Edwarda O'Bara at 2 days old in March 1953; she was Kathryn and Joe O'Bara's first child. "All I ever wanted in life was to have two girls," Kathryn once said. "God was very good and granted me my wish."
Edwarda O'Bara, 1953-2012 —
Edwarda O'Bara at 2 days old in March 1953; she was Kathryn and Joe O'Bara's first child. "All I ever wanted in life was to have two girls," Kathryn once said. "God was very good and granted me my wish."
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Joe O'Bara feeding Edwarda; he died six years after his daughter fell into her diabetic coma, the strain of working three jobs to pay her medical bills too much.
Edwarda O'Bara, 1953-2012 —
Joe O'Bara feeding Edwarda; he died six years after his daughter fell into her diabetic coma, the strain of working three jobs to pay her medical bills too much.
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Edwarda in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where her grandfather was the town's mayor. Eventually, the O'Bara family settled in South Florida.
Edwarda O'Bara, 1953-2012 —
Edwarda in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where her grandfather was the town's mayor. Eventually, the O'Bara family settled in South Florida.
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When she was 3, Edwarda appeared on the TV show "Romper Room."
Edwarda O'Bara, 1953-2012 —
When she was 3, Edwarda appeared on the TV show "Romper Room."
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Like so many girls, Edwarda loved horses -- even the wooden variety.
Edwarda O'Bara, 1953-2012 —
Like so many girls, Edwarda loved horses -- even the wooden variety.
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The O'Bara family in June 1957 at Ligonier Beach, Pennsylvania. Mother and daughter were close; shortly before she fell into a coma, Edwarda asked her mother, "Don't ever leave me." Her mother promised she never would.
Edwarda O'Bara, 1953-2012 —
The O'Bara family in June 1957 at Ligonier Beach, Pennsylvania. Mother and daughter were close; shortly before she fell into a coma, Edwarda asked her mother, "Don't ever leave me." Her mother promised she never would.
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Edwarda and her younger sister Colleen in 1960 -- nine years before Edwarda would fall into a coma. Her cousin Pam Burdgick went to college in South Florida in the 1960s and remembered Edwarda as "a sweet, loving child."
Edwarda O'Bara, 1953-2012 —
Edwarda and her younger sister Colleen in 1960 -- nine years before Edwarda would fall into a coma. Her cousin Pam Burdgick went to college in South Florida in the 1960s and remembered Edwarda as "a sweet, loving child."
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Edwarda and Colleen dressed as ballerinas. Born just 18 months apart, the sisters were inseparable. Edwarda was the studious, obedient, loving child. Colleen was the mischievous tomboy.
Edwarda O'Bara, 1953-2012 —
Edwarda and Colleen dressed as ballerinas. Born just 18 months apart, the sisters were inseparable. Edwarda was the studious, obedient, loving child. Colleen was the mischievous tomboy.
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Edwarda as a young teen; "She kept me in check," Colleen recalls. "I had a short fuse on my temper when we were younger. My sister was just calm. She put up with me unbelievably."
Edwarda O'Bara, 1953-2012 —
Edwarda as a young teen; "She kept me in check," Colleen recalls. "I had a short fuse on my temper when we were younger. My sister was just calm. She put up with me unbelievably."
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Edwarda with her horse Moonlight in 1967; at a nearby ranch, the sisters' friendship grew. "Colleen had horses, and Edwarda had a pony because she was always the cautious one," their cousin Pam Burdgick said.
Edwarda O'Bara, 1953-2012 —
Edwarda with her horse Moonlight in 1967; at a nearby ranch, the sisters' friendship grew. "Colleen had horses, and Edwarda had a pony because she was always the cautious one," their cousin Pam Burdgick said.
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A rabbi from New York was among the thousands of people -- from Japan to Australia, from Italy to Canada -- who made a pilgrimage to the O'Bara home, inspired by the devotion of her mother. Many were drawn because they believed Edwarda had miracle healing powers.
Edwarda O'Bara, 1953-2012 —
A rabbi from New York was among the thousands of people -- from Japan to Australia, from Italy to Canada -- who made a pilgrimage to the O'Bara home, inspired by the devotion of her mother. Many were drawn because they believed Edwarda had miracle healing powers.
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Colleen got married in 1974 to Richard Owen, with the reception held in Edwarda's room. Colleen gave birth to a son in 1976, just eight days after her father died. Colleen's marriage lasted only six years.
Edwarda O'Bara, 1953-2012 —
Colleen got married in 1974 to Richard Owen, with the reception held in Edwarda's room. Colleen gave birth to a son in 1976, just eight days after her father died. Colleen's marriage lasted only six years.
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The family had a new room created for Edwarda in 1980. Her mother gave insulin shots, turned her daughter so bedsores wouldn't grow, changed her diaper. Kathryn's back grew hunched from slouching over. She got arthritis. Sleep came in 75-minute power naps.
Edwarda O'Bara, 1953-2012 —
The family had a new room created for Edwarda in 1980. Her mother gave insulin shots, turned her daughter so bedsores wouldn't grow, changed her diaper. Kathryn's back grew hunched from slouching over. She got arthritis. Sleep came in 75-minute power naps.
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Dr. Louis Chaykin cared for Edwarda for decades. Chaykin pledged to treat Edwarda for free, setting up an IV for fluids and the feeding tube through her stomach. "It's not a big deal," he says. "Recognizing the cost of just maintaining Edwarda, it was a non-starter. I wouldn't accept any money." Kathryn O'Bara called the doctor her angel.
Edwarda O'Bara, 1953-2012 —
Dr. Louis Chaykin cared for Edwarda for decades. Chaykin pledged to treat Edwarda for free, setting up an IV for fluids and the feeding tube through her stomach. "It's not a big deal," he says. "Recognizing the cost of just maintaining Edwarda, it was a non-starter. I wouldn't accept any money." Kathryn O'Bara called the doctor her angel.
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In 1985, Edwarda was taken outside for the last time. After the woman who helped the family moved away, they were no longer able to take Edwarda outdoors.
Edwarda O'Bara, 1953-2012 —
In 1985, Edwarda was taken outside for the last time. After the woman who helped the family moved away, they were no longer able to take Edwarda outdoors.
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Renowned self-help author Wayne Dyer and his wife, Marcelene, visiting Edwarda in 1996; Dyer wrote a book, "A Promise Is A Promise," about Kathryn's unconditional love.
Edwarda O'Bara, 1953-2012 —
Renowned self-help author Wayne Dyer and his wife, Marcelene, visiting Edwarda in 1996; Dyer wrote a book, "A Promise Is A Promise," about Kathryn's unconditional love.
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At Edwarda's birthday party in 2006, Manny Koukoulas presents Kathryn and Edwarda with a song, "My Blessed Child," that he wrote for them.
Edwarda O'Bara, 1953-2012 —
At Edwarda's birthday party in 2006, Manny Koukoulas presents Kathryn and Edwarda with a song, "My Blessed Child," that he wrote for them.
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Family and friends gather for Edwarda's birthday in 2004.
Edwarda O'Bara, 1953-2012 —
Family and friends gather for Edwarda's birthday in 2004.
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Dr. Chaykin visits Edwarda and Kathryn in 2006. He was 35 when he first started treating Edwarda.
Edwarda O'Bara, 1953-2012 —
Dr. Chaykin visits Edwarda and Kathryn in 2006. He was 35 when he first started treating Edwarda.
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Colleen with Edwarda on her last birthday in 2012.
Edwarda O'Bara, 1953-2012 —
Colleen with Edwarda on her last birthday in 2012.
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