Posted on 01/24/2006 6:23:59 PM PST by Cagey
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -- The sole survivor of an explosion that killed 12 men at a West Virginia coal mine is responding to simple commands as he continues to emerge from a light coma, doctors said Tuesday.
Randal L. McCloy Jr., 26, can now follow movements with his eyes, but he remains unable to speak, Dr. Larry Roberts said.
McCloy, who survived the Jan. 2 blast and more than 41 hours of exposure to carbon monoxide, is also receiving physical therapy. He began opening his eyes last week.
One of the 12 miners may have died in the explosion, and the remaining 11 died of carbon monoxide poisoning, authorities have said. The cause of the blast remains under investigation.
McCloy may have suffered brain damage, but how much is not known, doctors have said. He continues to show slight neurological improvements each day, said Roberts, of Ruby Memorial Hospital.
McCloy's kidneys are slowly regaining function, and his heart function is back to normal.
Good thing that mine wasn't in Florida. They would have pulled his feeding tube last week.
GREAT POINT cause it is the truth!
I fear this is gonna remain a sad story. Just damn.
Could we all say a prayer for this young man, and his family!
Its remarkable he has gotten this far.
Prayer for his continued recovery
I disagree, he is young and I think with time and therapy he will come back to the person he was. He may have handicaps but I think he will be able to walk and talk again. This kind of injury can take a long time to come back from but not impossible!
Not a bad idea at all. With all that's been going on I had completely forgotten about him until I came across this story.
Prayers up!!
This is good news indeed! Prayers for his continued recovery!
I'll pray for him, too...as I have been since the accident. I hope he goes home to his family as a well-functioning man.
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