The Girl in the Iron Lung

The Girl in the Iron Lung is the story of Dianne O'Dell, who was diagnosed with polio at the age of three and lived in an iron lung for 58 years until her death in 2008. She is noted as one of the longest-surviving victims of polio to have spent most of her life inside an iron lung, lying flat on her back for nearly six decades. Her entire world was the iron lung, but she adapted. She learned to write with her toes and loved to paint pictures. She graduated from high school and took college classes. She tutored children, spoke at her local Rotary Club, and wrote a children's book to encourage young people, especially those with physical disabilities, to never give up. The Girl in the Iron Lung tells the story of Dianne's challenging, but rewarding life, and the efforts of her loving family to care for her daily needs. Through this book, Dianne will continue to be a source of inspiration for years to come.