Our Father Who Art in an Iron Lung

In 1955, Bruce Dodd contracted polio, leaving him completely paralyzed and dependent on a respirator for the rest of his life. His four children were all under the age of seven.What followed was not only a story of suffering, but of enduring love, quiet faith, and a family held together by a father who could no longer move, yet never stopped teaching them how to live.For twenty-one years, much of it spent inside an iron lung, Bruce defied the limits of his body to become a devoted husband, a present father, and a steady source of strength. Through memories, reflections, and poetry, his son Douglas Dodd tells the story of a home shaped not by tragedy, but by perseverance, sacrifice, and the power of love to endure what cannot be changed.As Douglas grows into adulthood-raising a daughter with Down syndrome and facing the possibility of paralysis himself-the lessons of his father's life take on new meaning. This deeply personal memoir becomes a testament to acceptance, resilience, and the search for purpose in the face of overwhelming hardship.For families living with disability, caregivers walking an uncertain road, and anyone who has wondered whether a meaningful life is still possible after everything changes, Our Father, Who Art in an Iron Lung offers hope, wisdom, and a profound reminder:Even when life cannot be fixed, love can still carry us forward.