Family who kept tragic teen in world's longest coma were shot at in their own home

For 42 years, Edwarda O'Bara's family held out hope that she would one day wake up. Their decades-long devotion sadly put them in mortal danger.

Edwarda, who would become known as 'America's sleeping Snow White', became ill with the flu at Christmastime 1969, and her condition deteriorated to the point where, on January 3, 1970, her frantic family rushed her to the hospital.

This date coincided with Edwarda's parents' 22nd wedding anniversary, but from then on, the one joyful date would hold a far more poignant meaning.

Before slipping into unconsciousness, the then 16-year-old made a heartbreaking plea to her mother, Kaye, begging, "promise you won't leave me". Through tears, Kaye replied, "Of course not, I would never leave you, darling." And Kaye never broke her promise.

Miami teenager Edwarda, remembered as a bright and well-liked high school student with a promising future, had been diagnosed with diabetes in late 1969, with doctors prescribing an oral insulin medication that would later be banned due to dangerous side effects.

After coming down with the flu, Edwarda began throwing up the medicine, resulting in sugar gathering in her system. By the time she was taken to the hospital, the gravely ill teen was "screaming" in agony.

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In an interview with CNN, Edwarda's younger sister Colleen recalled how their father Joe returned from a fishing trip to find "sugar lumps" beneath Edwarda's skin. She remembered: "My sister was screaming. I remember it like it was yesterday.

"My dad started rubbing her legs to try to get the sugar to flow. He picked her up, and we just rushed her to the hospital.”

Tragically, Edwarda's condition only worsened to the point where her lungs collapsed, her kidneys failed, and her heart faltered, causing a lack of oxygen to her brain. She ultimately slipped into a diabetic coma, from which she would never wake.

Dedicated mum Kaye threw herself into her daughter's care, sleeping for just 90 minutes to ensure she was constantly looked after. The devoted mother would read to Edwarda and play music for her, while making sure she was turned over every couple of hours to prevent bedsores.

The story of love against all odds touched those across America and beyond, and the family were honoured with visits from high-profile individuals such as President Bill Clinton and singer Neil Diamond.

Over time, the O'Bara family home in South Florida became a site of pilgrimage by many well-wishers, some of whom believed Edwarda had extraordinary healing powers.

One woman with an inoperable brain tumour was allegedly cancer-free months after touching the comatose Edwarda, while it's claimed that two girls with cystic fibrosis were healed mere months after visiting her bedside.

Sadly, Edwarda's own miracle never came, and, as the years rolled on, the family found themselves having to deal with fierce criticism alongside praise, with frightening consequences.

US-based right-to-die group, the Hemlock Society, would regularly telephone the house, asking Kaye to let Edwarda die. On one occasion, an unknown individual took things into their own hands. On Boxing Day, 1981, Kaye received a phone call from an individual who threatened to end Edwarda's life.

Mere hours later, three bullets were fired into the home. Nobody was injured, but the family was naturally left severely shaken by the attack. The assailant was never identified.

Edwarda's illness also took its toll in other ways. Edwarda's dad, Joe, who worked three jobs to cover his daughter's medical care, passed away in 1977 from a heart attack, believed to have been brought about by the strain of their unusual situation.

By 2007, Kaye was $200,000 in debt, with her decision to keep Edwarda at their family home resulting in enormous medical fees. She passed away on March 7, 2008, at the age of 80, having kept her promise to never leave Edwarda's side.

With both their parents gone, sister Colleen took on the full-time care of Edwarda, giving up her career as a horse trainer to do so. Opening up about her selfless decision, Colleen shared: "I didn't give it a second thought. She's my sister. And I love her."

On November 21, 2012, Edwarda died at home at the age of 59 and was buried alongside her mother and father.

Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com

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