasm and the drive to continue living and make the best of her life."
AP News - McVey stated that Lillard and her husband, Baha Salh, were "really soul mates."
AP News - Cindy McVey described Lillard as artistic and creative, noting she wrote poems and composed songs.
AP News - Martha Lillard, the last U.S. polio patient using an iron lung.
AP News - Cindy McVey, Lillard’s younger sister.
AP News - Baha Salh, Lillard’s husband.
WHAT:
AP News - Lillard communicated with a man in Egypt online for over 20 years before marrying him in February after he obtained a visa.
AP News - Lillard's family was desperate to find someone who could fix the iron lung, one of several she had over her lifetime.
AP News - Lillard updated her obituary to state she “died of long-haul Covid 19,” which was added after her death.
AP News - Lillard communicated with her future husband, Baha Salh, online for over 20 years before marrying him in February after he obtained a visa.
AP News - Lillard updated her obituary to state she “died of long-haul Covid 19,” which was added after her death.
AP News - Lillard's family was desperate to find someone who could fix the iron lung, one of several she had over her lifetime.
AP News - Lillard communicated with a man in Egypt online for over 20 years before marrying him in February after he obtained a visa.
AP News - Lillard updated her obituary to state she “died of long-haul Covid 19.”
AP News - Lillard communicated with a man in Egypt online for over 20 years before marrying him in February after he obtained a visa.
AP News - Lillard updated her obituary to state she “died of long-haul Covid 19.”
AP News - Martha Lillard died at the age of 78.
AP News - Lillard was diagnosed with polio at the age of 5 and depended on an iron lung for her entire life.
AP News - Lillard's death certificate lists chronic pulmonary failure and post-polio syndrome as causes of death.
AP News - Lillard was able to regain partial use of her left arm and use of her legs through therapy.
AP News - Lillard wrote her own obituary, which is now posted online by a funeral home.
WHERE:
AP News - Lillard passed away in Oklahoma.
AP News - Lillard attended Shawnee High School.
WHEN:
AP News - Lillard died on June 26.
AP News - Lillard married Baha Salh in February after he obtained a visa.
WHY:
AP News - McVey attributes Lillard’s death to the effects of long-haul COVID-19.
AP News - McVey attributes Lillard’s death to the effects of long-haul COVID-19.
AP News - Cindy McVey attributes Lillard’s death to the effects of long-haul COVID-19.
AP News - Polio was once a feared disease, causing thousands of cases of paralysis annually, primarily affecting children.
HOW:
AP News - Lillard spent the last two years of her life in the iron lung nearly 24 hours a day.
AP News - Lillard spent the last two years of her life in the iron lung nearly 24 hours a day.
AP News - Lillard spent the last two years of her life in the iron lung nearly 24 hours a day.
AP News - Lillard spent the last two years of her life in the iron lung nearly 24 hours a day.
AP News - Lillard used an iron lung that encased her body, forcing air in and out of her lungs.
AP News - Lillard communicated with her teachers and classmates through an intercom system in her classrooms.
AP News - Lillard's family used a custom trailer for road trips to accommodate the iron lung.
(UPDATED July 12, 2026 02:52 UTC)
Lillard, who communicated with a man in Egypt online for over 20 years, married him in February after he obtained a visa. Her family was desperate to find someone who could fix the iron lung, which she had used for much of her life, and she spent her final two years in it nearly around the clock. Following her passing, Lillard updated her obituary to state she “died of long-haul Covid 19,” a cause that McVey attributes to the effects of the illness.
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(UPDATED July 12, 2026 01:21 UTC)
Lillard, who communicated with her future husband Baha Salh online for over 20 years, married him in February after he obtained a visa. Tragically, her family updated her obituary to reflect that she “died of long-haul Covid 19,” which was added posthumously, and they were desperate to find someone who could repair the iron lung that she had relied on for nearly 24 hours a day during the last two years of her life. McVey has attributed Lillard’s death to the effects of long-haul COVID-19.
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(UPDATED July 11, 2026 17:17 UTC)
Cindy McVey described Lillard as having "the enthusiasm and the drive to continue living and make the best of her life," highlighting the deep bond she shared with her husband, Baha Salh, whom she called her "soul mate." Lillard communicated with Salh online for over 20 years before marrying him in February after he obtained a visa, and she updated her obituary to reflect that she “died of long-haul Covid 19.” Tragically, Lillard spent the last two years of her life in an iron lung, relying on it nearly 24 hours a day.
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(UPDATED July 11, 2026 06:40 UTC)
Cindy McVey described Lillard as artistic and creative, highlighting her talent for writing poems and composing songs. After communicating online with a man in Egypt for over 20 years, Lillard married him in February following his visa approval, but she later updated her obituary to reflect that she “died of long-haul Covid 19.” Tragically, Lillard spent the last two years of her life in an iron lung, relying on it nearly 24 hours a day.
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(UPDATED July 11, 2026 05:52 UTC)
Martha Lillard, the last U.S. polio patient who relied on an iron lung, has passed away at the age of 78 in Oklahoma. Diagnosed with polio at just five years old, Lillard lived with the condition throughout her life, ultimately regaining some mobility through therapy, and she even wrote her own obituary, which is now available online. Her sister, Cindy McVey, attributes Lillard's death to the lingering effects of long-haul COVID-19, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by those with chronic health issues.