American Paul Alexander became famous as the man with iron lungs, yet behind this reputation was a man with a strong will and an outstanding mind. He managed to finish school with a serious illness, earned a law degree and built a successful career. Paul not only became an accomplished lawyer, but he also published his own life story, which inspired people all over the world. In this article, dallaski will tell you more about the life of a well-known Dallas lawyer, Paul Richard Alexander.
Childhood and the boy’s serious illness
Paul Richard Alexander was born in Dallas on January 30, 1946, to Greek immigrant Gus Nicholas Alexander and Doris Marie Emmett, who was of Lebanese descent. In addition to Paul, the family had two more boys, Nick and Philip. Paul’s childhood was carefree and happy, however, the little boy’s life changed dramatically when he was 6 years old.
The summer of 1952 was one of the hottest in Texas; the temperature did not drop below 38°C, and the air felt heavy from the heat. Paul Alexander, who was still a child at the time, spent his days playing outside with other children in the Dallas suburbs. During one of these fun days, Paul suddenly felt ill: an unexplained weakness overtook his body. The next day, after several tests, the family doctor made the terrible diagnosis of polio.
This news marked the start of a difficult period for both the youngster and his family. Because of the virus’s rapid spread, there were no available beds in hospitals at the time, so Paul was forced to stay at home. However, the child’s condition deteriorated dramatically: he could no longer handle a pencil, his voice had weakened and taking a sip of food or coughing became difficult. Finally, Paul was hospitalized in critical condition, and the only way to save his life was to use a ventilator. Since then, his life became inextricably linked to the pressure chamber, which served as his permanent refuge.
Paul stayed in the hospital for a long time, for a whole year and a half, under constant medical supervision. For a six-year-old boy, this was one of the most difficult periods in his life. He lay paralyzed below the neck, unable to speak due to a tracheostomy tube placed into his throat. The silence, broken only by the horrific screams of the other children in the ward, reminded him that he could not help them, so he made wordless grimaces and spoke with them in the only way he knew how. Subsequently, his greatest happiness was returning home to his family.
Distance education at school and university admission
Despite his disability, Paul Richard Alexander demonstrated that those who believe in themselves can achieve anything. Even after a dreadful diagnosis as a child, he not only survived but also earned an excellent education, which he regarded as one of his greatest achievements. As a young man with big ambitions, Paul even joked that one day he would become president of the United States.
At the age of 13, he enrolled in the municipal distance learning program and graduated from high school with nearly perfect grades. The only four on his certificate was in biology because he was physically unable to perform frog dissection, which was required by the school curriculum.
After graduating from high school, Alexander excellently passed the entrance exams to Southern Methodist University but was denied entry due to medical issues. However, this just fueled Paul’s drive to fight for equal opportunities, as the young man did not want to be invisible to society, as was common for people with disabilities at the time. He eventually obtained the right to an education and graduated from Southern University in Dallas and the University of Texas at Austin, after which he pursued graduate studies, paving the way for law.
Career and literary work
Paul Alexander earned his degree in law in 1984, and two years later, he was licensed as a lawyer and began his private practice. He worked in Dallas and Fort Worth for several years, providing legal services in various branches of law. So, in order to efficiently balance his professional activities with restrictions due to illness, Paul hired an assistant and nurse, Kathy Gaines. She lived next door and not only assisted him in his daily life but also actively supported him in his work. Thanks to her assistance, Paul was able to continue practicing law successfully.
Thus, dressed in a three-piece suit, the lawyer appeared in court in a specially modified wheelchair, which kept his paralyzed body in an upright position. Paul worked on both criminal and civil matters throughout his career, including those involving juvenile law, social security, corporate conflicts and inheritance issues.
Paul Alexander not only practiced law his entire life, but he also tried his hand at writing. In 2020, his autobiographical book “Three Minutes for a Dog: My Life in an Iron Lung” was published. These memoirs became an honest testimony about the struggle with a serious illness and how a person can maintain spiritual power in the face of physical limits.
It took Alexander eight years to complete the book. This was due to the fact that he had to write with a special stick with a fountain pen at the end, which he held between his teeth. He also frequently dictated the text to his devoted friend Norman Brown, who assisted him in the writing of his memoirs. Every line in the book demonstrates the author’s strong will and desire to leave his mark on the world, despite all the trials of life.
Personal life, recognition and death of Paul Alexander
The personal life of Paul Alexander did not go as he dreamed in his youth. In his adolescence, he had a romantic relationship with a girl named Claire. Their relationship was strong, and the couple even got engaged and started planning their wedding. However, the wedding never happened, and their paths parted forever. The breakup was an enormous blow for Paul, and it had a long-term impact on his life, he never got married.
Nevertheless, Alexander’s life was never lonely. Paul had friends who tried to complete his life and make him feel like a normal person. In particular, his companions always took him with them: he attended parties, flew planes, sailed ships, prayed in church and once even organized and participated in a sit-in for the rights of people with disabilities. Paul’s life story has been extensively covered by the media, and he gained fame throughout the years. The man gave interviews on his way of fighting the terrible illnesses, as well as shared archive photos.
The last years of his life were particularly tough for Paul Alexander due to constant health problems that kept him confined to his pressure chamber, where he spent most of his life. On March 11, 2024, Paul’s family reported his death, although the cause was not disclosed. He made an indelible mark not just as a great lawyer and writer, but also as a man who, despite everything, lived his life with dignity and joy.
A few years before his death, Paul shared one of the deepest thoughts reflecting his worldview:
I’ve never felt crippled. I am not defective, I am not disabled, nor are my abilities limited. Cripple is the other people’s perception, but not in mine. I’ve experienced all you have, and more.These words became the embodiment of his strength and invincibility, which amazed everyone who knew his life story.