Last Words Before a Lifetime Silence The Story of the World’s Longest Coma

In a tale that intertwines the poignancy of a life paused with the steadfastness of familial love, Edwarda O’Bara’s story, known as “Florida’s Sleeping Snow White,” unfolds with heartrending details.

When Edwarda was only 16 she experienced a sudden tragic medical event that sent her into a coma she remained in for the extraordinary period of 42 years making it the longest recorded medical coma.

On January 3, 1970 Edwarda faced critical illness because her diabetes combined with pneumonia and flu infection.

The health emergency triggered an insulin regulation failure in her body which caused terrible pain before hospitalization.

Her health quickly declined to a critical point which caused the hospital emergency personnel to transport her to Miami hospital in an urgent situation on that fateful day when tragedy struck her personally while family members affirmed their commitment to each other.

As she teetered on the brink of consciousness, Edwarda expressed her fears with a simple request to her mother, Kaye O’Bara: “Promise you won’t leave me.”

Her mother promised with sincerity that she would never abandon her during those difficult times as she declared “I would never leave you darling because I promise so.”

And a promise is a promise!” The emotional interaction between Edwarda and her mother established a promise which became a vital part of the era that followed their hospital visit.

Kaye and her husband Joe started an endless cycle of profound care towards each other. Kaye and Edwarda’s father turned their unconscious daughter every two hours for skin protection while playing music and telling stories to stimulate her during her coma state.

The endless routine transformed into a devoted practice of care that outlasted Joe until his passing.

The responsibility of caring for Edwarda fell to her sister Colleen when their mother Kaye died during 2008.

Her decision to care for Edwarda exclusively after leaving work showed the same paternal and maternal qualities shared by her parents.

Colleen’s life, too, became intertwined with the silent vigil by Edwarda’s bedside, until Edwarda’s death in 2012.

The extended coma state of Edwarda together with her family’s never-ending caring activities sparked various cultural insights outside their personal journey.

Her life story was captured in the book “A Promise Is A Promise: An Almost Unbelievable Story of a Mother’s Unconditional Love and What It Can Teach Us” and in the song “My Blessed Child.”

Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide visited these works during which they experienced the universal appeal of this story demonstrating the everlasting power of love and commitment.

Through her experience with her affected sister Colleen learned about loving unconditionally and being patient which she previously did not know how to practice.

This life story shows how people demonstrate incredible endurance alongside deep family relations and now motivates people to rethink both our human mortality and our dedication to others.

Feature Image Credit: (Youtube/ Kaye & Edwarda O’Bara)