Sarah's Story

(CBS)  Sarah Scantlin's case is one of those medical miracles that takes all of us by surprise, and forces some hard questions, like what is consciousness? And can the brain rewire itself after traumatic injury?

After following Sarah's story for close to two years, we are just beginning to find out, reports CBS News The Early Show national correspondent Tracy Smith.

The daughter of a proud Midwestern family, her life at 18 was filled with goose bumps and laughter and promise. But one night in 1984, just after midnight, a drunk driver hit Sarah and threw her into the path of a second car which struck her directly in the head.

Her brain was injured so severely Sarah should have died over 2 decades ago, but did not.

"They never tell you what the prognosis is for a head injury," said Sarah's mother, Betsy Scantlin.

"The brain injury is so severe that the daughter you had is gone," said James Scantlin, Sarah's dad. "It's been destroyed."

Sarah lay motionless for several weeks. When her eyes opened she did not seem awake, her expression blank. Not awake, not asleep. Days led to weeks and to months and the years slowly rolled on.

Then 20 years later, in early 2005 …

"Suddenly the phone rings one day," James Scantlin recalls. "Oh boy, that was something."

"She said 'It's Sarah,' and I said 'It's Sarah?'" Sarah's brother Jim Scantlin said. "And she said 'Hello!,' and I just went numb."

After 2 decades at life's edge, Sarah was talking.

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TIME: The Mystery of Consciousness
TIME: How The Brain Rewires Itself
TIME: The Power Of Hope

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But what had suddenly enabled her to speak? And where had she been for 20 years?

No one knows for sure, but looking back, there were clues along the way.

"As I'm walking around the room she would still keep her eyes on me, watching what I was doing," said Jennifer Trammell, Sarah's nurse for 20 years.

At year 14, Sarah began to scream, especially when people left her.

"She yelled at me the whole way out," said Jim Scantlin. "So I could hear her all the way out the door."

Sarah would yell out for six more years.

"It took her that long to try to get out even one word," Trammell said.

"I did feel that there was some increased activity going on within her mind," noted Dr. Brad Scheel, Sarah's doctor.

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[cgrundmeyer]

Sarah, you've given us more hope. Our daughter Jennifer had a severe brain injury in 1995, I pray every day she will talk someday. Great, God Bless you.

[liz19792006]

For Sarah way to go honey you keep on trying....And for SLMaxwell you just keep trying as well your daughter will see how much you love her and she will not give up neither...and that goes for all of you never give-up....

[twin66-2009]

SARAH YOU GO GIRL!I AM PROUD OF YOU.YOU KEEP TRYING TO DO THINGS AND LET GOD HANDLE THE REST!!!

[catt42701]

I told a family that had a severly brain damaged daughter once to talk to her all the time, exercise her limbs, put high top tennis shoes on her feet to prevent foot drop, play her favorite music and favorite TV shoes. She got better, able to walk with help and able to communicate. With excellent care and communication they can bet better but it takes work, committed long term work by everyone in contact with that person.

[twin66-2009]

I am very excited for Sarah's family and for her. My granddaughter was diagnosed with severe cerebral atrophy about 18 months ago, and we were told that she would never do anything for herself. She is only 2. Now she can sit up for a few minutes by herself, and she understands most of what you tell her to do (simple tasks) she has begun to yell out just like Sarah. That is the most encouraging thing I have heard in a long time. Sarah keep up the hard work. You and my granddaughter are both a true miracle.

[britthawkey]

I am happy for her family. They have their daughter and sister back, but the whole fact of the matter is what is Sarah going to do, how is her mind and body going to react when she finally does come through with the connection that she is not 18, she is 40. I would be more worried about her mind set for that situation then in her mind set of holding a conversation w her about boys she used to like. I can understand and am truly happy for her family but at the same time think about tomorrow too.

[teeus]

"I'm really curious about those women with prostate cancer. "

Bwah. No fair making me choke on my soda at work.

Good catch.

[godofredo29]

Did anyone catch this line in Eve Conant's Newsweek article on the gender gap in cancer deaths? "While both genders saw dramatic declines in deaths attributed to three major cancers%u2014breast, prostate and colorectal...." I'm really curious about those women with prostate cancer.

[getserious1]

mgpm: There is a HUGE difference between this case and that of Terry S. In this case, there was evidence of brain activity, but none in Terry's case for years and years. The autopsy of Terry clearly showed that her brain had been destroyed and would never been able to recover such as in Sarah's case. These two are not related. The tragedy in Terry's case wasn't that she was finally allowed to die, but that it took so long to be allowed in the first place.

[matt2h]

The editing on this article is atrocious.