Coma

[kdg]

on march 6 2008, at 5:30 am, my 59 year old father was hit in his vehicle by a drunk driver going way over the legal speed limit. My dad is now in a coma, and at the time of this letter, which is on the 16 of march 2008, 10 days later, he hasn't had any change. The doctors have found him to be between a 2.5-3 for the level of coma. They also say that there is little chance of him waking up now. They have done ct scans, and they say his level of coma does not match his scans, so he must have severe damage at the cellular level. I don't question the doctors, but I would like to hear from other people who have been through this, either a family member, or an actual former coma patient. We are now in the limbe stage, where he could live for hours, days, weeks, months, or years. He is "functioning" without life support, but as of now, they are still supporting his breathing if he gets tired.

[Swampfox]

Hi,

Very sorry to hear of your Dad being hurt this bad. How is he today?

Has anyone attempted to do sensory stimulation? Scents, music (even stuff he hates or loves), touch, and movement? Yeah! Movement! I'm trying to remember what the name of the PT we did on a teen who was brain damaged from a car accident years ago but it took 5 people - one moving the head from side to side, one on each limb and moving as if "swimming". The only other thing I can think of is if they can find a motor assisted reciprocal stationary cycle. It pretty much does exactly what we were doing without the head movement (you don't move your head from side to side when crawling or walking around, now do you? But your right arm and left leg / left arm and right leg move at the same time - that's reciprocal motion)

Once you have tried everything, remember to hand it over to someone more powerful than the Doctors.
Pray for the best in all things!

[kdg]

thanks for the note, swampfox. Today, march 23, easter sunday 2008, the doctors have sent him to the hospital back in his home city, it's a hospital that while closer to family, is not as forward thinking as I would like, and I'm 14 hours drive away. The doctors have told my brother who lives there to get him a radio, and I think their putting his after shave on him, but I'm not really sure of the things the doctors are trying right now. The specialists from the first hospital said he only reacted to "deep" pain, and they didn't like to do that to him very often. I think this is one reason they don't hold out much hope for him at this time, although he's a tough old bird LOL. One of the first firefighters on the site told one of my uncles he say the damage to the dash from my dad's head, and he said it was bad. The guy who hit my dad is Robert Wayne Lessoway, and they did have some pictures on the web of my dad's truck, he's being charged with about 8 offences. The doctors are distant, but say it's amazing he's still holding on. One thing my mom has suggested is to tape family members at home, then play it for him, maybe something more normal will reach a part of him. I just remembered something, my dad has VERY ticklish feet, and on the 14th, my son tickled his feet, I know, how awful, he couldn't even yell at us LOL, but he did jerk his head, maybe it was something. I hope so.

[Swampfox]

KDG,

You don't need to be complacent about your Dad's treatment - you can be very active - so can your family. Find some way to get them to give him the opportunity for reciprocal full range of motion. Can you sleep when you are exercising?

They aren't doing enough stimulation. It doesn't have to br things he likes. What is his favorite scent?

Talking to him and asking him questions will help as well. That tickling idea isn't bad! and yeah, a bit mean - don't do it too much. But you need to get jim up and moving! Does he like football? Is there anything that would get him reacting?

A friend of mine who had been in a deep coma said that it was like being in a deep sleep and he couldn't wake up even though he wanted to. His girlfriend could tell he was reacting because his monitor would go wacko when she walked in the room. Not at any other time. He said that he could hear long before he could open his eyes.

Whatever you do get him UP and moving. Don't let him lay there!

[kdg]

Thank you for all the advice, but we don't need anything now, as my dad passed away last night, march 24 at about 8:30pm. I was told it was peaceful, he just quit breathing. Can't type much right now, I just wanted to say thank's.

Rhonda.

[Swampfox]

Bless your heart! You know that all of us are with you at this time. Remember the good things and some of the more aggravating.

My Uncle told about his very beautiful wife who was very meticulous with her hair, nails, and makeup. When they were newlyweds they had invited their Polo going pals to come over for a cookout at their place afterwards. Since my uncle always drove he drew out a map for his beloved wife to get to the Polo field. After the match all the friends showed up and the house but hours passed before his wife did. She was really ticked with him for making her a map to get TO the Polo match but not one to get back home! (And, no! Don't go there! She was a red-head)