Man Has Been in an Iron Lung for 63 Years | Chicago Med

Maggie helps Will treat a patient who's been in an iron lung for 60 years.
#ChicagoMed #drhalstead #nursemaggie #OneChicago
Season 7, Episode 14, All The Things That Could've Been,
Goodwin assigns Med’s new compliance officer to a patient with a long-hauler Covid condition. Stevie learns hard truths about her mother. Terrell returns to Med under dire circumstances.
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[@writerinprogress]

There is a real-life case of a man who's been in an iron lung for 60-odd years following a bout of polio, who went on to study law and became a highly successful lawyer - I'm guessing this episode is based on him. The saddest part is, he caught polio barely two weeks before the vaccine was finally rolled out to the public, which only took so long to happen because two different versions of that vaccine were available and the scientists behind them were arguing about patents and whose vaccine should be the 'official' one.

[@asmalldragon]

His name is Paul Alexander! There's a bunch of interviews with him here on KZbin :)

[@yogoo0]

There will always be a last person to contract the disease before the cure is available

[@twonyx213]

A lot of their episodes and cases are based on true stories same as Chicago fire and PD

[@AlphineWolf]

This time, I'm glad there's none of that arguing when lives are on the line

[@stephaniedaigle4794]

@@yogoo0 This isn’t about the last who “contracted it” but the last few that “lived” through when everyone else died

[@mrj1897]

What an absolute unit of a man. This guy has to deal with being in a capsule like container for 60 years and still had the mental fortitude to joke and give people legitimate advice, that’s a place I don’t envy but admire how strong he really is to keep going on life like this. The comments say there are cases like this and if any even have a fraction of this dude’s mental fortitude then I think I can keep going in life knowing I’ll be alright and if terrible things happen, I can potentially accept the circumstances and keep living life with some level of joy in my heart.

[@stephaniedaigle4794]

His name is Paul Alexander .. or “ The Iron Lung” … there’s also a woman who also contracted it, she was able To stay out of the capsule Longer than Paul Alexander, and if I remember Correctly she even got married and everything ! However, she still needed to sleep inside the iron lung each night ! Not only did Paul Alexander go on to live a Long and Fulfilled life regardless of his circumstances., he also studied Law, became a lawyer and even wrote a Book too! Just to Proove to himself that he could and that nothing was unachievable ! He is pretty strong willed ! I know his story went viral a cpl yrs ago, and I’ve seen it a few times from a few different documentaries, but I can’t remember if either of these two are still alive Today though? I know that He was still alive not that long ago so It would t surprise me if he still was! But I think the woman I’m thinking of had sadly passed away though

[@killwalker]

​@@stephaniedaigle4794 i wonder why they need it for sleep. How much time per day can the real life guy be outside his iron lung. I used to think it was 24/7 in the capsule aside from hygiene maintenance. Glad he gets to get out of it, at least for a short time. Odd he wasn't interviewed at a time where he was able to walk around..

[@FrostByteVoyager]

​​@@killwalker Because each breath requires conscious effort for this victim. He'd die if he slept without the iron lung

[@mrj1897]

@@foolishlyfoolhardy6004 I was mainly talking about the character, I didn’t think he actually was in the iron lung

[@suzannekirkwood6392]

I read a book written by a woman who had spent most of her life in an iron lung. Her brother got sick first, unfortunately he died, then she became ill. Survived but needed the iron lung. She grew up in it, got a degree. Was able to spend enough time outside of the machine to receive her degree. She wrote her book using a wand attached to her head. She didn't want any pity but she did wish the vaccine had come in time to save her brother. Her biggest difficulty was finding new gaskets for the iron lung.

[@KoramNRdz]

My aunt had polio as a toddler luckily it didn’t get this bad and she is still around. One of her legs is shorter than the other and she has trouble walking. She has had a hip replacement. She is over 70 and still going strong. Her life hasn’t been easy but it could have been worse.

[@Cons_studios]

I have the same issue with my Leg to

[@janegirot1623]

My Aunt was in an iron lung she contracted polio when she was 7, she was in the iron lung for a couple of years and then home in a wheel chair for the rest of her life she died around 60. Although her body never worked her mind was sharp and she read a lot. When i was growing up people would stare cause she was in a chair but I developed a thick skin and i don't see disabilities i just see people and treat all people the same as i'd like to be treated.

[@heyysimone]

The whole concept of the Iron Lung blows my mind. Like we made that to keep people breathing after being knocked down by such an aggressive disease.

[@CheeseStick_]

It’s amazing what machines can do these days to keep someone alive

[@RaccoonCityPoliceDept]

​​@@CheeseStick_ "these days" these were made in the sixties in the toddler years of modern medicine. Obviously it's been upgraded with screens to monitor it easier, still sixties tech.

[@CheeseStick_]

@@RaccoonCityPoliceDept I actually didn’t know that thanks for telling me

[@RaccoonCityPoliceDept]

@@CheeseStick_ Welcome.

[@tayastevenson]

Oh wow. 63 years? Wow. What a strong man

[@PixiiByteVTBackUp]

I have severe fullbody fibromyalgia, basically, im in pain 24/7 throughout my whole body, will be for the rest of my life. I've been unable to walk for weeks because of it, and not even morphine can help sometimes when the pain is bad enough... I love this show because episodes like this give me the strength to keep moving forward, I've attempted unalive multiple times in the past, thought about doing it almost weekly for years, just to get away from the constant pain. But people in my life, and stories like this of someone so strong even though he is limited that much, they help me keep fighting.

[@_Kyprioth_]

Your story sounds incredibly similar to my own. I have the same diagnosis/prognosis along with an Arnold chiari malformation. For what it’s worth, I’ve been receiving regular ketamine and lignocaine infusions for the past 12 years. They may not fix anything, but they certainly help to lower average daily pain. It’s a hospital admission for 5 days on average every 6 weeks where you receive a continuous IV infusion. If you have issues with IV access, I completely understand also. I had the same issues myself before having a port-a-cath placed. That is also something that I highly recommend if you are having issues. Take care and please know that there are others out there who really do understand!

[@macklinillustration]

I'm sorry that you have to experience such pain, the fact that you're still here show a mental strength beyond what you think you're capable of. Keeping fighting friend.

[@renoldanollynunuhes]

Honestly I was gonna comment "God bless your heart and thank you for sharing your story and that I hope you keep going strong." Then again I have tears in my eyes realizing how ungrateful I am of life fully aware of the situations some people have to deal with on a daily basis and NOT by choice. I am a 25 year old caregiver by profession going for nursing and I thought I've seen worse but reading your story I gotta say you're strong for sharing. I am deeply sorry you experience this.... and for what it's worth I'm never complaining about how life is unfair on my end rather be grateful for what I have and continue my doing job out of love and to make a difference in somebody's life.

[@tomtubman]

What a life being in that for 63 yrs this is too real very scary Maggie is so good in this show !!

[@jarednil69]

"I'm not much for pity parties myself!"😅😅😅

[@hunterjames7433]

i’ve been feeling rlly shitty and wanting to unalive myself atm but then i see videos like these and read the comments of people who’ve gone through rlly hard things and are still battling on despite it and if they can do it, why can’t i?

[@allyde5603]

Everyone goes through hard stuff, and it can take a lot to keep going. You are battling just as hard, it can be harder to see from the outside. You are worth it though, one step at a time, one day at a time. You can do it too.

[@karynnelevendal298]

Your battles are real, and your feelings are valid but only temporary, continue to do great things, big or small. It's the courage of these people pushing through thats a fuel to keep you going, you may be the same for people around you too. God be with you

[@wambuikinuthia4883]

Be strong James. You'll be ok. God bless.

[@chanyphilly8266]

What a good soul

[@potter3439]

This man has wisdom

[@citreone]

This came into my recommended the day after I got my polio shot.

[@KMDragonS]

Amazingly that there is still a few of those left in the world. The only other place you can find those in the museum

[@Queen_Springsteen]

This was a real treatment

[@KMDragonS]

Back in the day before vaccines got a lot better in the last century

[@tite93]

Still is, at least for several people. There's a real man who's been in an iron lung for over 60 years, this story is loosely based off him

[@bonerfart3457]

Imagine if Polio was still an issue today, I can imagine all the influencers in iron lungs

[@joaquinchoque1136]

Omg poor man

[@elizabethbrogan6582]

I take those meds too. They keep me alive.

[@mlovrecic3860]

This is a very good person.

[@wantstobeasuperhero6837]

He played Mike on General Hospital.

[@JennaBenna0123]

Yes he did.

[@ellyh2247]

If anyone knows stuff about polio, do you know why other more portable breathing support systems can’t be used? Is it something specific to do with polio-related paralysis? Tried googling it to no avail :/

[@sharonmoore4381]

Sometimes the iron lung is the only thing that helps,for some people they may have tried other ventilators but they don’t work for that person. I gather each person is an individual so their bodies are different and react in different ways. That’s from the research I have done. If you look up Martha Lillard iron lung that will give you more insight into what it’s like for one person.

[@bellagreen6660]

You can't make this portable, it's working on the whole body by creating negative pressure so your body is forced to breathe. This is the most minimal form of it, there are even bigger machines. Also it wasn't necessary to develop more of these machines as we had the vaccine so for the very few survivors that were this was the only option. Initially the iron lung was means to be used for no more than 2 weeks, just to give the body a chance to recover.

[@snakebitepellehue]

I have a question for any medical professional who might watch this: Why is it not possible to take these people out of the iron lungs and do a trach instead? It seems absurd that they have to stay that way now that there are other options.

[@rawyld]

Med student here, we don't have the technology to do it and since Polio has been almost erraticated (but stupid no-vaccine parents.) The closet to a walking Iron Lung is from the Science Fiction world of Doctor Who and the villain the Cybermen.

[@Vieweracc99]

The way an iron lung works is key to why we can't make a smaller unit. Vacuum pressure makes the lungs and diaphragm work (fill with air) because the patient's lungs can't work (no muscle tone to move the diaphragm, filling the lungs with air). A tracheostomy can only open a hole in the throat - it doesn't force air in and out. So you have to surround the chest with a negative pressure that then forces the lungs to fill with air in the same way that natural breathing would do. Try an experiment with a plastic 1 litre soda bottle and a balloon: Put the balloon's neck over the top of the empty bottle. Press the bottle's sides. The balloon should inflate a little. That's what happens when you pump air into someone's lungs - uncomfortable, not efficient. Now, remove the balloon and press the sides of the bottle so you expel most of the air. Put the balloon back again, and watch as the balloon gets sucked into the bottle and inflates a little. the more you keep the pressure inequal, the balloon can fill with air automatically due to the pressure difference. That's the principle of the iron lung.

[@jsas2047]

I'm sure that if polio was still around, they would have developed a better treatment than the iron lung, but since it was eradicated, research stopped. There are almost no patients still left in iron lungs, so there isn't really the demand to develop something better either. Sucks but that's how research works in the medical world.

[@rawyld]

@@jsas2047 You make a good point, I mean look how quick a vaccine was found for Covid-19 within a year.

[@agsystems8220]

It works, is reliable, and doesn't really limit them more than the disease already does. The whole problem is that the person is weak, so even if you could build a more mobile setup they couldn't use it. This setup keeps the person in relative comfort, and lets them breath while also not doing anything around their mouth, so they can still speak, smile, and otherwise express themselves.

[@guesswho8562]

ffff that would be the day no way would i be locked in that for 63 yrs lol

[@snes1234]

I can't wait for the influx of "ThIs wAs BAseD oN a TruE StORy!!1!" comments.

[@madisonharkes226]

I don't see it as a bad thing! Shows people paid attention to a man's story. If the real man knew he was remembered and on TV. I bet it would make him feel so important! Who doesn't want that? 😌

[@hkchannel7646]

bruh cringe

[@unknownentity7964]

​@@madisonharkes226 he's already well known, has been in many documentaries etc. He doesn't need an (often medically inaccurate and dramatic) medical show to get his story known. I guarantee he'd rather people just watch the real documentary about him!

[@davidsantana2547]

Chicago Med only uses already documented cases for the sake of medical accuracy, so this comes as no surprise.

[@Doc_Rainbow]

well becaus it is based on one...

[@N1k4_Gr1v]

life is such a precious thing isn't it?

[@sapphirewingthefurrycritic985]

This is just sad.

[@Cona-vh7vi]

Good on him, I would have tried to off myself daily if I had to live like that

[@URFUTUREUK]

Giving him A kiss might actually put him at serious risk of infection

[@TheUltimateTroll9]

Why does she seem scared

[@sharonabalo234]

Cus she never seen an iron lug before

[@KMDragonS]

@@sharonabalo234 not surprised cuz those things are slowly being outdated

[@sharonabalo234]

@Keegan Seltner more so because there are rarely any people with polio anymore

[@becky2235]

He was in the film Red wasn't he?

[@justanaveragegamer8735]

who and what character in film red?

[@felixbeutin8105]

this folks is why we vaccinate

[@gaylehodges4309]

Supprized to hear my medication name

[@dnlaPlays04]

people who vape in 10 years time

[@zarinabayat7017]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@susieenglish302]

And this is why you vaccinate

[@welsh_Witch]

man couldn't Hallstead literally mentions he contracted polio a month before the vaccine came out

[@zilesis1]

@@welsh_Witch i think he meant in a general sense. polio is still around in some parts of the world. if you live in an area where it's still going and you don't vaccinate yourself and your family your two options are either death, or an iron lung machine

[@reneegoodwin6080]

Will and maggie really too chicago med as want all tream to you in to you was we're can because see that to you to cma eventuating as wearing

[@alishalegrand6139]

I would not wanna contract polio not that I will because I don’t I have the vaccine but I would not wanna contract polio and then have to lay in there for the rest of my life and he can’t even move around or nothing he’s just laying on his back the whole time you can’t like switch sides are you no sleep on the sides or anything like that

[@hollyhales4125]

Just imagin he farts😂😂😂😂😂

[@Millie-dq6ib]

we don't talk about that this topic is serious man

[@najmabegum5789]

Someone tell me that's not a real story? Poor man. I can no way live like that a year😢 63 years?

[@valerierodger]

Yes, it’s based on a real case

[@sineadbanfield7668]

So this guy just lies there say in day out? That's no quality of life 😔

[@willhamilton9247]

uhuhuh

[@s.p.8803]

Meaning?

[@beeeeeeeeeeg]

u first

[@Birthdayboy07]

5th

[@kuna-optics-esports]

Fist (me)

[@Tay_Tay966]

excuse me

[@therat4890]

I'm gonna hope you meant "first"

[@Tommymellett]

First

[@FinleyThefloof]

no

[@Munks.Inc.]

e

[@beeeeeeeeeeg]

no lmao💀

[@freyamccauley]

This is why we need Jesus Christ so we can have eternity.

[@vanillanights]

Eternity is horrible.

[@DrownedInExile]

Obi-Wan Kenobi died for your sins.