One of the Last People to Live in an Iron Lung Is a Longhorn
Paul Alexander still remembers the sound of the screen door slamming on that rainy July day in 1952.
The then-6-year-old had just run inside after playing in the field behind his Dallas home. He was feverish and his neck ached. He walked in barefoot, dragging mud onto the kitchen floor. The door sprang shut behind him. He knew his mom would be mad when she saw the mess, but he was taken aback by the fear in her voice. “God, please, no,” she said. She knew then polio had come for her son. 1952 was riddled with fear for many parents. It was the worst year for polio in the U.S., with nearly 60,000 cases reported across the country. Some cities shut down popular gathering places—movie theaters, swimming pools, bars, bowling alleys. … Continue Reading (7 minute read)