Mom who cared for comatose daughter for 38 years dies

[flashl]

She never broke her promise.

Kaye O'Bara, who pledged to never leave her then-teenage daughter's side as the girl slipped into a diabetic coma 38 years ago, died at her Miami Gardens home this week -- in the same room she shared with her child, Edwarda, since 1970.

O'Bara, 80, died in her sleep. She had suffered for years from a cardiac illness that dated back to a heart attack in the early 1980s, said her niece Pamela Burdgick.

The story of O'Bara's steadfast devotion to her child, and her belief that Edwarda's life was not a burden but a blessing, inspired countless visitors who passed by the small one-story O'Bara home over the decades. Well-wishers traveled from as far away as Japan to take part in the annual celebration of Edwarda's birthday -- as did fellow Catholics and others who believed Kaye O'Bara had seen apparitions of the Virgin Mary and sought to pray at the bedside of her sleeping daughter.

Her story also inspired bestselling author Dr. Wayne Dyer to write the book "A Promise Is A Promise: An Almost Unbelievable Story of a Mother's UnconditionalLove and What It Can Teach Us.''

Miami Herald

[Clovis Sangrail]

1. mom's are like that /nt

[Karenina]

2. Yeah, they are...

[fudge stripe cookays]

4. Not all of them.

Mine, for instance.

[deadmessengers]

7. No, not all.

But this one was.

[bonito]

15. How about your dad?

[fudge stripe cookays]

23. My dad was wonderful

Unfortunately I lost him when I was 13, and spent most of my life with an unstable, controlling witch.

[bonito]

24. I understand

:hug:

[Skittles]

17. SOME moms are like that n/t

[rubberducky]

3. Unconditional love , that`s a mom.

[roguevalley]

5. goodness, that's what moms are. my mom was my hero. she woud

do this. I would for her.

[Old and In the Way]

6. A sad, yet inspiring story .

I can't imagine how strong this woman's faith was...

[jwirr]

8. I love her. I too spent my life 45 years taking care of my severely

disabled daughter and feel the same. She is in a foster home now but I have the comfort of knowing that I personally trained the foster parents and am still active in her care as respite and guardian. I started when I was 16 years old. Yes, mothers are like that.

[laylah]

9. ...

:hug:

[bonito]

16. .

:hug:

[renate]

19. my goodness... starting at 16....

I am in awe. :loveya:

[The Straight Story]

20. Well, a kick for you my friend

true love indeed.

[Echo In Light]

10. Love: A constant forge, indeed. Nothing more important

[Raejeanowl]

11. Amazing

Makes me feel pretty small, wondering if I'd have the fortitude to set aside my own life and devote myself selflessly to the care of a beloved child. Wondering if I'd measure up if the call came. You hear that this is what a "good Christian" is supposed to do anyway, to let go of their ego and personal agendas and just follow Christ.

I'd be very interested in reading Dwyer's book. I vividly recall having an argument with my own mother some twenty five years ago over his hypothesis that there is no such thing as an unselfish act.

[ScreamingMeemie]

12. These are the things I have to think about every day.

Thank you for reminding me.

[EFerrari]

13. Bless her heart. How many people could have done that. n/t

[bonito]

14. Oh my God

No words, but the value you give to life is as the value of your own, and Kaye my friend is the definition of our very breaths, God love her as I do.

[williesgirl]

18. Is the daughter still alive? If so, who cares for her now?

[JI7]

21. yes, her sister cares for her now

[lonestarnot]

22. How very sad.