In a coma until the end

On July 23, 2001, 24-year-old Chastity Cooper from Warsaw, Kentucky, USA, gave birth to her daughter, Alexis, while in a coma throughout her pregnancy. This was the only case to date of a woman being in a coma throughout her pregnancy. Healthy Alexis Michelle Cooper weighed approximately 2.8 kilograms.

Chastity, who had previously given birth to two healthy boys, now 3 and 4 years old, suffered a serious head injury in a car accident on the rainy night of November 25, 2000. She had dropped the boys off with her sister and was driving to her husband's family gathering on US 42 when her car skidded and struck another vehicle on the same road. A routine exam during Chastity's treatment at University Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, revealed she was pregnant. Just two weeks after conception, her husband, Steve, also had no idea they were about to become parents again.

Dr. Michael Hnat, an obstetrician specializing in high-risk pregnancies, said the pregnancy didn't appear to cause any complications for Chastity Cooper. Doctors were alert to potential problems like blood clots and induced labor a week early to better manage the birth and ensure the patient's well-being.

Steve Cooper told the Cincinnati Enquirer that little Alexis, their newborn daughter, was especially precious. He added that Chastity and he had wanted a daughter for a long time. Cooper also said that although his wife couldn't talk, he was certain she was aware of Alexis's birth. He also said that he placed the baby on Chastity's chest, and she smiled and made eye contact with her daughter. Cooper was convinced that a bond had formed between mother and daughter.