Posted on 03/07/2007 7:50:20 AM PST by OB1kNOb
Doctors call it a miracle. A Southern Colorado woman was in a vegetative state for more than six years, but now, she's talking for the first time. She spoke exclusively to 11 News.
Christa Lilly had a heart attack then a stroke. That's the last thing she remembers. It was November of 2000, when Lilly slipped into a vegetative state, which is essentially like a coma, but with the eyes open. Lilly was unconscious and unaware of her surroundings. Now, for the first time in six and a half years, she's awake, alert, and talking. "I think it's wonderful. It makes me so happy," Lilly tells us.
The last time Lilly was aware of the world around her, Bill Clinton was in office and the September 11th attacks hadn't even happened. Lilly was also surprised to find out her youngest daughter is now 12. "It's kinda exciting," Chelcy says. Shes Christas daughter. And she's also a grandmother of three, that's new too. "Seeing her talking," Latiana says, is the greatest gift of all. She's 6-years-old and the oldest of the grandchildren.
To come back out of it... God is good," Minnie Smith, Lillys mother, says. She has been taking care of her all these years. She says this past Sunday, her prayers were answered. "Every morning, I always check on her when I wake up, before I go to the bathroom. I always say, Hi baby, how are you doing? She said, I'm fine and that's when I knew she was awake." A two-word answer that changed everything.
Lilly says her biggest frustration is learning how to talk again. "I've been eating cake." Eating is no problem for this woman, who had been kept alive by a feeding tube.
This is a miracle, Lilly's neurologist, Dr. Randall Bjork, tells us. He checked to see her how her brain is functioning. He says he's as surprised as everyone else. "This is all mystical and I can't explain it."
Uttering her first sentences in more than 6 years, Christa has a lot of catching up to do.
Lilly's mom says her daughter has awakened 4 other times in the past, but not completely, not like this. There's a chance Lilly could slip back into her vegetative state, but the family is hoping she's back for good.
For one who had a heart attack, stroke, and 6 year coma, she looks great. Praise the Lord. God IS good.
"And I feel so refreshed."
Miracles can and do happen.
Did she take the election of Bush that bad? ;)
As long as you don't suffer brain cell damage, it is very possible to recover. My uncle did after about 2 years in a veg state.
yes they do everyday
They could have starved her to death YEARS ago.
God Bless Teri Schiavo....
As Terri Schiavo lies in her grave.
Good thing she didn't have Terry Schavio's judge. She would've been starved to death, mercifully of course. < / sarcasm >
I hope she didn't own any internet stocks. She's not going to like it.
But, but...Michael Schiavo, and Greer, and Wolfson all told us this kind of thing could never happen with Terri. So they killed her.
They laughed at her when she made that World Series bet on the Red Sox.
God bless her and her loving family.
She bet against my Cardinals?
Seriously, this is a great story.
For this woman, I'm glad and hope she stays awake and continues with her life!
However, am I the only one that snickered when I read that she "went into a vegetative state in November 2000" and thought "yeah...so did everyone who voted for Gore..."
God is great and life is precious. No further explanation is needed.
God bless Terri.
ED Hill just discussed this on her Fox News program.
I don't think she has a grave.
He had her cremated. Against her parents wishes. May his soul be damned.
I stand corrected.
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