Teen graduates high school after being in a coma for 5 months: 'God just flipped a switch'

Paulina Cachero
·MAKERS
Updated

After a near-fatal car accident in 2017, doctors told Alice Edwards that her daughter’s life might be over. Two years later, she’s proving them wrong.

“They told me they didn’t think that she would wake up and if she did, she would be a vegetable,” Edwards told local news station WTKR of her daughter Nada’s close encounter with death. “As a mom, you don’t accept that.”

In October 2017, Nada was hospitalized in Chesapeake, Va. after a car smashed into the driver’s side of her vehicle. The impact caused Nada to fall unconscious prompting her younger brother, who was also in the car, to call 911.

“[Her brother] saved her life,” said Edwards. Although doctors were skeptical about her chances, Nada’s mom refused to believe it was the end, staying by her daughter’s side. After five months in a coma, Nada opened her eyes and told her mother she loved her.

“Literally, God just flipped a switch and she was back. There is no way to describe it,” said Edwards. The Portsmouth teen said she woke up with one goal in mind: graduate with her classmates at Woodrow Wilson High School. “That’s always been my number one goal,” said Nada, “walk across the stage for graduation.”

After fighting to get Nada back in school, the educators at Woodrow Wilson High School helped the teen get back on track. Some teachers even went to the Edwards’ house to help her catch up on the school she missed.

This week, after months of rehabilitation, the Virginia teen achieved her goal — walking across the graduation stage herself to grab her high school diploma.

Nada Edwards walked across the Old Dominion University stage to graduate with the Woodrow Wilson High School Class of 2019. (Credit: Portsmouth Public Schools)
Nada Edwards walked across the Old Dominion University stage to graduate with the Woodrow Wilson High School Class of 2019. (Credit: Portsmouth Public Schools)

“Wow I really amaze myself. The ‘doctors’ said there’s no chance I was gonna wake up but if I did I was gonna be in a ‘Vegetative state,’” Nada wrote on her Facebook. “Look at me now... As promised, I walked the stage.”

In achieving her own goals, Nada has become a role model and “inspiration” to the entire Portsmouth community during her two-year journey. Portsmouth Public Schools Superintendent Elie Bracy III, PhD, says that watching her cross the graduation stage was “an extraordinary and astounding experience.”

“Her resilience, persistence and refusal to give up have been an inspiration not just to her classmates and school, but for the entire Portsmouth community,” Bracy tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “We are excited to continue to follow her journey from here and see all that she will accomplish in the future.”

With one goal down, Nada is already well on her way to accomplishing the next one. The Portsmouth teen plans to attend Norfolk State University in the fall. She hopes to become a counselor one day to help others through difficult experiences. “Amazing just doesn’t begin to explain what we’ve been through,” said Edwards.

Yahoo Lifestyle was unable to get in contact with Alice and Nada Edwards for comment.

Nada Edwards beams at the Woodrow High School Graduation on June 15, 2019. (Credit: Portsmouth Public Schools)
Nada Edwards beams at the Woodrow High School Graduation on June 15, 2019. (Credit: Portsmouth Public Schools)

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

• Viral high school valedictorian speech calls out teachers, staff for ‘alcoholism’ and ‘negligence’

• Mom says daughter was barred from walking at high school graduation over shoe choice

• Valedictorian’s moving speech honoring migrant farm worker parents goes viral

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