Comments on: Awakenings: Return To Life

Some Minimally Conscious People Are Actually Re-Awakening Thanks To Drug Therapies

[melirob]

I am currently going through the same situation with my mother. She had a cardiac arrest during simple bunion surgery and had a anoxic brain injury. We have received no help from doctors and no information on what type of state she is in or what caused the cardiac arrest. We were just asked to pull the "plug". We said no. She was perfectly healthy with no heart problems and went in for a "simple" 45 minute out-patient surgery. My mother is now in a nursing home because we are unable to take care of her 24 hours a day. Our family is currently paying for this ourselves with little to no help from anyone. My mother retired 4 months before this happened after working two jobs most of her life. I know life is not fair but no one even seems to even care. I would appreciate any help or advice.

[rickcraw1]

My dad has been diagnosed with FTD Dementia. Has anyone seen any improvements in such patients with Ambien? I am just wanting to know if this has been tried with these patients and what the outcomes were. Please e-mail me if you have any information on this at: [e-mail]

[apekarski]

My brother suffered a mild stroke on Jan 2, 2007. Three days later he was flown to another hospital. He regained his feeling and was making jokes. That evening he was operated on where they performed a cranionitimy. He never woke up. Dr.''s told us to find a nursing home he will be like this for the rest of his life. Jimmy lives with us at home and I care for him. Jimmy has beaten every odd. I refuse to give up. He will be doing the trial for ambien in the next couple of weeks. Next year he will be given the brain pacemaker. Jimmy is a fighter and now is 44 years old. Dr.''s only know very little about the brain. There is so much to learn. And he has never given up. We will continue to try all trials that he may be a candidate for. The last thing he said to me before he went under was take care of my dog and DONT LET ME DIE. He is my hero and he is living because this is his will. We are hoping that he may be that percent that makes the difference. He is a miracle.
Alicia

[vr666dub]

My dad had recently got sick and is now in a nursing home. They tell me and they write in the nurse sheet that he is un responive. I had always had hope and when im there there are days when he is more alert and wants to talk. I have try to give him physical therapy cause they say he dosent follow comands. If there is anyway to get him intouch with a trial or study that the drug company is doing or the doctor. Please email me at [e-mail]

[vr666dub]

My dad had recently got sick and is now in a nursing home. They tell me and they write in the nurse sheet that he is un responive. I had always had hope and when im there there are days when he is more alert and wants to talk. I have try to give him physical therapy cause they say he dosent follow comands. If there is any

[gabby831]

A dear friend sustained brain damage due to bacterial meningitis one month ago. She is showing signs, finally, of cognizance although the docs said she may not have gotten better than her non responsive state. Unfortunately, she is being evaluated now by docs who haven''t bothered to SEE HER FOR 3 WEEKS. These docs will decide her future. As in, brain injury rehab or nursing home. This decision after only 5 weeks. I would love to find a forward thinking doctor in this country of ours. Malpractice fears? Who knows. I hope it''s not lack of empathy. Why are the doctors in major medical teaching hospitals so determinedly ignorant? All I can say is do not give up on your loved ones. Have faith, no matter what you believe in. Have faith in you and them. Good luck to you all.

[djwencka]

This is Donna''s(&Karen''s)mom, Elly.I hope CBS isn''t going to END their story with 60 Mins.11/25. Just another story? No follow-up? No help for those in min.conscious state? Totally frustrating to people who are hoping upon hope for help with loved ones'' brain injuries. Look at all the comments in one day!Where are our medical leaders in SOLVING these problems?Or the govt in coordinating efforts&help for caregivers who get NO HELP? Initially, for us,it was all about(the lack of)money/insurance. Diagnose PVS;no rehab then (told to me by Terri Schiavo''s mother)since no$$$/insurance. How often has that happened?not just us surely. We need NATIONAL HEALTH CARE like Europe - not like 3rd world which we have!

[djwencka]

How do I get my sister Karen help? She responds to Ambien. E-mail me at [e-mail]

[djwencka]

My sister suffered a heart attack age 46 almost 3 years ago and suffered severe anoxic brain injury. We were told she would never wake up that she was Just like Terri Schiavo by more than one of her doctors. After 3 1/2 months in the hospital and being diagnosed PVS After about 1 month of no response at all from Karen she began to respond to me.I would try all kinds of things to get her to respond.Finally I tied a balloon to Karen''s big toe and asked her to move her toe and she did on my command!She wasn''t focusing her eyes yet but she did hear me.I knew then Karen was there and that the doctors would now have to fight about pulling Karen''s so called PLUG.The doctors were trying to get us to agree to that from day 1.Karen did start to respond and speak. She also regained her sight and is totally aware now.The doctors were forced to change her diagnosis to ABI Anoxic Brain Injury.That was not easily done by the way. Well we took Karen home after the hospital refused to put her into their Brain injury rehab program that was onsite!We could not believe that someone returns from PVS and sorry no rehab.She is bedridden we care for her 24/7.We started to give Karen Ambien after we saw the story about George about 6 months ago.We have no idea what dose she needs.Karen responds to 5mg''s of Ambien after about five minutes she can speak better move better.I am scared to give her any more.If anyone can help me please e-mail me at [e-mail]

[todysue]

I too am extremley interested in knowing more about how Ambien affects the brain. I have a very good friend whos daughter will undergo testing for the next few days with Ambien and Placebo. Good luck to you all. I will pray that this will afford us a miracle for Christmas!

[dlynn14]

My brother was in a car accident that left him in a minimally conscious state for the last seven years. We had done everything to hepl him. We have now started play for him healing music. He really seems to be responing to it. But this story has put new hope in my family''s hearts. He trail us with his eyes and blink yes or no to questions. He also makes noises some times. He has been through so many infections but he always seems to get through it with heart. He is my hero and he is the reason I myself have decided to go into medicine. I would love to have information on this research and on who to contacted to help my brother.

[jccindy1]

This is an awesome show, my son has been in a nursing home for 5 years now with a brain injury from being hit by a drunk driver while walking, I have never given up hope that some day there might be something that would help him, he can point his fingers and has certain ones for certain people, I want to thank 60 Minutes for the information and I am in hopes that I can get his doctor''s to take a look at this. Thanks again for this information

[hope4hopeles]

There is hope AND it is good to see the media portray this perspective.
My mother, five years ago was in a car accident and had a TBI- she is still in a minimally conscious state, but still smiles at my Dad''s silliness, and when she hears and sees friends and family she has not seen for awhile. She also tracks with her eyes and will lokk right at us when we talk to her occassionally. She lives at home, where my Dad, me and my three sisters, and her friends help care for her.
As far as those that discourage keeping people like my Mom alive- sorry to hear feel that way. I could not disagree more and don''t believe you can really say that you can speak for all situacions especially when you have never first hand seen the hope in the situacions- it is there if you look for it.
For those that know the experience first hand- there is hope, you don''t always find it in the places were you think it may be.
Our family will try the ambien and getting in touch with different doctors, but do not place all of our hope in that alone.
Good luck to all of those trying it. It is good to know there are others who know what my family has and does go through. Thank you 60 minutes for the enlightening perspective and information.

[kdlatson]

I would like to first say thank you to all of you out there who saw the segment and saw it for what it is...a miracle. Pat is a wonderful woman and an adoring mother! George is and always was a wonderful God fearing man with so much to offer the world! I have been in love with him since I was 17, and know that there will never be another man like him! To those of you who try to dig too deep into the segment and say things like Pat is just giving George drugs and ridiculous things of that nature should know that first of all, the ambien was PRESCRIBED by a doctor so that George could rest at night, the effects he received were found after it was given for that purpose. As for increasing his dosage, yes, that was done by a doctor too! Hello, people!!! Get a grip, when segments like this are aired there is SO MUCH that is not! The cameras followed George and his family for FIVE DAYS! The interview with Anderson Cooper was about 2 hours! Is that what you saw on tv...obviously not! You have to watch it and see what is meant to be portrayed...the MIRACLE George has received, NOT the *** that idiots pull out to try to be funny!!! Imagine yourself in the same situation...this is real life, and people have feelings! Again, though, thank you to all of you who are praying for George and his family, and I hope that the people who saw this for what it is also receive the miracles that they are looking for!

[jenewing1]

This August my fiance Waylon had suffered a massive heart attack, which left him in a comma for a week and then other health problems began. He started having seizure''s and high blood pressure and a high pulse. He was in and out of the icu. The doctor''s took cat-scans and eeg''s when we got the result''s of the eeg''s the doctor told us that most of the anoxic brain damage was suffered in the front part of his brain. They told us that Waylon would never get the trac or the feed tube out and that he would have to live the rest of his life out in a hospital type atmosphere. Now mind you he''s only 26 year''s old. We don''t know why he had the heart attack we just know that he did. Waylon was sent to a remarkable hospital in Dayton Ohio called Kindred and the doctor''s there started working with Waylon''s problems not his symptom''s like the previous hospital. They have gotten his seizure''s, blood pressure and pulse under control. Early november Waylon got the trac out and we got to bring him home on November the 9th. He is doing very well, but still cannot communicate with us or can he move any of his body. His sister called us Sunday November 25th and told us about the special 60 minute''s showed about the mother and her son with the Ambien. We are gonna try it and see how it work''s.

[rocmax56]

I was called today and told about this story. My son had a car accident that took my mothers life and left my son in this semi coma state. I wanted to know exactly what state this Dr. Schiff to see if my son is a candidate for this type of treatment. Also, if there is anyway possible to reach this Mr. Flores, she has proven to be a strong, patient, and honorable mother. Amoung all of us that have been suffering and seeing our loved ones in this condition. My son is my only child, and I live in hope that God will grant him a miracle and bring him back to us, this is my prayer each and every day.

So, if anyone can please has any information concerning this doctor please send to [e-mail]

God bless you

[denn034]

This is a good development. Here''s hoping that "drug therapy" doesn''t replace one problem with another as has been the case with other drugs recently.

[lovelyaddy]

My father suffer a sever brain damage 18 months ago due to malaria. I was told by the doctors that he is in a vegetated state. I was told that he will spend his rest of his life that way. My fathers turn 50 years old last July 4th. I beg the god everyday for some kind of miracle. When I saw this piece, I ask myself if I could be able to her my dad say my name one last time or even see his first grandson. I will try to contact the doctors and see if there is a miracle for him. My father has never been sick to the point that he would be admitted into the hospital. From my knowledge this is his first illness that toke him away from us. It is had to visit him at the Nursing home. I drive from Philadelphia Pa every weekend to see my father in New York. But I am hoping that one day he will wake up and see our faces.

[usnocky]

This is an amazing story. I have a dad who was diagnosed this past March as having CJD, Cruetzfeldt-Jakobs Disease, an extremely rare brain disease that is fatal. I am not sure if his state would be consisdered vegetative or partially conscious. He cannot speak, or walk but he can still eat a little and swallow. He eats a lot of food that is blended. Just this morning I was praying to God for some miracle and my friend and sister-in-law alerted me to this segment of 60 minutes. What are the chances that this could work for my Dad. I am emailing his doctor right now as well as the doctor from Cornell. THANK YOU!!

[perm3800]

The problem with such stories is expressed in many of the comments. Most families really do not understand the diagnoses given them and, as noted in the article, 20-40% of diagnoses in neurology cases may be wrong. The lady with the child who has brain stem shearing obviously does not understand her child''s diagnosis (although, with a still-breathing child, brain stem shearing seems an unlikely diagnosis.) The woman with the severely disabled son with hydrocephaly and mutliple strokes and a major seizure also doesn''t understand the story or her son''s diagnosis.

Ambien works only where the damage to the brain is electrical. When the damage is structural (as in the child with the cut brain stem or the young man with the blood-starved brain areas from repeated strokes,) Ambien does not work.

For the poor lady whose child has a sheared brain stem: depending on what other damage happened, your child may, in fact, have higher brain function but without the physical connection between the brain and the body that is the brain stem, there is no way to express those functions. While the eyes directly link into the brain, the muscles that operate them do not. Keep talking to your child, keep stimulating your child through vision, sound and taste but realize that there is no way for your child to respond. Providing the stimulation will help reduce the boredom of being trapped in your head (possibly quite literally in this child''s case.)