The HORRIFYING Life of a Polio Patient in an Iron Lung

Get early episodes & ad-free audio on Patreon: https://patreon.com/DrowsyHistorian What happens when your lungs stop working — but your mind never does? In this immersive second-person story, you become a child in 1950s America, struck by polio and confined for life to an iron lung. Through slow, vivid, emotionally restrained narration, this Drowsy Historian episode explores the psychological and physical toll of being one of the forgotten survivors. From your first fever to your final breath, you’re surrounded by machines, mirrors, and silence. You live, you grow up, and you fade — all without ever taking a breath on your own again. This is not a story of inspiration. It is one of survival, stillness, and slow erasure. 🛏️ Drowsy Historian’s Favorite Sleep Tools Looking to upgrade your nighttime routine? These are a few things I personally use or recommend: • Sleep Earbuds for Enhanced Immersion → https://amzn.to/4pVFoJy • Blanket Soft Enough to Make the Plague Feel Tolerable → https://amzn.to/3GSOq8f • Weighted Blanket for Pretending You’re a Mummified Pharaoh → https://amzn.to/4kVJCgE • Sleep Mask Headphones For Total Historical Escape → https://amzn.to/4nWsNVn • Book Light for Reading About Plagues at 2AM → https://amzn.to/4eSg0iu • White Noise Machine for Blocking Out the 21st Century → https://amzn.to/3GJ9jTw These are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them—at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the show while staying cozy. #SleepHistory #IronLung #PolioSurvivor #HistoricalStorytelling #DrowsyHistorian #MedicalHistory #1950sAmerica #ForgottenLives #PolioEpidemic #HistoricalSleepStory #NarratedHistory