Can You Imagine Waking Up From Death?
In a story that seems straight out of a horror film, a 90-year-old Brazilian woman, Norma Silveira da Silva, shocked everyone by coming back to life. Declared dead by doctors, she was found breathing in her body bag hours later. This bewildering incident unfolded at the Sao Jose Regional Hospital in Greater Florianopolis on November 25th.
Imagine being declared dead, only to be discovered alive! Norma's case is nothing short of miraculous. A crematorium worker, to their utter horror, found her still warm and struggling for breath. Despite being pronounced dead at 11:40 pm, Norma was very much alive.
Tragically, after being rushed back to the hospital, Norma passed away hours later. But the questions this incident raises are many. How did such a grave error occur? Norma's family, understandably upset, thinks that an investigation isn't enough. Her caregiver, Jessica Martins Silvi Pereira, called it a case of neglect, one that no one should endure.
Jessica recounted an eerie moment. Just the Saturday afternoon before, she had visited Norma, who managed to open her eye. There was little stimulation, but Norma recognized their presence. Yet, shortly after, she was declared dead with infection cited as the cause.
The story grows even more chilling. Jessica claims Norma's body was sent from the hospital to the crematorium without the family's chance to see her. It was only the vigilance of a crematorium worker that saved Norma from a terrifying fate. "When he opened the bag, she was breathing very weakly," Jessica said. Norma, unconscious, couldn't ask for help. From 11:40 pm to 1:30 am, she lay in the bag, nearly dying of asphyxiation.
An investigation has been launched into the hospital's critical mistake. Brazil's Medical Ethics Committee and the Death Commission are looking into the case. The Regional Council of Medicine of the State of Santa Catarina is also involved, stating they are monitoring the case closely.
In the end, Norma's second death certificate listed 'septic shock' caused by 'sepsis with undefined focus' as the cause of death. Norma was cremated on November 27th. This bizarre and tragic tale leaves us wondering about the line between life and death and the fallibility of those who determine it.