A woman who had been in a coma for 31 years has died with her husband by her side, as he has remained for the previous three decades.
Angelo Farina stood by as his wife, Miriam Visintin, died at the San Bassiano hospital in Italy last week, where she had been for around two months after a pleural effusion - a build up of fluid on the lungs.
However, she had been in a vegetative state since 1991 when she was involved in an horrific car crash, with her Fiat Panda colliding with a pole on Christmas Eve in the town of Casoni di Mussolente, not far from Venice in Italy’s north.
After the crash, Miriam suffered an inoperable brain injury, meaning that she was transferred to ‘La Madonnina’ residential home for those in need of life-preserving treatment.
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Then she was moved to Casa Sturm, another care home, before she went into hospital for the last time a few months ago.
Last Wednesday, she died after a cardiac arrest.
Since the crash, her husband Angelo has visited her at least once every single day to be by her bedside.
They had only been married and living together for around 18 months before the tragic road accident left her in the state that she remained in until her death.
Speaking to Fanpage.it, Angelo said: "I am happy for her, she is finally up there in peace and in paradise.
“I think he has suffered a lot over the years.
“We had only been married a year and a half when tragedy struck. We were young and had so many projects. She was very fond of children.
“Fate has been cruel to her, too cruel. She didn't deserve all of this. I keep saying it and I will keep saying it in the future as well".
A funeral has been held for Miriam in her home town of Riese Pio X, attended by her family and friends.
The mayor of Cassola, Alda Maroso, also offered some thoughts – as well as his sympathy – to the grieving family.
"What struck me a lot, in addition to the tragedy of a vegetative life that lasted 31 years, is the closeness of her husband, perpetuated in daily gestures of love for so long.
"I don't know how many would be capable of that.
“In a very self-centred world, this example gives reason to believe that humanity still exists."
Topics: Health, World News
Tom Wood