A woman who relied on an iron lung due to a childhood illness has passed away. Martha Lillard was diagnosed with polio at the age of 5 and used the machine to breathe for the rest of her life. She died in Oklahoma at the age of 78.

Her sister reported that Lillard's death was attributed to chronic pulmonary failure and post-polio syndrome, with long-haul COVID-19 also being a factor. Lillard's determination allowed her to live a long life despite initial predictions that she would not live past 20.

Further details about Lillard's life and passing are available from the source.