Mother of Three Remains in Coma After Sudden Cardiac Arrest, Prompting Awareness of Undiagnosed Heart Conditions
- Jan 8
- 2 min read
A 33-year-old mother of three, Rachel Pedeaux, remains in a coma following a sudden cardiac arrest linked to an undiagnosed congenital heart condition, according to her family. The incident occurred the morning after Thanksgiving while Pedeaux was visiting her parents in South Florida after traveling from her home in New Orleans.
Medical evaluations later revealed that Pedeaux has Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, a disorder affecting the heart’s electrical system that can go undetected for years. The cardiac arrest resulted in a severe hypoxic brain injury, leaving her unconscious for more than a month.
Pedeaux was initially treated at South Miami Hospital and has since been transferred to Kindred Hospital in Coral Gables, a facility specializing in long-term acute care. Physicians are gradually reducing her reliance on a respirator, and her family recently shared that she has begun breathing on her own—an encouraging development in an otherwise uncertain recovery process.
Although she remains unconscious, MRI imaging shows that some areas of her brain were not affected by the injury, offering cautious optimism. Doctors anticipate that her recovery, if possible, will require extensive neurological rehabilitation alongside continued cardiac treatment.
Her parents, John and Maria Rodaz, founders of the Area Stage Theatre Company & Conservatory and well-known figures in Miami’s arts community, are spending extended time at her bedside while also caring for Pedeaux’s three young children.
The financial impact of long-term medical care has been significant. To help offset treatment and recovery costs—many of which are not covered by insurance—a family friend has organized a GoFundMe campaign to support the Rodaz family and allow them to focus on Pedeaux’s care and her children’s needs.
By sharing her story, the family hopes to raise awareness about congenital heart conditions that may remain undiagnosed until a life-threatening event occurs, emphasizing the importance of cardiac screening and early detection.