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42 Years in a Coma: A Promise Kept
15 May
Summary
- Edwarda O'Bara spent 42 years in a diabetic coma.
- Her mother promised to never leave her, dedicating her life to care.
- Family faced ethical questions and even threats for her prolonged care.
In late 1969, 16-year-old Edwarda O'Bara fell ill with what seemed like the flu. Her condition rapidly worsened, leading to a diabetic coma by January 1970.
She remained in this state for 42 years, becoming known globally as "America's sleeping Snow White." Her mother, Kaye, had promised to stay with her and dedicated her life to Edwarda's care in their South Florida home.
Over the decades, the home became a place of constant care, drawing both sympathy and curiosity. Some viewed Edwarda with spiritual reverence, while others questioned the ethics of prolonged life support.
Ethical organizations urged the family to end life support. The family also faced extreme pressure, including death threats and bullets fired into their home in 1981.
Edwarda's father worked multiple jobs to cover medical costs, but passed away in 1977. By the mid-2000s, significant debt had accumulated.
After her mother's passing in 2008, Edwarda's sister Colleen took over care. Edwarda passed away on November 21, 2012, at age 59, concluding one of modern history's longest coma cases.
