Home Australia The woman who helped care for iron lung man Paul Alexander for 30 years: Kathy Gaines became his ‘arms and legs’ while he was trapped in the metal casket as family describe her as the closest thing he had to marriage

The woman who helped care for iron lung man Paul Alexander for 30 years: Kathy Gaines became his ‘arms and legs’ while he was trapped in the metal casket as family describe her as the closest thing he had to marriage

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Paul Alexander and Kathy Gaines, his caregiver of 30 years, whom he met from a newspaper ad

Paul Alexander, the man who spent more than 70 years on an iron lung ventilator, had a devoted carer by his side who acted as his ‘arms and legs’ for the last three decades of his life.

Although their relationship was not romantic, Kathy Gaines, 66, lived with Paul ever since he graduated law school and moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area until his death at age 78 on Monday.

“Kathy and I grew together … she reached out for so many things that I needed,” Paul shared The Guardian back in 2020.

Paul had a lover named Claire decades ago – but her mother forbade them to marry.

His brother, Phil, said his relationship with Kathy, who is legally blind due to type 1 diabetes, was the closest.

Paul Alexander and Kathy Gaines, his caregiver of 30 years, whom he met from a newspaper ad

Paul Alexander and Kathy Gaines, his caregiver of 30 years, whom he met from a newspaper ad

Paul Alexander, the man who spent more than 70 years on an iron lung ventilator, had a devoted carer by his side who acted as his 'arms and legs' for the last three decades of his life

Paul Alexander, the man who spent more than 70 years on an iron lung ventilator, had a devoted carer by his side who acted as his 'arms and legs' for the last three decades of his life

Paul Alexander, the man who spent more than 70 years on an iron lung ventilator, had a devoted carer by his side who acted as his ‘arms and legs’ for the last three decades of his life

Paul Alexander (front, left) with Kathy Gaines (front, right) at the Rotary Club of Park Cities in 2014 for World Polio Day, where Paul shared his story of life in an iron lung

Paul Alexander (front, left) with Kathy Gaines (front, right) at the Rotary Club of Park Cities in 2014 for World Polio Day, where Paul shared his story of life in an iron lung

Paul Alexander (front, left) with Kathy Gaines (front, right) at the Rotary Club of Park Cities in 2014 for World Polio Day, where Paul shared his story of life in an iron lung

“Paul has always been aggressive about things that he wants and needs around other people,” Phil told The Guardian in the same 2020 interview.

‘He is quite demanding. But Kathy is more demanding than he is. They’ve had their moments, but they always work it out’.

Kathy was the mastermind behind the title of Paul’s memoir, Three Minutes for a Dog, which he self-published in April 2020 about his extraordinary life story.

She said she became his ‘arms and legs’ after answering a job ad that was his career some 30 years ago.

Kathy was responsible for Paul’s daily maintenance such as shaving his face, changing his clothes and sheets, trimming his hair and nails, giving him his toothbrush.

This also involved working with the unusual machine which kept him alive for 72 years after he contracted polio at the age of six in 1952.

She also did much of his life admin – from paperwork to making appointments and doing grocery shopping.

Throughout their 30 years together, she always lived either with him or in the same building. She saw him every day, whether she was working or not.

During her five-month stay in hospital in 2019, Kathy kept this up by visiting daily by bus – as she was unable to drive due to her eyesight.

International source of inspiration Paul Alexander depicted voice from a wheelchair

International source of inspiration Paul Alexander depicted voice from a wheelchair

International source of inspiration Paul Alexander depicted voice from a wheelchair

1710440117 201 The woman who helped care for iron lung man Paul

1710440117 201 The woman who helped care for iron lung man Paul

“Kathy and I grew together … she reached out for so many things that I needed,” Paul told The Guardian back in 2020

Paul Alexander became ill at the age of six and spent most of his life on an iron lung ventilator

Paul Alexander became ill at the age of six and spent most of his life on an iron lung ventilator

Paul Alexander became ill at the age of six and spent most of his life on an iron lung ventilator

She taught the nursing staff how to operate the iron lung machine and about Paul’s preferences.

Paul contracted polio as a child during a major American outbreak of the disease in the 1950s and was paralyzed from the neck down for life.

He normally used the ‘iron lung’ machine to breathe as he could not contract the diaphragm – but he also taught himself a breathing technique which allowed him to leave the machine for up to a day.

Known as glossopharyngeal breathing, the technique involves sucking air into the lungs.

He was home-schooled and at the age of 21, graduated second in his class from WW Samuell High in Dallas in 1967.

Paul went on to study law at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where he fell in love with a woman named only Claire.

They became engaged, but his mother disapproved of their relationship because of Paul’s condition and forbade them to marry or even speak again.

“It took years to get over it,” Paul told The Guardian in the 2020 interview.

A trained lawyer, he lived a rich and varied life as an amateur painter, law teacher, published author and rights activist despite being tied to the machine.

Paul wrote his 2020 memoir by tapping keys on his computer with a pen glued to a stick he held in his mouth.

Paul Alexander, a trained lawyer, signs papers for work from the iron lung

Paul Alexander, a trained lawyer, signs papers for work from the iron lung

Paul Alexander, a trained lawyer, signs papers for work from the iron lung

Despite physical limitations, Paul became an avid painter, traveler and writer

Despite physical limitations, Paul became an avid painter, traveler and writer

Despite physical limitations, Paul became an avid painter, traveler and writer

Paul Alexander pictured with his beloved brother Philip. In a heartbreaking Facebook tribute, Philip called his sibling 'lovely' and 'also a pain in the ass**'

Paul Alexander pictured with his beloved brother Philip. In a heartbreaking Facebook tribute, Philip called his sibling 'lovely' and 'also a pain in the ass**'

Paul Alexander pictured with his beloved brother Philip. In a heartbreaking Facebook tribute, Philip called his sibling ‘lovely’ and ‘also a pain in the ass**’

Paul Alexander managed to write a book by holding a pen in his mouth to press his keyboard

Paul Alexander managed to write a book by holding a pen in his mouth to press his keyboard

Paul Alexander managed to write a book by holding a pen in his mouth to press his keyboard

The AP news agency shared the story of how Paul became a top student despite the condition, noting that he was set to graduate as the first homeschooled student in the district, dating back to 1959

The AP news agency shared the story of how Paul became a top student despite the condition, noting that he was set to graduate as the first homeschooled student in the district, dating back to 1959

The AP news agency shared the story of how Paul became a top student despite the condition, noting that he was set to graduate as the first homeschooled student in the district, dating back to 1959

He hoped his words would encourage and inspire others to live a full and positive life.

Paul’s story touched life to millions who tuned into his social media to share his reflections on life from inside a metal box.

He proudly recounted the opportunities he had created to travel as a speaker on disability rights, enjoy ocean views and even visit strip clubs as he shared all the reasons to stay cheerful.

In his own words of defiance: ‘You can actually do anything, no matter where you come from, your background or the challenges you may face.’

‘You just have to put your heart to it and work hard… My story is an example of why your past and even obstacles don’t have to define your future.’

What is polio?

Poliomyelitis is an infectious disease that can cause paralysis or even death.

While efforts to produce vaccines effectively ended the epidemic in the Western world in the latter half of the 20th century, polio remained one of the most lethal threats to children well into the 1950s.

Polio is spread from person to person through ingestion of faeces from an infected person, or – less commonly – through coughing and sneezing.

Despite advances in sanitation and hygiene practices throughout the 19th century, the number of polio cases in Europe and America increased throughout the early 1900s.

In the first stage of contracting the disease, the infection remains in the digestive system and the throat. Most babies are able to fight off the disease at this point without it becoming debilitating and developing immunity.

Children who develop the disease later are often less prepared to fight it without having developed resistance, which can see polio enter a second, more aggressive stage that affects the central nervous system.

Awareness of how disease spread in unsanitary conditions saw great strides forward in overcoming epidemics of cholera and typhus, but the reduced exposure to poliovirus in young people meant that many children contracted the disease later in the 20th century, with terrible consequences.

Sources: Science Museum, NHS

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