Life in an Iron Lung

In addition to uncontacted tribes, here's another thing I haven't spent much time thinking about - life in an iron lung. I know what an iron lung is for, but I had no idea that some people still live out their entire lives inside of one. I was shocked when I saw an article about Dianne Odell, a woman who had lived in an iron lung for 58 years, who died during a power failure when her family's generator wouldn't start (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,359304,00.html).

In a nutshell, an iron lung (aka negative pressure ventilator) mimics the physiologic action of breathing, causing air to flow into and out of the lungs. The first iron lung was used at Children's Hospital in Boston on October 12, 1928, when a child unconscious from respiratory failure recovered immediately upon being placed in the chamber. It was originally invented for treatment of coal gas poisoning, but was most widely used during the polio outbreaks in the 1940's and 50's to allow people with paralysis of the diaphragm to breathe. In the 1930's, the cost of an iron lung was $1,500, about the same as the average house. Although use of the iron lung has declined due to the eradication of polio and the advent of other respiratory devices, there are approximately 30-40 people still using an iron lung in the USA.

Imagine that. Being confined to a mechanical chamber for most or all of your life. Unable to walk, drive, dance, hug, or run down to Dairy Queen on a whim. You could argue that these people couldn't do those things anyway due to paralysis, but the idea of being completely confined and dependent on others for everything is a sobering thought. Sometimes I feel like I can't overcome the obstacles that threaten to prevent me from getting out the door each morning with 3 fully-dressed children. The next time I feel myself sinking into that pit of despair, I'm going to think of the people still living in an iron lung. I feel better already.

Here's another article about Dianne Odell: http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/022002/hea_0220020028.shtml

And an interesting website about John Prestwich, who was dependent 24 hours per day on artificial respiration from the age of 17 until he passed away at the age of 68:
http://www.johnprestwich.btinternet.co.uk/index.htm

And finally an article with links about Mark O'Brien, who didn't allow the fact that he had the use of only 3 muscles (in his foot, neck, and jaw) to slow him down: http://www.salon.com/people/obit/1999/07/12/obrien/

Amazing.
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