In 1991, a 32-year-old mother from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was returning home after picking up her 4-year-old son from kindergarten when, suddenly, a devastating accident occurred. The mother would remain in a vegetative state for 27 years — until an extraordinary moment eventually brought her back to consciousness.
A family’s devotion
According to a BBC News report, Munira Abdulla was traveling with her son, Omar Webair, in a vehicle driven by the boy’s uncle. As the mother and child sat in the back seat, the car suddenly collided with a school bus.
In the instant of impact, Munira instinctively wrapped her arms around her son to shield him from harm. When emergency responders arrived, Omar was found to have sustained only a minor superficial injury to his forehead. Munira, however, suffered a severe head injury and was rendered unconscious at the scene.
Her family first took her to a hospital in Abu Dhabi for treatment, but she remained unconscious despite treatment. Hoping for more advanced medical care, they later transferred her to a hospital in London, where specialists attempted to help her recover.
Unfortunately, even the doctors in London were unable to do much. After a period of evaluation and treatment, they concluded that, aside from a limited response to pain, Munira could neither hear, see, nor perceive her surroundings. In medical terms, she had entered a vegetative state.
Caring for Munira in this condition was extremely demanding. She required tube feeding and full assistance with all daily needs, including hygiene and basic care. To prevent complications from prolonged immobility, she also needed regular physical therapy and massage to reduce the risk of muscle atrophy and pressure sores. Despite unwavering care from her family, she showed no signs of awareness.
Doctors offered little hope and warned that she might never wake up, making the long period of daily care and uncertainty both physically and emotionally difficult for her family. At one point, a well-meaning doctor advised the family to consider discontinuing treatment. However, the family refused and instead brought her back to her hometown of Al Ain. For the next two decades, Munira was moved between various local medical facilities as her care continued.
Although patients who remain bedridden for long periods are typically vulnerable to a range of complications, Munira’s condition remained relatively stable under her family’s dedicated care.
Rays of hope
In 2017, Munira’s story was reported by the media. The account of a mother who fell into a coma while protecting her son — and a family that stood by her for more than two decades — drew widespread public attention and sympathy. Mohammed bin Zayed, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, was moved by her story and offered to cover the cost of her treatment in Germany. Following this support, Omar traveled with his mother from Abu Dhabi to Germany for specialized care.
Her attending physician, Dr. Ahmad Ryll, a neurology specialist, recommended a combined treatment plan involving intensive physical therapy and medications aimed at improving her physical condition and stimulating neurological recovery. Despite more than a year of treatment, Munira showed no signs of regaining consciousness. At times, it appeared she might remain permanently unresponsive.
In 2018, Omar became involved in a heated argument with someone in his mother’s hospital room. Neither side would back down, and their voices gradually grew louder. Suddenly, Munira emitted an unusual sound from her throat. Omar was immediately filled with hope, believing his mother might be waking up. He quickly called for a doctor to examine her. However, after assessing her condition, the medical staff confirmed that there were still no signs of consciousness.
Although disappointed, Omar continued his routine of caring for his mother, as he had done for most of his life. After 27 years of waiting, the responsibility had become a familiar part of his daily existence.
Then, just three days later, something remarkable happened. As Omar rested beside his mother’s bed, he suddenly heard someone call his name. He lifted his head and looked around the room, unsure of what he had just heard. Then he realized it — the voice was faint, but unmistakably familiar. “It’s Mom… It’s Mom calling my name!”
Overwhelmed with joy, he nearly jumped into the air! He had waited for this moment since he was four years old — and finally, 27 years later, he heard his mother call his name again.
An amazing recovery
Following this breakthrough, Munira continued receiving treatment and slowly began to show signs of responsiveness. Over time, her condition improved further, and she was eventually able to engage in limited conversations — an outcome few had believed possible after so many years. For many, it was nothing short of astonishing that she had regained awareness after 27 years in a vegetative state.
Omar believed his mother may have awakened in a moment of heightened emotion after hearing him arguing with another person, suggesting that a mother’s instinct to protect her child could have triggered her response. Doctors also considered this a plausible explanation.
In an interview, Omar said: “I never gave up on my mother because, deep down, I always felt she would wake up one day. The reason I’m sharing our story is to tell everyone that even if a loved one seems completely unresponsive to the outside world, don’t give up on them too easily or assume they’re already gone.”
Twenty-seven years earlier, Munira had fallen into a vegetative state while protecting her child. Now, after nearly three decades of silence, she had returned with her son’s presence still anchoring her awareness. Her story stands as a profound testament to endurance, hope, and the unbreakable bond and love shared between mother and child.
Translated by Elaine and edited by Tatiana Denning
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