Declared dead but very much alive: Missouri woman tells of ‘nightmare’ ordeal

Madeline-Michelle Carthen was added to a death master file by SSA in error' but to this day she cannot revive herself

Madeline-Michelle Carthen was declared dead in the summer of 2007. The only problem? She was still very much alive.

Carthen, 52, learned she died while studying at university. A business technology student at Webster University, Carthen was accepted into an international internship program. But when she applied for financial aid to assist with expenses, the financial aid office told her that her social security number was associated with a deceased person and that she would have to withdraw immediately.