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Martha Lillard, the last American iron lung user who contracted polio in childhood, has died at age 78, marking the end of an era for this once vital medical device. Lillard's life was a poignant reminder of polio's devastating impact before vaccines brought the disease under control. She depended on her iron lung for breathing assistance throughout her life, as the polio virus caused paralysis of her respiratory muscles. The death of Martha Lillard closes the chapter on active iron lung use in the United States, symbolizing both medical progress and the enduring human stories behind polio survivors. This event has revived public reflection on the historic burden of polio, the importance of vaccination, and the remarkable adaptations of those affected. It raises unresolved questions about the future care and commemoration of iron lung users worldwide, many of whom are elderly or have passed. Martha Lillard's death, covered widely in American and international media, prompts remembrance and renewed awareness of polio’s legacy and the technologies that defined mid-20th-century respiratory care.