The Man who Hiccuped an estimated total of 430 million times before finally dying in ...

The Man who Hiccuped an estimated total of 430 million times before finally dying in ...

^src

So, there I was, minding my own business, sipping coffee (Okay I wasn't actually sipping coffee) and scrolling through Smithsonian Mag when I stumbled upon one of the most absurd yet utterly captivating story I've encountered in quite a long time: Charles Osborne's 68-year hiccup marathon! The Man literally hiccuped non-stop for 68 years, talk about not catching a break ... for a full story, maybe not so full on how it all went down for 68 hiccupping years with Charles Osborne well .check here

So how did the hiccupping journey all start ?

It was June 13, 1922, a man Charles Osborne was just going about his day, hanging a hefty hog for butchering, and bam! He takes a tumble. Now, I've had some clumsy moments, but nothing as wild as busting a blood vessel in the brain while carrying pork! This seemingly innocuous event catapulted Charles Osborne into an epic, hiccupping adventure that lasted longer than most people's careers.

To spice things up check out the headline below

^src

Let's break it down - 68 years. That's an estimate of 430 million hiccups! It's like a hiccup symphony playing in the background of your life for almost seven decades. The cause? An unfortunate hog-related accident. Yeah, you read that right. The hog was heavy, Charles dropped it, and the rest is hic-story!

Reading through, I'm in disbelief. Doctors tried everything, from carbon monoxide to oxygen treatments (with a side of not-so-ideal poison), to help this man find relief. And how did he manage through all this? By perfecting the art of silent hiccupping! Flexing his chest and strategically breathing between hiccups turned him into a hiccup-ninja - hic-ninja? - who'd make no noise while silently heaving. The dedication is commendable, I have to admit!

Take a momnet and imagine the perseverance! Charles lived through it all, traversing countless doctor visits, public appearances, and even a cameo on Johnny Carson's show! He became a hiccupping legend, greeting friends with a casual "What the hell's going on?" despite being perpetually jerked around by those hiccups.

And the theories! A minor rib injury, maybe a stroke! Doctors tried sedatives that made him sleepy, and folks sent thousands of letters offering their 'cures,' but none provided a lasting solution. To cope, he blended his meals, wore out blenders, and made himself a lunchtime cocktail of chicken, dressing, broth, and milk (followed by a few beers, of course).

I was a sea full of mixed emotions reading this article. I mean, one moment you're chuckling at the absurdity of a lifelong hiccup, and the next, you're feeling oddly empathetic for a man who had to face such an unrelenting challenge.

But let's talk about the silver linings: Charles Osborne was no hiccupping hermit. Nope! He lived a full life, married twice, had eight kids, and even managed to make a living in the midst of a hiccuping storm. The man was a legend in his own hiccupping right!

Here’s the real kicker though. Imagine being in his shoes—meeting everyone, becoming a mini-celeb just for your hiccupping talent. People offering advice left, right, and center, all trying to crack the case of the never-ending hiccups. But in the end, it all went back to basics: hic, breathe, hic, breathe!

Now like they say, whether good or bad, everything at some point must come to an end. Now how did it all end for Charles Osborne ?

Now after all the national attention (even a Guinness World record), thousands of sympathetic letters, and even offers of bizarre hiccup remedies (think people suggesting everything from holding your breath to standing on your head), Osborne finally found peace. Miraculously, his hiccups suddenly stopped in 1990, granting him a hiccup-free oasis for a few months before he passed away.

I don’t know about you, but this article had me laughing, feeling sorry, and ultimately marveling at the human spirit—Osborne’s resilience in the face of a hiccup marathon. It’s a quirky yet touching reminder of how life can throw the oddest challenges our way, and sometimes, even the most mundane bodily reflex can become a tale that'll leave you hiccupping with laughter and compassion.

It's a hiccupping saga for the ages! I can't decide if I'm more impressed by Charles's resilience or his ability to maintain his sense of humor through it all. So, here’s to Charles Osborne, the hiccupping champ who turned an everyday reflex into a legendary saga, the man who hiccupped his way into history and out of it again, leaving us equal parts amused and touched. Cheers to a life full of unexpected rhythms!

Cheers 🥂 to Charles Osborne for a battle well fought

---

---

Resources Consulted

---

• https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-curious-case-of-charles-osborne-who-hiccuped-for-68-years-straight-180980232/
• https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2023/7/extreme-measures-person-with-68-year-attack-of-hiccups-took-to-try-and-stop-them
• https://brightside.me/articles/the-man-who-had-hiccups-for-68-years-straight-815974/
• https://www.sciencealert.com/the-incredible-true-story-of-the-man-who-had-hiccups-for-68-years
• https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/sci/man-hiccuped-70-years-straight.html

---

---

Credits

---

^{First Image source
Second Image Source}