May 12, 2009: Martha Mason
Neatorama pointed to this
New York Times obit for Martha Mason, a most amazing woman that lived 60 of her 71 years in an iron lung.
Martha Ann Mason was born on May 31, 1937, and reared in Lattimore, a small town about 50 miles west of Charlotte. In September 1948, when she was 11, Martha went to bed one night feeling achy. She did not tell her parents because she did not want to compound their sorrow: that day, they had buried her 13-year-old brother, Gaston, who had died of polio a few days before.
I remember quite well the chilling fear of Polio in the 40s and early 50s. A friends mother had Polio a youth, and walked with crutches the rest of her life.
With daily visits from her teachers, Martha resumed her studies, graduating first in her high school class. She entered Gardner-Webb College in Boiling Springs, N.C., receiving an associate’s degree in 1958.
Afterward, Ms. Mason and her iron lung were transported by bakery truck to Winston-Salem, where she enrolled in Wake Forest College. There, she joined a student group seeking to integrate the campus. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Wake Forest in 1960.
At both colleges — they are now universities — Ms. Mason lived with her parents in a campus apartment and attended lectures by intercom. At both colleges, she graduated first in her class.
So now she's got an education, but back home with her diplomas she is still in an iron lung. So what does she do... get a job.
Returning to Lattimore, Ms. Mason began writing for the local newspaper, dictating her articles to her mother, Euphra.
And
That changed in the mid-1990s, when Ms. Mason acquired a voice-activated computer with e-mail capability and Internet access. The computer brought her the world. It also let her contemplate writing her memoir, which is subtitled “Life in the Rhythm of an Iron Lung.”
And, thanks to the other woman in the picture, became a movie star.
Ms. Mason is the subject of a documentary film, “Martha in Lattimore,” released in 2005 and directed by Ms. Dalton. She also appeared in “The Final Inch,” a documentary about polio that was nominated for a Academy Award this year.
Oh, you're latte wasn't stirred right this morning... screw you. :p
There, she joined a student group seeking to integrate the campus.
I bet she was a champion at the sit ins!
you people are amazing. this is a woman who lived a whole interesting and happy life, who kept hope and kept BEING and made more of her life than most people with all the opportunity in the world. most all of you post comments that first of all reveal your complete lack of understanding about what makes life worth living and secondly, look like they have been posted by a bunch of simplistic, hormonal junior high boys. So, just leaving the cellar permanently now. was looking for intelligent comment and conversation. loooking... nope. not here.
I'm gonna miss that smesa person. He or She was a deep thinker, a compassionate reasoner and a well-rounded philosopher; a student of Life, if you will.
It's just too bad that he/she didn't have the "joie de vivre" that even a woman in an iron lung has.
long, wistful sigh *here*
you people are amazing. this is a woman who lived a whole interesting and happy life, who kept hope and kept BEING and made more of her life than most people with all the opportunity in the world. most all of you post comments that first of all reveal your complete lack of understanding about what makes life worth living and secondly, look like they have been posted by a bunch of simplistic, hormonal junior high boys. So, just leaving the cellar permanently now. was looking for intelligent comment and conversation. loooking... nope. not here.
The original post was full of admiration for the lady, and there was one semi-cheeky type of reply. Therefore, in your opinion, there is no intelligent comment and conversation on the whole forum? :eyebrow:
Ms. Mason was truly an awe inspiring individual. We could all learn a lesson from her. May she rest in peace.
I am at a loss for recipes on this IotD... Oh well.... there's always tomorrow.
@ smesa: Lighten up. Don't take life so seriously. And NEVER take the Cellar seriously. You will be greatly missed. Your one parting post was phenomenal. Almost.
Recipes? It's clearly a boil in the bag job.
Well, that will have driven Smesa off for good! Bwahahahahaaa. I am honoured that a single post of mine can be taken as a representative sample of The Entire Cellar.
The pressure is on Zen! lol
Leaving permanently? WTF did he/she sign up just to tell us he/she was leaving? Get a life. You won't be missed. We didn't get to know you, nor you us in the first place.
Oh and I read your name as smegma.
Morning, been a lurker for some time and finally decided to jump in...
So, aobut iron lungs, is this the best we can come up with for a paralyzed diaphragm? I mean, come on, how about something for just the torso or a pacemaker-esque implant that contracts the muscle? At least paint some flames on the side or something...
Oh, and btw, what a woman! The human mind and it's perseverence never cease to amaze...
Intubation. But then you got a tube jammed down your throat. This has to be more comfortable.
dacliff, apparently the negative pressure respirator (iron lung) is better than the modern positive pressure respirator for some conditions. I don't think that there are many iron lungs left tho.
There is also a tracheostomy (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracheostomy ),
but then there is difficulty talking and eating. Not to mention the phlegm. :greenface
An amazing lady. I also had no idea that there were still iron lungs in use.
I guess there hasn't been a lot of pressure to innovate?
I like to buttƒuck dead dogs in the arsehole, AND YOU PEOPLE WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND THAT.
We'll miss you, and your many wonderful contributions. Unless this account, created on May 12th 2009 (today), was a sock puppet made for the sole purpose of that one post. In which case you're still here (most likely) and don't have the guts to tell us how you feel under your normal username.
hahahah. Flinthopper is wise.
Let's ask: Mods, sock puppet? You don't have to tell us who.
you people are amazing. this is a woman who lived a whole interesting and happy life, who kept hope and kept BEING and made more of her life than most people with all the opportunity in the world. most all of you post comments that first of all reveal your complete lack of understanding about what makes life worth living and secondly, look like they have been posted by a bunch of simplistic, hormonal junior high boys. So, just leaving the cellar permanently now. was looking for intelligent comment and conversation. loooking... nope. not here.
Dear Sarah, or Andrew If I'm mistaken, your post makes no sense.
My original post was entirely respectful Ms Mason, followed by one comment. But I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume your contempt has been accumulating over time, reading the replies to other IOtDs.
Yes, we here in the depths of the Cellar tend to be glib, and maybe sophomoric in our humor (humour). The IOtDs tend to emanate from human foibles and strange behavior that is best viewed without taking them to seriously.
I would humbly suggest in the future, if you visit a website and you don't fit, quit. But don't make yourself look like an ass on the way out.
Anyway, I keep thinking this is about a
Neil Simon movie....most all of you post comments that first of all reveal your complete lack of understanding about what makes life worth living...
Oh go on tell us great guru, what is it that makes life worth living? We're on pins & needles don't you know..:right:
She chose to remain in an iron lung, she often said, for the freedom it gave her. It let her breathe without tubes in her throat, incisions or hospital stays, as newer, smaller ventilators might require. It took no professional training to operate, letting her remain mistress of her own house, with just two aides assisting her.
Iron lungs are very low-tech and can be easily maintained, unlike respirators that require significant ongoing medical involvement.
you people are amazing. this is a woman who lived a whole interesting and happy life, who kept hope and kept BEING and made more of her life than most people with all the opportunity in the world. most all of you post comments that first of all reveal your complete lack of understanding about what makes life worth living and secondly, look like they have been posted by a bunch of simplistic, hormonal junior high boys. So, just leaving the cellar permanently now. was looking for intelligent comment and conversation. loooking... nope. not here.
My mother passed away from cancer in 2002. She spent the last 5 years of her life in and out of hospitals, and finally passed away with all of us in attendance. Every once in a while we go on a road trip and visit our great aunt and head up to the cemetery where her ashes are interred. If we want to say "Hi, Mom!", we just add a little water...
My brother said that Mom is somewhere not making apologies for us. She's probably laughing her ass off, too! :D
We'll miss you, and your many wonderful contributions. Unless this account, created on May 12th 2009 (today), was a sock puppet made for the sole purpose of that one post. In which case you're still here (most likely) and don't have the guts to tell us how you feel under your normal username.
This thread has brought out more than one lurker. The above is just damn funny. Probably the truth too. :eek:
Wecome to the Cellar, ham4art. :D
Say, Ham4art, have you seen the
BACON .... WTF? Thread. With a name like that, I think you might like it.
The Cellar: there really is something for everyone...
smesa is a big ole dumb head:mock:<---smesa
The Cellar: there really is something for everyone...
Except smesa the Horse's Ass. :headshake
I say we ban Smesa. All he/she ever does is stir the shit, I find that intolerably irritating.
Any seconders?
:p
OH what the heck - ban the smegma!
smesa expressed an opinion, whether you agree with that opinion or not, it was her(his) right to do so. Don't forget that post was moderated and approved by the management. Can we stop throwing stones now? :cool:
Ohhh, da-a-a-ad.
*drops stone*
We were just kidding around.
I guess so - kicks dirts and stomps inside with head down.
sorry...
Great job, Bruce. Now they're going to be grumpy all day. :p
Don't make me stop this car.
We were just kidding around.
I guess so - kicks dirts and stomps inside with head down.
sorry...
I's tole you kids before!
Not when the neighbours can see.
IoTD is our front lawn.
Even if he *was* a poopyhead.
Don't make me stop this car.
but but but ... he started it!
When I was about 12 years old, around 1954 or so, I was in 4-H exhibiting poultry at the Palm Beach County Fair in Florida. A 4-H friend Barbara and I wandered around taking in all the exhibits. One of them was a young lady in an iron lung. We spent a great deal of time talking to her, and kept coming back to her. She was very friendly, very interesting, and seemed quite light-hearted and welcoming to two curious little girls.
I have never forgotten that young woman, lying entombed in that large whooshing machine, telling us no it didn't hurt, that she was quite comfortable and very much enjoying being there at the fair and meeting people, and talking to us. We felt encouraged to keep coming back and back. What pests we might have seemed! But we weren't. She made it very clear that she was really enjoying our questions and company. And truly, I think we understood even then that we were the lucky ones to be meeting her! What a gracious young woman! How fortunate for us to make her acquaintance!
I don't suppose it could have been the same person, though the age would have been about right. I have got to get her book. Thanks for the posting--it brings back good memories!
Very nice story and post T-stone. Wouldn't that be something if it was her?
Say, Ham4art, have you seen the BACON .... WTF? Thread. With a name like that, I think you might like it.
dang. That's cool . Here's a recipe.
Pig Candy
1 pound bacon cut into 1/4 slices( In other words lay the bacon down on the counter all stuck together and cut into four equal sections)
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp powdered ginger
4 tablespoons crushed pecans
Preheat oven to three hundred
Place cake racks on a sheet pan lined with wax paper or parchment paper.
Dredge bacon pieces in the sugar spice mixture and place on rack. Bake at 300. Wait until bacon cools and you will have a treat that is sooo good!! Great appetizer.
Smesa didn't look very hard for intelligent comments. I've been lurking for more than 5 years and some days, this is the only intelligent conversation I "hear".
"Dad"...sometimes you need to let the kids handle a bully by themselves. It's the only way they'll learn.;)
Bruce likes being called 'Daddy'..... just sayin'
Yes, but I hear "Mutha" more often.
"Dad"...sometimes you need to let the kids handle a bully by themselves. It's the only way they'll learn.
A bully, yes. But for someone that just fucks up and makes a fool of themselves, a couple slaps is sufficient.
We don't want to make lurkers afraid to post for fear of screwing up, or violating some unwritten code, and being unmercifully pulverized.
That's not what we want to be about. :headshake
Yes, but I hear "Mutha" more often.
A bully, yes. But for someone that just fucks up and makes a fool of themselves, a couple slaps is sufficient.
We don't want to make lurkers afraid to post for fear of screwing up, or violating some unwritten code, and being unmercifully pulverized.
That's not what we want to be about. :headshake
I didn't really think banning was necessary, I just thought that it was so bizarre that someone would go to all the trouble of creating an account purely so they could storm out in a snit, based on just two posts, that the only way we could out-futile that was to ban someone who has already left.
Can I just throw this rock at them, just one? Please?
Since they have a good head start, OK, a small one.
By the way, Snits are all the rage because they have continued to innovate.
*throws small stone*
Ow. That hurt my shoulder. Wahhhhhwahhhhwahhhhh.
and didn't she write the entire first season of Branded!? /back on topic.
Series Writing credits
Larry Cohen (48 episodes, 1965-1966)
Jameson Brewer (8 episodes, 1965-1966)
John Wilder (8 episodes, 1965-1966)
Jerry Ziegman (8 episodes, 1965-1966)
Frank Chase (5 episodes, 1965-1966)
Frederick Louis Fox (4 episodes, 1965-1966)
Andrew J. Fenady (2 episodes, 1965-1966)
Nicholas T. Rowe (2 episodes, 1965)
Lou Shaw (2 episodes, 1965)
Jerome B. Thomas (2 episodes, 1965)
Chuck Connors (2 episodes, 1966)
Frank Paris (2 episodes, 1966)
Ken Trevey (2 episodes, 1966)
Cecil Barker (unknown episodes)
I'm too busy to give a snit. (Right now anyway.)
Seems the BBC had not heard of her 6 years ago when they published this article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3182096.stm
Interesting to note this guy had a portable version and only needed the full iron lung when sick. I noted that he had similar things to say about life in an iron lung. I wonder if he's still going?
I also found this story about an iron-lung patient killed by a power-cut in 2008. i wonder how many people are still living in these things?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7424571.stmOne fewer than there used to be.
:bolt:
Back in the 50s, you could buy an iron lung by saving Raleigh coupons.
I wonder if you could get one with Green Stamps. :)
My older brother got polio in 1954 while the family vacationed at a lake in upstate NY. he was lucky though. His main affliction was a smile that went up on one side of the mouth and down on the other. He also had very little muscle development in his right hand. His smile is better but not normal, and he built hand strength by taking up the bass fiddle in his jazz period in the mid 60's . He then went to asia as a zen yoga student where we lost track of him for many years. Now he has reamerged and is close to his family and is a potter which requires good hand muscle skills.
Don't know what the moral of the story is but he has really bad eyesight and very weak enamel in his teeth, could be from being a strict vegetarian in poor countries but who knows. Think I'll keep eating meat though...
is a potter which requires good hand muscle skills.
well yes and no. I assume you're talking about the wheel, in which case only one hand needs to be strong -the other one just needs to be steady. it's perfect for people with strength imbalances, because it will exercise the steadying hand.