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Tim
Senior Member
since 1999-06-08
Posts 1794


0 posted 2005-02-08 09:46 PM



Back in 1984 an eighteen year old local girl was involved in a horrendous accident caused by a drunk driver.

She suffered major brain damage resulting in her being rendered comatose.

The young woman was institutionalized in a local nursing home where she has remained in a deep coma all these many years.

I prosecuted the driver and over the course of the years my victim witness coordinator stayed in touch with the mother of the victim who often spoke at D.U.I. victim impact panels showing videos of her daughter laying in a fetal position in the care facility along with photos of her daughter pre-accident.

For these many years, the victim displayed no recognition of her surroundings, no voluntary movement, made not a sound, just lay there.

The girl is now a thirty-nine year old woman.  Last week as an aide was by her side, the victim spoke.  She now converses, reads and recalls her life as an eighteen year old.

She remembers her high school classmates, her family, her pet dog, her life.

We know so little.

© Copyright 2005 Tim - All Rights Reserved
Greeneyes
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Member Rara Avis
since 2000-09-09
Posts 9903
In Your Poetic Mind
1 posted 2005-02-08 10:53 PM


Tim~

Life is SO amazing....how touching you remembered her  ..... this is a wonderful story of hope and faith.....

~~*~~
My Shadow is the only one
that walks beside me
~~**~~

Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648

2 posted 2005-02-08 11:14 PM


Indeed, we know so little.

Which is one reason this situation breaks my heart. It seems that the legal way has been cleared for this brain disabled woman to be starved to death in Florida at the behest of her husband. My heart breaks for her parents.
http://www.lifenews.com/bio685.html
http://www.terrisfight.org/


SEA
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Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 2000-01-18
Posts 22676
with you
3 posted 2005-02-08 11:46 PM


Tim,
that is so amazing, how awesome is that! Sad she lost so much time here though...
Denise, I know that story, I can't believe they are doing that...it breaks my heart as well.

Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191
Cape Cod Massachusetts USA
4 posted 2005-02-09 07:53 AM


Perhaps this story may have some effect on the Florida judicial system.  This is a wonderful story, Tim - Thank you sincerely for sharing it with us.  I know how sensitive you are about cases such as this one...
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
5 posted 2005-02-09 10:55 AM


Tim...the chills I received reading this...

once again, a miracle...

Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296
Purgatorial Incarceration
6 posted 2005-02-09 11:28 AM


phenomenal.

egowhores.com - really love yourself.

LoveBug
Deputy Moderator 5 Tours
Moderator
Member Elite
since 2000-01-08
Posts 4697

7 posted 2005-02-09 07:01 PM


An amazing story... and so so true, Denise!

Oh, make me Thine forever
And should I fainting be
Lord, let me never ever
Outlive my love for Thee

iliana
Member Patricius
since 2003-12-05
Posts 13434
USA
8 posted 2005-02-09 07:07 PM


Tim, thank you for sharing this amazing story!  I do not want a living will, that cinches it.   .....jo
Capricious
Member
since 2002-09-14
Posts 89
California, USA
9 posted 2005-02-09 07:15 PM


This gave me chills, too.

I have in the past worked as a caretaker for people in vegetative states/comas, and seen both sides of the coin - neglect and decay, or the the devastating effect on loving family members, so to see a story like this gives lifts my spirit immeasurably.

Hopefully whatever facility in which the girl was being cared for kept good medical records, specifically brain scans for comatose patients (although this would be rare, most PVS patients are maintained medically and physically and not much else).  The information gathered thus could be extremely useful in understanding the miracle and the mystery that is the human brain.

What a blessing this must be for the girl's family!

Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648

10 posted 2005-02-10 07:44 PM


It blows my mind that this is going on and that it appears that they are going to get away with it.

I certainly hope this recent happening with this other woman helps, but I don't know. Those judges seem pretty bound and determined to push this to the limit...her death by starvation.

What have we become?

Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
11 posted 2005-02-10 07:51 PM


Wow!  Tim...thanks for sharing this...sometimes there are miracles it would seem...I'm sure this girls parents and friends wanted one.  It's good they waited long enough for it to happen.  
Huan Yi
Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688
Waukegan
12 posted 2005-02-10 09:11 PM




“She now converses, reads and recalls her life as an eighteen year old.”

So she experienced no other existence in the coma years?  What does
that bode in all our futures?

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