Posted on 09/11/2006 8:17:41 PM PDT by aculeus
We have always been told there is no recovery from persistent vegetative state - doctors can only make a sufferer's last days as painless as possible. But is that really the truth? Across three continents, severely brain-damaged patients are awake and talking after taking ... a sleeping pill. And no one is more baffled than the GP who made the breakthrough. Steve Boggan witnesses these 'strange and wonderful' rebirths
For three years, Riaan Bolton has lain motionless, his eyes open but unseeing. After a devastating car crash doctors said he would never again see or speak or hear. Now his mother, Johanna, dissolves a pill in a little water on a teaspoon and forces it gently into his mouth. Within half an hour, as if a switch has been flicked in his brain, Riaan looks around his home in the South African town of Kimberley and says, "Hello." Shortly after his accident, Johanna had turned down the option of letting him die.
Three hundred miles away, Louis Viljoen, a young man who had once been cruelly described by a doctor as "a cabbage", greets me with a mischievous smile and a streetwise four-move handshake. Until he took the pill, he too was supposed to be in what doctors call a persistent vegetative state.
Across the Atlantic in the United States, George Melendez, who is also brain-damaged, has lain twitching and moaning as if in agony for years, causing his parents unbearable grief. He, too, is given this little tablet and again, it's as if a light comes on. His father asks him if he is, indeed, in pain. "No," George smiles, and his family burst into tears.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
Don't bet on it !
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1823519,00.html
Also the following, along the lines of what I remember reading recently; testosterone blockers appear to help some very early symptoms of autism, too:
Two preliminary studies have linked lower neuron density in the amygdala with autism. It is unclear whether this could be a cause or an effect of the condition. It is postulated that this physical difference may directly lead to symptoms of increased anxiety and nervousness, and indirectly (through some unknown mechanism) to poor social skills.
BTW, haven't exchanged with you in a long time. Hope all is well with you and yours.
I'm sure the Schindlers would beg to differ.....
OK -- I have quickly read through the thread.
You people need to get a grip and stop the personal attacks.
I happen to know Hildy in person and I saw first hand the loving care she gave to her bed ridden mom.
Then why won't you give other families the same opportunity to make their own decisions?
Ridiculous; unlike some of you, they have compassion for their loved one and don't enjoy seeing them suffer.
Very interesting. Anecdotal evidence from a friend of the family:
An older gentleman (late 70's?) who has been a friend of the family for quite some time came down with Alzheimer's 3-4 years ago. He was a smart, vibrant man (a lawyer) who loved to tell stories. Aside from his numerical age, you couldn't tell he was a young man. Very quickly though, the Alzheimer's damaged him. Not to the "drooling invalid" state, but he was basically incapable of taking care of himself.
However, the found that when he took Ambien (at least, I'm 90% sure it was Ambien), the next day he was remarkably lucid. Very near his old self, I'm told. They discovered this purely by accident, and after a few occurences of this, reported it to their doctor.
Haven't heard any news since (maybe a year or so) but it's interesting to read about this. Sounds like there's some sort of real story here.
I don't care what you think of me.
And I sure as hell don't need you critiquing my posting habits at FR.
It hasn't as much to do with age as with response to this treatment. Those who don't respond have probably run out of time, at least insofar as medical science has progressed. Those who do respond obviously have some time left. They are contributing to medicine when they tell the doctors what was going on when they couldn't communicate. And they can make known what they do or do not want done to prolong their lives. How is this a bad thing?
As to the price tag, when did disabled people become less valuable than violent criminals who crowd the prisons?
You just love being nasty, must be the highlight of your day to come on FR and insult people.
Here's to your ill health and untimely demise...
Then you can preach to me.
You couldn't be more wrong about Hildy and you wouldn't dare say that to her face or to mine..
And what is it that makes your day, being pious and judgmental?
I have a feeling I can correct my behavior; I doubt you even want to.
I didn't see that one... I didn't say it and it wasn't right for anyone to say such a thing.
Oh and BTW I'm not preaching... just stating an observation.
I interview Terri Schiavo's parent's on Monday on radio.I talked with Mary today.I lost my beautiful baby Ed-he was so handsome- on Aug 2 and my sister who went into cardiac arrest and was brain dead Aug 19th.Father was with us when my sister went to God.Her husband is a multi-millionaire-stocks from Mom and Dad.He said I don't want to cut her loose.I was there and my sister was gone but I told Harry-Go for it.He let her go the next day.She could only take 2 breaths by herself in 1 minute,her name is Charleen our sexy redhead.
You wouldn't have to worry about that if you weren't a nanny government hugging loon...
Enjoy your timeout. Richly deserved.
Someone on this thread wished me an untimely demise, yet you single me out as coming here to insult people.
IT WAS IN THE POST YOU JUMPED ME ABOUT.
Selective vision anyone?
Triggerhippie-This account has been banned or suspended.
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