The woman lived 61 years with iron lungs

An American woman who spent 61 years living in an iron tube covered her entire body from the neck down, acting as a giant lung breathing for her after being paralyzed.

According to Oddity Central, Martha Mason, who currently resides in Lattimore, North Carolina (USA), suffers paralysis at the age of 11 years after suffering from spinal inflammation. The event took place shortly after the disease claimed the life of his brother - Gaston.

In the book entitled "Breath: Life in the rhythm of an iron lung" later written by Mrs. Mason with the help of voice recognition software, she said she discovered she also had symptoms. The disease leads to paralysis like Gaston after burying his brother. However, Mason kept it a secret and was alone in fear because he didn't want to upset his parents.

Photo: Daily mail

Until her death, Mrs. Mason was horizontal, immobile in the giant "iron lungs" for 61 years. The cylindrical iron pipe, more than 2 meters long and weighs about 362kg, acts as a kind of ventilation device, increasing and reducing air pressure to expand and contract Mason's lungs, helping her to breathe when Her natural muscles are too weak.

In the video that was shot before her death in 2009, Mason said: "When I recall the past, I often wondered how my parents felt when their daughter fell sick when they had just buried her son. Everyone in general and I thought that my parents would live longer than I. The doctor said I would live the most a year after getting sick, but I have been here for a long time. (thanks to iron lungs) ".

Despite being permanently immobile, Mrs. Mason chose to fasten her body inside the "iron lung" because, according to her, it helped bring freedom. The device let her breathe without the need for tubes or incisions in the throat, or to stay in the hospital. Iron lungs also helped her stay at home with the help of two other people. She even finished high school and held dinner parties at home.

Mason's life writers consider the desire to live a life as normal as possible to help Mrs. Mason live long.