Find one, just one, article where it says he was diagnosed by a doctor as PVS for 10 years. And if you cannot, then stop comparing him to Terri.
"Joseph Fins, a professor at the Weill Cornell Medical Centre in New York, said that Mr Herbert appeared to have been in a “minimally conscious state”, rather than a “persistent vegetative state”."
-- timesonline.co.uk
"Also, he has had a feeding tube for 10 years."
Wrong again, Bucko. From the same source:
"When he regained consciousness, his speech was slurred, he was unable to eat without help and he was nearly blind. He could no longer remember how old he was or what his job had been and was unable to recognise family members."
CNN.com 5/5/05 HEALTH: "Miracle" firefighter received experimental drug treatment: In the past several years, his condition had sunk into a near persistent vegetative state, Ahmed said. When asked what he anticipates in Herbert's future, Ahmed said he expects Herbert to speak more, to walk, and TO EAT.
Ahmed is his attending physician who gave him the drug combination. I doubt that Joseph Fins has ever actually seen Mr. Herbert with his own eyes. Many articles refer to Herbert as sitting all day in his wheelchair in front of a TV that he is unable to see due to his blindness, drooling all over himself. (Doesn't seem like he could swallow food if he can't swallow saliva.) Perhaps what Fins is referring to is a feeding tube when he says "unable to eat without help."
I think it is apparent we have NOT read the same articles. Fins was never mentioned in any articles I read and most had a Buffalo byline. Also watched the press conference with his family, the MD, etc. If you need more info, you spend your time "googling" it.