Curiosity often surrounds how Paul Alexander, confined within an iron lung due to polio, managed to maintain his weight with such a unique respirator and a lifetime of paralysis.

The passing of Paul Alexander, a lawyer and polio survivor from Dallas, Texas, from COVID-19 deeply impacted the community.

Diagnosed with polio at six, he spent his life in an iron lung, making him among the Guinness World Records’ longest-living individuals reliant on mechanical ventilation.

Overcoming his challenges, he secured a scholarship to Southern Methodist University and later taught legal terms at Austin Trade School.

Paul Alexander achieved his bachelor’s degrees and earned his Juris Doctor between 1978 and 1984. 

He also authored a memoir, Three Minutes for a Dog: My Life in an Iron Lung, in April 2020, assisted by his friend, Norman D.

Impact of Polio and Paralysis on Paul Alexander

At merely six years old, Paul Alexander experienced severe symptoms of polio, including high fever, limb weakness, and intense neck pain. With hospitals overwhelmed, doctors recommended avoiding hospitalization.

Polio rendered him unable to perform basic functions such as swallowing and breathing, which led to an emergency tracheotomy to manually clear his airways.

 

Three days following his diagnosis, he was placed in an iron lung to assist his breathing. 

He spent eighteen months hardly able to speak, overhearing doctors comment on his declining health due to the iron lung. 

Efforts to breathe unassisted resulted in him turning blue and fainting, but Alexander found a breakthrough with “glossopharyngeal breathing” or “frog-breathing,” a technique that remarkably extended his lifespan.

This breathing method relies on trapping air in the mouth and throat and then pushing it past the vocal cords into the lungs, a life-saving skill for Alexander.

Rumors of Weight Loss in Paul Alexander Attributed to Polio and Paralysis

Though medical research doesn’t directly link polio to weight loss, the disease’s secondary effects often lead to weight reduction.

The difficulties in eating and breathing due to polio can hinder proper food intake and metabolism. Furthermore, the fatigue and weakness associated with polio can decrease physical activity and muscle mass, impacting body weight.

Alexander’s restricted movement and physical activity changed his body’s appearance, marked by a larger head but a slimmer torso and limbs.

Managing his iron lung, healthcare expenses, and finding suitable living accommodations was a significant challenge for Alexander, who resided in a windowless room.

General FAQs

1. How Old Was Paul Alexander?

Born on January 30, 1946, Paul Alexander was 78 years old at the time of his passing.

2. What Were Paul Alexander’s Academic Accomplishments?

Alexander was a pioneering homeschooled student within the Dallas Independent School District. He memorized material instead of taking notes. At 21, he graduated second in his class at W.W. Samuell High School in 1967, marking him as the first to graduate from a Dallas high school without physically attending.

3. How Did Paul Alexander Write His Memoir?

Over eight years, Alexander composed his memoir, employing a plastic stick and pen to type out words on a keyboard or dictating his thoughts to friends who would write them down.