10. Longest Survival with an External Heart
Christopher Wall was born in 1975 with a very rare birth defect called ectopia cordis, which causes the fetus’s heart to form outside the chest cavity while in utero. The condition has a very high fatality rate, with most patients not living longer than 48 hours. After his birth, doctors couldn’t position his heart back inside the chest cavity, so they stretched his skin to cover it instead. During the next few months, Christopher surprised everyone with his will to stay alive. During the first 15 months of his life, he underwent 15 surgeries to insert his heart back into his chest. Against all odds, the surgeries were a success, making him the longest-surviving victim of his condition.
9. Surviving the Fastest Car Crash in History
Donald Campbell was a career record breaker and adrenaline junkie. He broke 8 world records for speed on water, as well as on land. In September 1960, he was in his legendary car, Bluebird, trying to set a new land speed record. During this epic event, while travelling at 360 MPH, he lost control of the car, which flipped over and crashed. At 360 MPH, mind you. Luckily, because he was securely strapped into the cockpit, his injuries consisted only of cuts, bruises and a hairline skull fracture that was described as “not serious,” and he was able to return home after only two weeks in the hospital.
8. Living the Longest with a Bullet in the Head
William Lawlis Pace was only 8 years old in 1917, when his brother accidentally shot him in the head with their father’s .22. The injury left him blind in one eye and deaf in his one ear. According to his son, doctors never wanted to operate, fearing that he wouldn’t survive the surgery. Carrying the bullet in his skull for 94 years, William still led a very normal life. He played sports at school, married, and had children. After he retired, he even traveled the world. People who sustain these types of head-trauma normally get life-threatening seizures or post-traumatic epilepsy during later life, but William was lucky enough to escape them.
7. Most Burns Suffered by a Survivor
Tony Yarijanian, an Armenian immigrant, owned several businesses in Los Angeles. Arriving at his tanning salon to do some cleaning one Sunday morning in February 2004, he didn’t realize the liquid he saw everywhere came from a gas leak. Switching on a dryer, he triggered a massive explosion which left over 90% of his body covered in 3rd degree burns. He also sustained damage to his lungs due to smoke inhalation, and his chance for survival was next-to-none. Tony was in a coma for several months, during which time he had several blood transfusions and surgeries
6. Longest Time Spent in a Coma
Edwarda O’Bara was a diabetic teenager who fell deathly ill in 1970. She slipped into a diabetic coma and never woke up. Her mother and sister stayed by her side always, caring for her as best they could. Edwarda even became a celebrity, as thousands would flock to her door every year to bring gifts and pay their respects to this long-lasting coma survivor. Many believed she had holy powers, thanks to some claims that cancer patients would walk in, see her, and suddenly be cancer-free.
However, that tale of survival ended on November 21, 2012, when Edwarda passed away at age 59, 42 years after she lost consciousness. It is the longest time anybody has ever spent in a coma.
5. Owner of the World’s Longest Tapeworm
People normally pick up tapeworm eggs when they eat or drink contaminated food and water. They also flourish in sand or soil, and can easily be ingested if a person forgets to wash their hands after a gardening session. Tapeworms usually only grow up to 15 feet in length, although they can fill the whole intestine if they aren’t discovered early. That’s pretty much what happened on September 5, 1991, when a 37-foot-long tapeworm was removed from the unfortunate gut of one Sally Mae Wallace. The worm was removed via her mouth, while she was awake, in what witnesses describe as the most disgusting magic act in history.
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Christopher Wall was born in 1975 with a very rare birth defect called ectopia cordis, which causes the fetus’s heart to form outside the chest cavity while in utero. The condition has a very high fatality rate, with most patients not living longer than 48 hours. After his birth, doctors couldn’t position his heart back inside the chest cavity, so they stretched his skin to cover it instead. During the next few months, Christopher surprised everyone with his will to stay alive. During the first 15 months of his life, he underwent 15 surgeries to insert his heart back into his chest. Against all odds, the surgeries were a success, making him the longest-surviving victim of his condition.
9. Surviving the Fastest Car Crash in History
Donald Campbell was a career record breaker and adrenaline junkie. He broke 8 world records for speed on water, as well as on land. In September 1960, he was in his legendary car, Bluebird, trying to set a new land speed record. During this epic event, while travelling at 360 MPH, he lost control of the car, which flipped over and crashed. At 360 MPH, mind you. Luckily, because he was securely strapped into the cockpit, his injuries consisted only of cuts, bruises and a hairline skull fracture that was described as “not serious,” and he was able to return home after only two weeks in the hospital.
8. Living the Longest with a Bullet in the Head
William Lawlis Pace was only 8 years old in 1917, when his brother accidentally shot him in the head with their father’s .22. The injury left him blind in one eye and deaf in his one ear. According to his son, doctors never wanted to operate, fearing that he wouldn’t survive the surgery. Carrying the bullet in his skull for 94 years, William still led a very normal life. He played sports at school, married, and had children. After he retired, he even traveled the world. People who sustain these types of head-trauma normally get life-threatening seizures or post-traumatic epilepsy during later life, but William was lucky enough to escape them.
7. Most Burns Suffered by a Survivor
Tony Yarijanian, an Armenian immigrant, owned several businesses in Los Angeles. Arriving at his tanning salon to do some cleaning one Sunday morning in February 2004, he didn’t realize the liquid he saw everywhere came from a gas leak. Switching on a dryer, he triggered a massive explosion which left over 90% of his body covered in 3rd degree burns. He also sustained damage to his lungs due to smoke inhalation, and his chance for survival was next-to-none. Tony was in a coma for several months, during which time he had several blood transfusions and surgeries
6. Longest Time Spent in a Coma
Edwarda O’Bara was a diabetic teenager who fell deathly ill in 1970. She slipped into a diabetic coma and never woke up. Her mother and sister stayed by her side always, caring for her as best they could. Edwarda even became a celebrity, as thousands would flock to her door every year to bring gifts and pay their respects to this long-lasting coma survivor. Many believed she had holy powers, thanks to some claims that cancer patients would walk in, see her, and suddenly be cancer-free.
However, that tale of survival ended on November 21, 2012, when Edwarda passed away at age 59, 42 years after she lost consciousness. It is the longest time anybody has ever spent in a coma.
5. Owner of the World’s Longest Tapeworm
People normally pick up tapeworm eggs when they eat or drink contaminated food and water. They also flourish in sand or soil, and can easily be ingested if a person forgets to wash their hands after a gardening session. Tapeworms usually only grow up to 15 feet in length, although they can fill the whole intestine if they aren’t discovered early. That’s pretty much what happened on September 5, 1991, when a 37-foot-long tapeworm was removed from the unfortunate gut of one Sally Mae Wallace. The worm was removed via her mouth, while she was awake, in what witnesses describe as the most disgusting magic act in history.
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