Rose Marie Bentley from Oregon, much like many others who choose to donate their organs, wished for her body to serve a purpose after her passing. Therefore, she generously offered her body to science, allowing students at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland to dissect it for educational purposes. As the students conducted their studies over several weeks, they made a remarkable discovery: Bentley’s cadaver exhibited an unusual anomaly that she had been unaware of during her lifetime.
Despite being a mother of five and living to the age of 99, Bentley had no knowledge that all her organs were situated on the left side of her body—a condition known as situs inversus with levocardia. This rare condition means that all her internal organs, including her heart, were reversed to the left side of her body. Typically, individuals with this syndrome face significant health challenges due to the misplacement or deformity of their organs. However, Bentley’s heart was perfectly normal, and she never experienced any symptoms that would have alerted her to the anomaly.
Bentley stood out in many respects, as individuals with transposed organs typically do not surpass the age of 70. There is speculation that Bentley may hold the distinction of being the oldest known individual with situs inversus. Students at Oregon Health and Science University initially noticed the unusual arrangement of blood arteries in Bentley’s cadaver, but it was only upon further dissection that the entire class, along with anatomy teacher Cameron Walker, fully comprehended the significance of her condition.
Occurrences like this are rare but offer invaluable learning opportunities for students that they may not encounter otherwise. Throughout her life, Bentley underwent various medical procedures, including the removal of three organs, yet her condition was not documented in her medical records, except for a single notation indicating her appendix was located on the opposite side due to a past appendectomy. Had Bentley been aware of her situs inversus, her body may have been handled differently after her passing.
Medical and scientific research institutions retain the authority to decline any donated body due to medical complications or other factors, necessitating the family’s responsibility for the deceased. Louise Allee, Bentley’s daughter, expressed that her mother would likely find the situation amusing, as she always embraced her uniqueness: “My mom would think this was so cool.” Further details regarding this remarkable case can be explored in the accompanying video.