Australian woman, who lived 60 years in iron lung, dies

From The Daily Mail in the UK:

A woman who spent 60 years in an iron lung to treat polio has died at the age of 83.
June Middleton, from Melbourne, Australia, began using the device after she contracted the disease aged 22.

She was entered into the Guinness World Book of Records in 2006 as the person who has spent the longest time in an iron lung.

Ms Middleton died at the Ventilator Accommodation Support Service nursing home on Oct. 30.

She marked the anniversary in only April this year with friends and her dog, Angel.

Ms Middleton, who was quadriplegic, meaning that she was paralysed in all her limbs and torso, was nonetheless matter-of-fact about her condition.

Speaking at the time, she said: 'It's hard to explain but it's what you gotta do, make the most of it, get over the obstacles on the way.'

Nurse Robyn Gamilis, who cared for Ms Middleton at the nursing home told how she had loved spending time with her pet labrador.

'One of her big joys was to be taken in the van with Angel down to St Kilda Beach,' she said.

'She had fish and chips for lunch, and anybody who took her down there took Angel for a run along the beach, throwing sticks.

'Angel just entertained June for ages doing that.'

Polio is an infectious viral disease that affects the central nervous system respiratory function and can cause muscle weakness and paralysis.

It has largely been eradicated around the world after widespread use of the vaccine which came into use in the 1950's.

The disease remains endemic in just four countries today: Nigeria, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

An iron lung is a non-invasive negative-pressure ventilator, used to artificially maintain respiration during an acute polio infection.

In most cases it would only be used for one or two weeks, until the patient could breathe independently, but many polio survivors with permanent respiratory paralysis like Ms Middleton continually use modern jacket-type ventilators that are worn over the chest and abdomen.