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Medical Awakenings

August 31, 2008 4:39 PM

Minimally conscious people (immobile but not in a vegetative state) are being re-evaluated for degrees of consciousness many thought they never had. CNN's Anderson Cooper reports for "60 Minutes."

Awakenings: Return To Life
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by Mark_Koziel February 4, 2013 5:24 PM EST
My name is Mark Koziel and I go to college at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. We watched this inspiring story today in a Medical Ethics class on the topic of Advanced Directives. I also believe this story makes it increasingly difficult for physicians to make decisions. As some of these patients are coming out of their comas into consciousness, physicians must respect the principle of autonomy of the patient's decision. The difficulty comes in determining competence, and I believe this topic will have much debate in the future.
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by mehill4 September 4, 2008 8:37 PM EDT
My brother was in a car accident August 18, 1991. He has been in a coma for 17 years. He lives in a nursing home in Houston Texas. My mother is by his side every single day. We will not give up on him we know that he is very strong and we are willing to do whatever it takes to help him. He is on a feeding tube and does have a trac he is very alert he does follow with his eyes and will laugh when told something funny. If for some reason my mother arrives a little late he gets sad. We would really appreciate if you would please send us information on the studies or information on Dr. Schiff so that would could contact him and maybe get help. My email MEHILL1971@AOL.COM
Thank You and God Bless
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by locke051 September 4, 2008 7:41 PM EDT
I have been my mothers voice now for 3 years. Doctors have no idea what happpen to her. She was living a life as a wife, mother and memaw. Then within 6 months from her 59th birthday she was unable to make a decision, bathe or cook. I had to made the painful decision to put her in a facility that could give her 24 hour care, it was pain staking. Still with no answers, I visit every day holding her hand only to have my 63 year old mother stare at me and then stare away. She has a feeding tube, and does no more than sit, or at times we will walk her, and stare around the room. It seems like she act as though she know my voice but cant communicate back to me. Like she is shut up inside her body, unable to commuicate with the out side world. I love her so much and feel cheated because some thing robbed her from me and I didnt get to say good-bye. I pray that I might someday have her able to at least some how communicate with me. Her cat scans came back with some degedeneration of the brain but nothing to pin point a disease. Doctors say, as people get older degeneration is common.
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by mom4790 September 3, 2008 3:01 PM EDT
How do we get help for our Love ones who are there but Doctors tell us this is as good as it gets. My Husband is so there. He is just stuck. Its so sad to know he is there but can''t respond the way he wants to. Were are these Doctors that haven''t given up on our brain damaged loved ones. My Husband needs one.He is there and wants out. We are willing to try these drugs how do we get some.
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by prissyjk September 3, 2008 12:38 AM EDT
to stevemyke
- My son was in a nursing home for almost 8 years. We were there EVERY day of those years. We finally brought him home (2 yrs ago this Dec 19th) All I can say is if your son goes into a nursing facility - you will have to be his VOICE - his advocate - the adminstration doesn''t like people like us - THE PARENTS! You have to be demanding because I tried being nice and that didn''t work. Make sure he gets range of motion or some type of therapy. If he can''t move, make sure they turn him every 2 hours. You''ll have to fight for everything you want OR need. The staff turnover is ridiculous because they don''t pay them enough to care for our loved ones. I''m not trying to scare you but it''s the truth. I believe your son may be able to be evaluated for assistance as long as his injury happened before he was 22. I can''t remember the name of it - but it''s worth looking into. If that''s the case you may be able to keep him at home with attendant care. Look into Community Based Services - they may be able to help you. It''s so heartbreaking and no one understands unless they have walked in our shoes. I''m just offering some suggestions because you will learn so much along the way, the hard way... and if you know some things upfront - it''s helpful. Good Luck and I wish the best for your son. Ms Kelley of Schertz, TX
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by dory411 September 2, 2008 3:40 AM EDT
Two and half years ago my husband was a striving healthy man of 48. He was diabetic and put on the drug ACTOS. Shortly after he became somewhat distant. As the months went on he became more and more lethargic. Almost like he was sleeping all the time. Bathing became a chore and I eventually ended up being his 24 hour caregiver while attending College full time. He''d refuse help then slip away again. He''d be able to bathe but then just sit and rock on the edge of the bed with his eyes closed sometimes speaking to people who weren''t there. Sometimes he didn''t know who I was and thought I was his first wife and I was trying to kill him or hurt him. In July of this year I had to have cataract surgery and the decision was made to put him in a Nursing Home while I recovered. We had no help at home - I am the only one. Even his family gave up on him years ago. In July his internist said that Actos was a bad nasty drug and we should get him off of it right away. Within 48 hours he sat up and asked how long he had been asleep. He knew who I was, what state he lived in, and who he was but he thought it was July 2005. Since then I''ve had to do physical therapy with him at home and he is doing better yet upset at waking up to finding himself 485 pounds. When he started Actos he was 265. We''ve contacted lawyer after lawyer and no one will help us. Beware of ACTOS!
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by stevemyke September 2, 2008 2:01 AM EDT
On April 24, 2008, my 18 year old son crashed his new motorcycle the day after he bought it. He suffered a TBI. He would be a perfect candidate for the testing they discussed on this segment. We are current doing the unthinkable, putting our 18 year old boy into a nursing home. We would try anything to help him communicate. How does someone get hooked up with the researchers? Our Health Insurance Company has already decided they are done helping us bring our son back after 3 months of treatment. Andrew moans, he has some muscle ticks, He seems much more alert in just the last couple weeks. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE OF MY SON!
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by tschweiger September 1, 2008 11:10 PM EDT
I have a very good friend who has a 13 year old son who was diagnosed with encephalitis at age 3. When you look at him you can tell he wants to respond but can''t. We are hoping to try this medication and at least have Clayton respond and say the words he wants to speak.
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by prissyjk September 1, 2008 5:28 AM EDT
My son is comatose. He is now 38 yrs old. He has sleeping and waking cycles. It''ll be 10 years next month since he had his motorcycle accident. I was told he hit his head on a fire hydrant. He has TBI Traumatic Brain Injury and/or closed head injury. He cannot move or talk. He''s quadriplegic with a feeding tube and trachea. He has a medtronic baclofen pump that is programmed to administer the pain med continously all day long. He doesn''t really respond. He can hear and feel. At times I feel he understands me or maybe recognizes my voice because he''ll smile or laugh. I have not heard his voice in 10 years. Anything the doctors can come up with to help our loved ones become a little more normal is a gift from God. Thank you doctors, I just wish everyone could be a candidate to try these things.
Ms Kelley of Schertz, TX
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by eric101905 September 1, 2008 2:53 AM EDT
My name is Priscilla,i have a 32 yr old brother in a come and hes been in a coma for about 10 yrs.And watch the story of the to men is just remarkable.My family and i do all we can for him but the ambien medication is one on our minds now..god bless the family of those amazing men god knows my family and i feel what they been through.
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