'I was born while my mother was in an iron lung'

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Elizabeth Mennell contracted poliomyelitis when she was five months pregnant, which made her need to give birth with the help of fans and a steel lung. Personal Archives In 1956, Elizabeth Mennell was 32 years old and a prominent career in the British Foreign Ministry. She loved outdoor activities, especially walking and swimming, and was five months pregnant with her second son. Then, one day, she contracted poliomyelitis. She was paralyzed and…

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In 1956, Elizabeth Mennell was 32 years old and a prominent career at the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She loved outdoor activities, especially walks and cream, and was living for five months of her second son. Read more (09/27/2026)