Paul Alexander, also known as “The Man in the Iron Lung” is paralyzed from the neck down. He hasn’t been able to breathe on his own since 1952.

At six years old, Paul contracted the poliovirus. Over the next five days, he “lost everything.”

Paul was unable to move or breathe. He was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead before a doctor quickly performed a tracheostomy – which involves opening the neck to place a tube into someone’s windpipe.

He was then placed into the iron lung and fought for his life until 18 months later when he was able to leave the hospital and go back to his home in Dallas, Texas.

In a short documentary created by Mitch Summers, Paul said, “People didn’t like me very much back then, I felt like they were uncomfortable around me.”

When asked what he did during the day, he replied, “Well, the same thing everybody else does. I woke up, brushed my teeth, washed my face, shaved, had some breakfast. I just needed a little bit of help.”

“I would read, or study something, paint a picture or do some drawing. I hated just watching TV,” he said.

Despite graduating high school, no college would accept Paul because he was “too crippled” and didn’t have the polio vaccination.

Paul then spent the next two years trying to convince a college to let him attend. He was finally accepted on two conditions: that he get the vaccination and that a fraternity would be responsible for him.

Impressively, Paul went on to pass the bar and became a lawyer. He says he was a “pretty damn good one.”

From there, Paul went on to write a book with just his mouth which he wanted to do to “inspire people.”

“No matter where you’re from or what your past is, or the challenges that you could be facing, you can truly do anything,” he said.

“You’ve just got to set your mind to it and work hard. My story is an example of why your past or even disability does not have to define your future,” he added.