April 3, 1908, Karolina Olsson woke from her sleep to a completely changed world. She learned that her mother and two of her brothers were dead, and her remaining family were unrecognisable to her.
Looking in the mirror was the biggest shock - Karolina had been asleep for 32 years.
Looking in the mirror was the biggest shock - Karolina had been asleep for 32 years.
A Deep and Long Sleep
Karolina fel asleep age 14 and woke up 32 years later. Karolina Olsson (sometimes Carolina Olssons) was returning home to her village of Okno, Sweden, crossing the ice of a frozen river when she fell. Some say she fell through the ice, nearly drowning but being pulled to safety at the last moment – where others say she tripped and hit her head, knocking a tooth, resulting in a tooth ache. Whatever the truth she did make it home and with a sore face.
When the toothache got worse her father, a fisherman, and mother thought it was due to witchcraft. It was 1876, superstition was high and the village of Okno was quite isolated. Knowing there was nothing they could do that evening, Karolina was told to go to bed and see what took place the following day.
Karolina went to sleep age 14, and when she did wake up she was 45/46 – she had slept for 32 years and the year was now 1908.
When the toothache got worse her father, a fisherman, and mother thought it was due to witchcraft. It was 1876, superstition was high and the village of Okno was quite isolated. Knowing there was nothing they could do that evening, Karolina was told to go to bed and see what took place the following day.
Karolina went to sleep age 14, and when she did wake up she was 45/46 – she had slept for 32 years and the year was now 1908.
Life Passes By
A typical home in Okno. In the meantime her parents had gone through quite a lot of worry. When their daughter did not wake up after a few days and they were unable to rouse her they sent for medical help. Karolina was visited by several doctors all who could not definitively explain her state of torpor and all attempts at rousing her failed.
Pins were inserted into her fingertips for a response – nothing. Later, in 1892, she was put in a hospital for a month where more attempts at waking her took place. Even electricity was used, passing a current through her body – nothing.
She was returned back home and as she slept life passed her by. Her mother passed away in 1905, and later two of her brothers. What is mysterious is that after these deaths Karolina was said to have broken into fits of crying, yet she was asleep.
After the death of her mother, the family took on a housekeeper to look after the families home and Karolina. Everyday, Karolina was fed two glasses of sweetened milk by having it spooned into her mouth, luckily her swallowing reflex was intact or she will have likely wasted away.
Several times she was seen to sleep walk or crawl. Her father had also witnessed her in a kneeling, praying position next to her bed saying a few mumbled words before returning to her bed.
Pins were inserted into her fingertips for a response – nothing. Later, in 1892, she was put in a hospital for a month where more attempts at waking her took place. Even electricity was used, passing a current through her body – nothing.
She was returned back home and as she slept life passed her by. Her mother passed away in 1905, and later two of her brothers. What is mysterious is that after these deaths Karolina was said to have broken into fits of crying, yet she was asleep.
After the death of her mother, the family took on a housekeeper to look after the families home and Karolina. Everyday, Karolina was fed two glasses of sweetened milk by having it spooned into her mouth, luckily her swallowing reflex was intact or she will have likely wasted away.
Several times she was seen to sleep walk or crawl. Her father had also witnessed her in a kneeling, praying position next to her bed saying a few mumbled words before returning to her bed.
Awakening
Karolina Olsson woke up middle aged. When Karolina eventually woke up her world was changed. She must have known something was wrong as the first anyone saw of her she was inconsolable... perhaps because she had seen herself in a mirror – the 14 year old girl now looking quite a lot older. What is remarkable is that although she was now firmly in her middle aged years she only looked to be in her mid 20's at most, her prolonged slumber having preserved her youthful beauty.
And beautiful she was. When word got around that this 'sleeping beauty' had awakened, people travelled from far and wide to visit. She was a instant celebrity and rather than being shy she seemed to have enjoyed the attention.
And beautiful she was. When word got around that this 'sleeping beauty' had awakened, people travelled from far and wide to visit. She was a instant celebrity and rather than being shy she seemed to have enjoyed the attention.
visions of blue faces plagued her dreams. When asked about what she could remember she replied she remembers everything before her sleep and all that she could remember about the sleep itself was constant visions of blue faces submerged in water. Curious, as her brothers had died by drowning.
However not all was good and well. Many thought Karolina was a fraud and that the 32 years of sleep had been staged, helped along by the family. No-one believed she could have been kept alive on just milk and sugar. Many believed it was possibly for her protection, her mother having strongly believed her daughter had been bewitched all the way back in 1876.
However not all was good and well. Many thought Karolina was a fraud and that the 32 years of sleep had been staged, helped along by the family. No-one believed she could have been kept alive on just milk and sugar. Many believed it was possibly for her protection, her mother having strongly believed her daughter had been bewitched all the way back in 1876.
Olsson later in life. Karolina was examined and there was no lasting physical damage found. Her mental acuity was still that of a young woman, intelligent, but, obviously, knew little of the history of her country... understandable as she slept through it.
Karolina lived out a quite happy life afterwards and passed away in April 1950.
It is still not entirely known why she had slept for so long and as such still regarded as a medical marvel.
Karolina lived out a quite happy life afterwards and passed away in April 1950.
It is still not entirely known why she had slept for so long and as such still regarded as a medical marvel.
Ashley Hall 2013
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