“The Miracle in Jimma: 16 Years Without a Bite or Sip”
What a hauntingly fascinating story—Muluwork Ambaw of Jimma, Ethiopia, claims she hasn’t eaten or drunk anything for the past 16 years. Despite the impossible nature of her claim, she appears healthy and energetic, with clinicians reportedly finding no traces of food in her digestive tract.
Here’s a compelling short story inspired by her remarkable tale:
Miracle of the Silent Hunger
In the whispering hills of Jimma, nestled among lush, green terraces and coffee-scented dawns, lived Muluwork. At age 10, one morning’s promise of injera and red lentils vanished with her appetite—and remained lost for 16 years.
She told her family she had eaten—but she hadn’t. She hid the truth until no more hiding was possible.
Still, Muluwork thrived. She cooked lavish meals for her family, filling their home with aroma and warmth—though she herself never tasted a morsel. The earth’s rhythm pulsed beneath her feet as she tended the garden—her only nourishment for the soul.
Villagers whispered, doubting minds shone as skeptical. Yet her body, somehow intact, held no evidence of food or water. Medical tests across decades—in Addis Ababa, Dubai, and beyond—failed to explain how she lived. Doctors found no food in her intestines; examinations showed no dehydration. Tests confirmed she was sane.(Oddity Central, Talk of Naija, IOL)
Locals referred to her with reverence: “A creature who has not eaten for nine years,” a plaque read—a title she wore with humility. For Muluwork, faith said it all. “It is the work of God,” she said.(YTScribe, IOL, Oddity Central)
When a youtube wanderer named Drew Binsky journeyed down rocky paths to find her, he was met with quiet grace. A mother of one, Muluwork survived a pregnancy, nourished by glucose infusions, yet she couldn’t breastfeed—her child thrived on artificial milk.(YTScribe, Talk of Naija)
In the final hush, Drew asked why she accepted such a life. She only smiled: “They can come and observe. I do not eat. I do not drink.”(YTScribe, Talk of Naija)
Her home, a gift from the Prime Minister, stood sturdy amid rolling hills. Though attention was rare, visitors found a familiar humanity in Muluwork—one defined not by what she consumed, but by what she gave: presence, strength, and mystery.(YTScribe, IOL)
Reflections on the Incredible
- Medical Mystery: Survival for 16 years without water or food defies all scientific understanding. The human body typically can last only days without water, and weeks without food. Guinness World Records lists the longest known stretch without food or water at just 18 days.(Oddity Central, News9live)
- Faith vs. Skepticism: To many, Muluwork is miraculous. To medical experts, her claim is near impossible. Yet medical tests have found no physical explanation—only her unwavering belief that she is sustained by divine grace.(IOL, Talk of Naija)
- Historical Echoes: Her story recalls the 19th-century case of Sarah Jacob, the “Welsh fasting girl,” who claimed to live without food after age 10—but Smithsonian oversight revealed starvation within weeks.(Wikipedia)
This story opens a portal to questions of science, faith, and the limits of the human condition. Muluwork’s life invites us to wonder: what sustains us—what we feel, what we believe, or the secrets our bodies may inexplicably hold?
