Inspiring Story about Brain-Injured Patient

[theworm[$]]

This is an inspiring story! I hope we'll hear more about these medications!

16-hour burst of lucidity after 10 years

[pippadaisy[$]]

Wormie, do a search on YouTube.. I bet they have the show they were on kicking around somewhere, or possibly on the NBC site.

They did a whole thing on minimally conscious people whose conditions improved with Ambien, of all things. It was amazing, and they had the family's home video tape of the man in this article, and it was amazing and sobering at the same time... he was SOBBING at all that he'd missed. I can't imagine what that's like, to wake up realizing you are a modern-day Rip van Winkle.

But for the boys, it meant everything.

[frazzledspice]

My dear friend who left the conscious world in 2001 after suffering a ruptured brain aneurysm has had brief periods of complete lucidity while undergoing dental work under anesthesia, etc.

The drug that did it for her was Adavan. They did a trial, but she had 15 minutes of lucidity and then fell into a deep sleep for the next 24 hours, and they decided not to pursue it.

Her husband has gotten her to count and even read signs on the wall, etc. during these brief periods.

While it is hopeful, I don't know if it will ever help her come out of her minimally conscious state permanently. (I hope it will.)

But sometimes I think if she sees how much her family has suffered and almost fallen apart since her illness (and pretty much due to her illness) she would die of a broken heart.

[theworm[$]]

Pippa - thanks, I'll look for the video

Marianne - I do hope they find the right mix of drugs to help patients like your friend. This is so hard on families and loved ones.