Facts About Vegetative and Minimally Conscious States After Severe Brain Injury

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My father is in Vegetative Stage now...2 months of unconsciousness..he had a diabetes for many years, badly brain damage from unable to control sugar level ...I am still hoping for the miracle ...wishing for recovery ...

First of all my deepest condolences and prayers for the people and their loved ones who have had such experiences. My father aged 52 years is himself a doctor and was hit by a motorcycle while crossing a road on 6th march '14. He was immediately admitted to the ICU and after a brief examination the doctors told us that he had suffered several contusions to his brain and a hairline fracture to his skull. He was unconscious for a few weeks and it took almost 1.5 months for him to be fit enough to be taken home. The first 6 months after he came home were a nightmare for us. He just wouldn't stop shouting and would continuously be agitated throwing things, shouting, refusing to take his meds, etc. It really embarrassed us among neighbors as this would go on at late nights also. He barely slept for an hour a day and the rest of the time he would be in the state as stated above. These six months seemed to be a decade long for us and we were almost becoming hopeless for his recovery. Gradually after 6 months his state improved and he started recognizing us. He slowly became aware of his surroundings and that what had happened with him. He resumed his daily routines and started doing almost all the basic things by himself such as bathing, eating, brushing his teeth, combing his hair, taking his meds,etc. But one night almost 9 months after the accident he suffered a seizure which caused a swelling in his brain and rewinded a part of his cognitive recovery. It was later found that the doctor had forgotten to prescribe an important drug (epsulin) in the last routine visit which caused the seizure. But he recovered back to the stage he was before the seizure in a few weeks only.Today its been almost a year and he has come a long way from last year. He is now able to speak some basic words, recognize many distant relative also, and is almost aware of everything around him. Though he is still not able to remember names of any object or person. Each time we have to make him remember the name then only he could speak it. Moreover he is not yet able to read anything. Though we have sometimes seen him recognizing some famous names from the newspaper. He very keenly watches movies but we have a doubt that he fully understands them. Most of the days are peaceful but some days he would still get agitated and angry over nothing. He has changed as a person. He has become more emotionally connected with his family and often cries asking when would he be fully fit. We had neither seen nor expected in our lives anything like this before. We've suffered tremendously the past year but we thank god to have saved his life and pray everyday for his recovery. I hope this post strengthens your hopes too for the recovery of your loved ones. The most important thing to remember is that nothing but your love and care gives the strength to your loved one to recover.

Hi ,my wife is 35 and she had a bad stroke on April 1st 2014 she is currently fighting for life on life support,its been almost a year now and we just discovered that she has a huge hole in her brain, the drs said that she will never recover from this they also said to pull the plug. i refused being that god is above all,and his ways is better then ours,till this day my wife remains on life support at a nursing home,she's unable to respond to anything,just opening of her eyes but the dr says she's in a vegetative state,,,,,please pray for her and my two boys elijah n tyrefr....we are deeply saddened but we're remaining strong in god,no matter which way it goes...god is good,trust faith and believe,,,,,,

My brother, 31, had brain aneurysm in November, last year. There was massive bleeding in his brain and doctors operated and removed the bleeding. He was unconscious and He is now in vegetative state. We saw him cry and his tears. We asked him to open his eyes if he hears us. He opened his eyes. I think he knows but he cannot responds or follow command. I love my brother very much. I hope he will improve from vegetative state. As per doctors, if he stays in this state for next 6 months, it might become a permanent. I dont want to hear negative. Please pray for him. 

My daughter in law just passed away on Wednesday. She was found unconscious and not breathing the Wednesday before after suffering a seizure. She was hospitalized in nuero trauma icu. Her health directive was no artificial life support. Her life support was removed and she went to heaven surrounded by family 20 minutes later.

My sister has been in a coma for 12 days after suffering continuous seizures from end stage renal failure......dont know if recovery is possible sadly

My brother sugar had dropped to 40 and he went I to a coma after 4 days he opened his eyes he has said very few words like ouch and yes.and moves his head and arm occasionally. Will he get better? What is going on? Anybody familiar with the symptoms?

My wife of 26 years suffered an anoxic brain injury after a witnessed arrest and CPR. Hypothermic protocol followed. To make a long story short, she emerged from a coma, a vegetative state to a minimally conscious state. Maybe even better as she was able to do math flash cards, speak (simple words), follow commands, squeeze hands, wiggle toes etc. The appalling thing is that the hospital staff decided to do "nothing curative" as they basically gave up. The recommended protocols are just an illusion if you don't have big money. They moved to sedate her with morphine and "sell" me on her vegetative state. She passed away because they refused to address her underlying cardiac needs. This is such a tragedy as she was aware that she was targeted for euthanasia. I can't imagine what she was thinking as she lay dying for lack of a simple cardiac intervention. Was this an unusual experience or are anyone else experiencing this callous denial of care? I'd be glad to discuss this with anyone who would like to talk about it with me. 

        Mark Jarnot

​        505 Elmwood Ave. Apt 8H

        Buffalo, NY 14222

Send me a letter with your phone number and I will promise to call you and share my experiences and possibly help your loved one navigate these treacherous medical waters. There are things that can be done. No one but God has the ultimate answers, certainly not a doctor. If he acts like he is God ask him to forgive your sins or stop the wind. Ultimately you have to accept the outcome and embrace your loved one with unconditional love, regardless of the degree of progress made. Stay strong and don't capitulate to the hospital administrations prognosis. God calls the shots, not the accountants. Don't let your loved ones life slip away to disregard for precious human life. You have to take action to combat these well oiled death machines. God bless you and your loved one and feel free to contact me.

                                            Mark

If anyone can comment on this, please do so. My cousin appears to be in vegetative state. She was admitted and found to have Diabetes with very high blood sugar. After having been treated two days ago, and the sugar was brought under control, she lapsed into a vegetative state. Open eyes, complaining to pain. Las thing she responded to was right before they put the IV in, she said "No, no no!" and that was it. She awakens but does not respond to anyone. Any suggestion would be helpful. I had a similar experience many years ago with a blood sugar of almost 1,400, but I remained conscious throughout the ordeal. Can someone come out of this vegetative state? Thanks so much. I am going to see her tomorrow and don't know if there's anything that we can do.

My brother David has been diagnosed with ALS for a little more than a year. He showed signs of it for close to three years and no Doctor was able to figure out what was wrong, until my sister whom he had been living with kept trying to bring him to each doctor ---- finally found a doctor who recognized almost immediately that he had ALS. He has been taking medication that was made available to him only through a medical grant funding from those who have donated to the continuing research for a possible cure. He has slowed down in the progression, but without side effects.

This content is written very well. Your use of formatting when making your points makes your observations very clear and easy to understand. google

Brother had a brain tumor size of lemon. Neuro- Surgeon operated the following day after diagnosis. We went from a possible droopy eye and left side of face to a coma. Never waking up after surgery. This article helped me tremendously. We try to get all the information possible through the surgeon and now after the surgery is not as compassionate to our family or seems less confident in providing the family information. I will always seek a second opinion after all my brother and family have been through. Praying everyday to have him back to normal or that he even wakes up. This guy was ordering a pepsi an hour and 2 meals at a time the day before the surgery and now nothing.

Blessings to all of you out there with your personal family stories of pain surrounding someone you love having brain damage.

My daughter struggled with anorexia for 4 years, but as an adult no one, including her would let me help her.  At age 21, she suffered massive seizures and her brain went without oxygen for a long time, leaving her in a non-cognitive, vegetative state.  The doctors gave no hope at all.  We did stay in a sub-acute hospital for one year and finally were able to bring her to care for her at home.  

We had a what I call a miracle in that they told me she'd be bedridden for life...and after one year she could stand and take a few steps with human assistance at all times.  This has been huge is stopping her from curling and atrophying as is common with this severe of a brain injury.  However, her brain remains like a 6-month-old baby.  She is 100% helpless, cannot obey any commands, flails a lot with her arms and legs and screams a lot (while still smiling at you).  She will turn 26 this month, so we are coming up on 5 years.

What I would like to share with you other parents especially is that NO ONE has any answers but that does not mean you can't find inner peace.  It is important that we are parents, caregivers, are at peace, are calm, have joy and can still celebrate life even with this tragedy.  It is best for your child and for you.

Yes, I hope for more miracles and will always believe - we have a strong faith. BUT, I am firmly living in today accepting things as they are now and I can say I am happy and at peace, by choice.  I have my 'moments'  when I cry my guts out, yes, but day to day I have embraced this thing that happened to us 'in the blink of an eye' and I let my daughter see a peaceful, smiling mama that has only love to pour over her.  

I technically (or mentally) had to let the girl I raised, who I was so close with, go and accept to see her right now as the baby she is and just love that baby and see her sweet spirit.  It has taken time, so I do not want to paint a picture that is not realistic as we are very human.  But, life has been doable and even enjoyable (even though HARD) living this way.  And, of course every day I also have hope that it could get better.

But, I didn't want to be waiting for tomorrow to be whole again.

My prayer for each of you is that you find the tools that work for you to be the best you can to yourself and your loved one even after a tragedy has come into your life. To have anger or fear or bitterness living inside is just a killer to all and so I hope you, too, can get free to still live your life fully.

If anyone wants to correspond with me, my email is castrogiovanni007@yahoo.com.

That as sad as it is was lovely to read.my daughter is 26.and was a passenger in a car crash 13 months ago .she suffered traumatic brain injury.and is now in a nursing home in a minimal conscious state.i have to see her everyday.i feel so close to her and live in hope there maybe progress.my mind flitters from being positive and then depressed.but I won't give up on my girl.

Q, given earlier: Hw do u help someone in the vegetative state:  Read to them, something u know they wld like preferably, also some thing u like, -> u add extra umph, when u read someting u like.  #1: Short stories, maybe poetry, News articles, activities they were involved in: sports, school, church etc.  They'll 'be back', maybe not too soon, but help 'em out by trying to keep them in tune.  Been There.   written(12/4/2014)

Very informative...I pray my 29 yr old son progresses to a good recovery.  I also pray for everyone who is going through a brain injury. It has been six months since his vehicle accident.  He was diagnosed with diffuse axonal injury with multiple fractures.  I believe he may be in the minimally conscious state.  He can occasionally give a thumbs up, but doesn't lift his arms. He also looks at me slowly when I tell him to, He moves his right leg a lot...not sure if this is spasticity or not, and he has no movement on his left side.  If anyone has any advice please email me at scttethridge@yahoo.com  Praying and hoping 

Hi.my daughter aged 25 was in a car accident 13 months ago.she is in a minimal conscious state after traumatic braing injury to her left side.i visit her everyday.and do the same things daily.i videos her the other day and asked her to move her leg and she lifted it up twice.i was overwhelmed.she sensory seeks a lot with her good arm and is very strong .she has to wear a glove .I always take it off when I'm with her.she can undo a button.smooth my hair and look at me .what else can I do to help her progress.thank you .Jen.

This morning my son Asim told me that our company CEO got heart attack in Dubai but shocking news was that he went in coma. I am in Jeddah. Immediately I left for umera prayed for him and for other patients as well. May Allah almighty give them health. Ameen.

I feel so desperately bad and i pray for every patient and their families who suffer from severe TBI. My brother was in a car accident Jan. 6 2014. He is still fighting to recover from TBI. I will continue to pray for every family as well as mine. No one is alone in this world. Life is to short so while we're all here we have to appreciate each and every moment with the people we love.

My 45 year old husband of 26 years married the love of my life. He had a massive heart attack and while they worked on him for over 25min he lost blood flow to the brain. Now they give me little hope. He's in a vegetative stage. But the Dr's aren't God and my heart is hurting so bad that I can't even breathe at times. I pray for everyone going thru this because I never knew there could be so much pain. No matter I will praise God thru it all. I find my boys 25 and 20 to be my rocks along with family. Leaning on them truly helps.

This article has been very helpful for understanding the medical condition of our loved one. Thanks for sharing!

Very informative article.. My sister is 20 yes old and suffer an anoxic brain injury from the loss of oxygen. Her air ways collapsed after a week of chemotherapy from leukemia, this happened 12/23/13. Although we have heard nothing but negativity, I am believing God for a recovery in her health. She has been in a vegetative state since last December..

How do u help a vegetative patient with his recovery

My Mom is in Coma since 1st August 2014, after having the MRI Scan done we got to know the Final Diagnosis as Basilar Artery Thrombosis with Bilateral Cerebellar Infarct and Right PCA Infarct. I understand these are multiple brain clots which occur as we did not precautionary measures in regards to blood pressures , never had check up for blood pressure regularly. Please pray for my mom and advice in regards to her speedy recovery from coma.  Anand Pillay 9922617714.

My mom is in the same state, but I am confident that praying always work. Do not Fear and Trust God.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all the family and friends of people in a coma or vegetative state. My brother in law, Eric is 54 years old and he is in a permanent vegetative state after a liver transplant. He had been diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver a year ago. On his last hospital visit with an encelopathy episode (which is where ammonia backs up into his brain); he lapsed into a coma. He was transferred to another hospital to await a liver transplant. On transport he suffered a stroke , and remained in the coma state. The Doctors decided to proceed with the liver transplant as he was in a severely declining state. We asked why they would give a new liver to him when he was comatose and they said he would die without it. 

He remained in a coma after the operation. We were told he might possibly come out of it once the new liver kicked in. We noticed positive health changes almost immediately. However, he was still comatose. Then he was put on dialysis because his kidneys were failing. He had several MRI's, CT scans and other exploratory procedures. Every week there was something different that needed attention.

After a few weeks he opened his eyes. But there was no tracking or response to stimulation. Nothing really has changed in 4 months. He was transferred to a sub-acute hospital. And has had to return to the transplant hospital on subsequent occasions.

My sister and I feel he would not want to be in this condition. His family is on opposite ideals. They keep saying he wanted his liver transplant more than anything so he would be able to live a fuller life with his family. I believe life expectancy for liver transplants is only 5 years in most cases. The family keeps saying things like, "Oh...he moves his hands. He can move his head. etc. Once my sister and I played a song by the Beach Boys and we noticed a single tear in his eye. We hoped it was in response to the song which used to be one of his favorites. But we have been told he is just having normal reflexes and is not conscious of his actions. 

Eric was a champion wrestler. He was supposed to go to the Olympics the year President Carter cancelled USA involvement in the games. He has always been a loving and kind man. I know he indeed did everything possible by the book to be able to receive his liver transplant. But I can also say for sure he would not want to be in a vegetative state and unable to function. No one would.

I guess my main question is in regards to the patient's state of being. Are they in a deep sleep of nothingness? Or is their spirit caught between two worlds...one where they are in a hospital bed , unable to communicate to their loved ones and the Doctors...or are they halfway in the next dimension? I would prefer to believe Eric is in Heaven, hanging out with his Mother and his favorite dogs. 

May God Bless each one of you. You are warriors for your loved ones.

So kind of your valuable information Thx & regards

I'm 17 and a childhood friend of mine was ejected from a car while riding home from beach week.. It has only been a few days but she still hasn't woke up.. Praying for her and her family. You can do this girl.

My brother met with an accident in 2009 n since then been in a vegetative state..Been 5yrs now..draining mentally for everyone around..but we are still hoping for the best..

My brother aged 60,suffered a massive stroke and has been in a minimally conscious  state for almost a year. I am sad he is no longer who he was, no amount of medical care has helped. Our family cannot believe doctors failed to clearly explain his status for a real future. He is clearly suffering and would not want to be "Preserved" like some experiment. I think he will live in this horrible state for many years to come. It is wrong! There needs to be some way to release him from his misery.

Thanks for the article. This is really helpful. My father suffered with cardiac arrest followed by hypoxic brain injury 3 months before,now he is in vegetative state. We are waiting for miracle should happen. Doctors says it's wait and watch process and there is no treatment for hypoxic brain injury in allopathic. We started giving him ayurvedic treatment now as those doctors are very hopeful and stated that there is treatment for anoxia.

Im gonna say an angel has been by my friends side. She has been in a deep coma for 108 days, she is now moving her hands and lifting her head. I am so excited.

My Father is in vegetative state. He opens his eyes when we ask him anything. Don't understand whether he understands anything or not.............

This was veer helpful.  Thank. You

Thank you so much for all nice information about coma, recovery and  stages of

progress.

My husband had a removal of a brain tunour December 2012. Unfortunately he was taken to a ward postop and not ITU as expected following major brain op. The op was successful but the following morning was put on life support due to brain swelling. He was then rushed to theatre to have a craniotomy. He has been diagnosed as the minimally conscious patient. Unfortunately when he was transferred to our local hospital because he didn't score high on assessments he was deemed non rehabitable and I was told that he would go to a home. Through sheer determination and fight I managed to get my husband into a specialist rehab centre.He has been there a few weeks and already making progress albeit slow. I too pray for a miracle and through my journey I've seen a few so never ever give up.

I'm going threw the same thing my sons been in the hospital since january 31 and he's barly opening his eyes he was in a deep coma for about 1 month and a half with lack of oxygen to his brain the doctors said he was brain dead but he's been having movements and he knows we are there by he's side we are hanging in there but behare if bedsores my son got that from nurses not moving my son what ever doctors and nurses say to you say things back to them they don't like it your loved one is important to you and your love one can hear you and they know you are fighting for them to get better

My mom (75 yrs old) was found unconscious at home a week ago. We believe that she lay there unconscious for probably a good part of the day. The paramedics were able to give her something to kind of bring her out of it and once at the hospital we found out that her kidneys were failing due to rhabdomyolysis(break down of muscle releasing toxins into the blood stream). After many test we learned she had a small stroke. She was in and out of consciousness and was able to recognize and speak with us for brief moments. Several days later she had another stroke and she has been in a vegetative state since(4days now). Her eyes opened 5 times yesterday but did not focus and there has been slight movement but no awareness that we are there, no following of commands etc...Wed..her lung collapsed due to pneumonia and they had to place her on a ventilator. I am beside myself with worry and don't know if the movement and eye opening we are seeing is actually her trying to wake up or involuntary. I feel for all of you who are in a similar situation with loved ones and I will pray for healing for all of them.

I would read this interview real carefully if I were you:

http://www.rense.com/general44/vege.htm

Thank you for this very informative, great article!!!

My ex- husband is in a vegetative state from diabetic ketoacidosis and is currently in CCU. They will be doing an EEG on him tomorrow to see if he still has brain activity.

My daughter went into a coma from low blood sugar in her sleep, and is still unresponsive after 4 months--any one out there know of any other person ever going into a comatose state from diabetes

My husband is in a deep coma since last 25 days. It started with a flu and then an infection of meninges and then went on to become meningo encephalitis  . Doctors say they don't know the root cause or the treatment and his situation is irrecoverable. I just have faith to stick on to.waiting for a miracle.

My mother is 51 years old and she had suffered a heart attack, and cardiac arrest 6 months ago. As a result she lost oxygen to the brain and was diagnosed with anoxic brain injury. The MRI showed that the cortex of her brain is very damaged. The neurologists tell us that she will not recover from this vegetative state because her brain is too damaged. This has been so difficult on our family and our lives have been turned upside down. We love my mom so much and will do everything for her. Thank you for the informative article.
By reading this article and reading the comments of those like myself trying to understand and live each day hoping for a miracle for a loved one.My spouse had cardiac arrest 6 months ago due to a blood clot and then a heart attack. I was so hopeful the first time he opened his eyes and when a tear fell from his eye while speaking to him 4 weeks ago,but then the doctors and nurses told me it's "stimoli",I want to believe that he hears and senses his loved ones near.I have lost weight and had hair-loss remaining with him each day for hours once he was admitted to the Neurologia Ward,forgetting that the patient(our loved ones) are in professional hands and being cared for. I don't know what the future holds but I do know that with the help of my family, true friends,my prayer-group and now a therapist(psychologist)I need to get on with my life day by day. I need to face my students as a teacher without showing my intense pain, I need to start taking care of myself, to avoid becoming ill from sufferance.I pray each day for a miracle,only the Lord knows.Prayer has helped me. The question is "why me?", it really is "why not me"?.I'll remember you and your loved ones in my prayers,it doesn't matter if you are religious or not, we are experiencing so much in common ,therefore I can only say thankyou once more for this article that has given me more insight into VC.
thank you for providing such a valuable information.i am praying to God to help all of them who are going through these hard times.i am passing through the same...it feels very sad..and we are also waiting for a miracle.
was helpful !! thank you..
great article...everything needed is apt and to the point.. short and perfect...great job..thanks a lot..god bless..
This is very helpful and informative. Being there and through it now, this makes it more clear in the sea of unknowns.

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