Facts About Vegetative and Minimally Conscious States After Severe Brain Injury

My prayers are with you and your family. My father is in vegetative state for more than 1 month now due to stroke with movement and no eye opening. We are still praying that he will wake up soon. Our hopes are with God

Hazel

Has anyone recover from this vegetation state if so how long did it take ...and is there anything they can do different or take

I found my mom unresponsive and not breathing 6 days ago. We did CPR until EMS came and they worked on her for about 20 min and finally got a pulse. When she got to the hospital she had pneumonia, sepsis from aspirating, and renal failure. She has had COPD for a few years now. They have the pneumonia under control but she is in a vegetative state. CT scans and EEG show normal brain function but she just will not respond to us. All the the medical issues are now under control except for the vegetative state. With all the brain scans showing normal brain activity I just don't understand why she hasn't responded yet. We are all praying that she will start to come back to us soon. It has only been almost a week so we are trying to stay positive. It is so hard to see your loved one going through this. It is so hard to understand and to know she would absolutely never want to live this way is even more difficult to deal with. If anyone can offer any advice, coping mechanisms, or just wants to share their experiences my email is kristygermany@hotmail.com. I am praying for everyone who is having to deal with this and I pray for your loved ones who are ill as well!

tissue plasminogen activator (tPA, also known as IV rtPA, given through an IV in the arm) may save your loved one from a non communicative state but it has to be given within 3-4.5 hours of a stroke MAX and your local hospital may not be able to keep it ready to go. Ask your local hospital and pharmacist if they can prepare a dose for you at all times, it cost like $3000 usd or so for one dose.  I am looking at moving to the countryside of Paraguay and trying to find out if tpa can be stocked somewhere nearby for my mother who had a stroke and may have another one, who knows.

Prayers to all of you that have loved ones with TBI or anoxic brain injuries.  The love of my life suffered an anoxic brain injury on August 23 of this year after a failed tracheotomy while we were on vacation.  The hospital wanted me to remove her from life support after one week.  I prayed to God for guidance.  I did not remove her from life support. We were able to have the tracheotomy successfully done.  She has since been medi-flight back to our home state.  She is now off the ventilator and breathing on her own.  She follows commands inconsistently, and goes through sleep awake cycles, but she is alive.  I am looking at hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a way to re-stimulate dormant brain cells.  God is a healer!!!

God Bless you! It's a devastating thing to experience in a friend or loved one

My father has been in a minimally conscious state since 4 weeks.He suffered 3 major strokes and his entire brain has gone through good amount of damage.Since last week,my father is slowly gaining consciousness and following instructions but the recovery has been very slow.He is being fed through feeding tube and also has a tracheostomy tube.He was in the critical care unit for 40 days I.am very positive and believe things would change and his condition would improve.I am trying my best to make his life as comfortable as possible. I will pray for all the other families who are going through similar pain.

My father was the innocent victim of an assault that took place on May 15th of this year. He was kicked in the back and flew face first into the concrete. He sustained traumatic brain injury, his brain stem and spinal cord were instantly disconnected upon impact. He was on a ventilator, had a trach and a feeding tube for four months. The doctors told my family and myself that he was brain dead, but he would respond to certain things as well as certain people. He wouldn't talk or squeeze our hands or anything like that, but he would cry when certain people would go see him and talk to him. When the doctors and nurses would move him a certain way, he would push back at them with his feet or reposition his leg(s) back to the position that it was moved from. Three days before my father passed away his doctor came in his room and was talking to him, trying to get a response and he looked at me and said, he's beginning to respond more than he ever has. That gave me so much more hope because he was responding to us in certain ways too, but the doctors and nurses never seemed to acknowledge it. I share my story to say this, don't give up on someone that you love no matter how bad or hopeless a situation might seem. Doctors told me that my father would die in two weeks and he hung on for four months! I spent every single day with him and talked to him, sang to him, listened to music with him, told him stories about him & I from when I was growing up, bathed him, groomed him and most importantly, prayed for him and read the Bible to him every single day in hopes that he heard and felt every act of love & kindness that came from me. I believe my presence is what kept him going. Unfortunately, my father succumbed to his injuries on September 9th of this year, but I would do it all over again if I had to. If you're in a similar situation, I encourage you to stay strong, pray and most importantly, never give up no matter what the outcome. I guarantee you that everything you do, is not done in vain. If anyone may be going through a similar situation and need prayer, words of encouragement or a friend to talk to, here is my email address: proudmommyof386@gmail.com Take care & God bless!

Struggling with life as so many others in this same position of loved ones in varying stages of consciousness. 2 years post injury and i still research, pray and look for treatments for my son. When I gave Jamie 10 mg of zolpidem he spoke and said i missed you mum. When give very large doses of fish oil this aided the swelling and allows signals to get through. My son is classed in a permanent vegitive state. He has extensive brain injury and is cared for by myself at home. He was unable to protect his airway and required constant suction. After starting madapar for Parkinson he now has swallowing control and no longer requires suction. If anyone is interested in any of the treatments I've tried or researched for Jamie my email is Daphnejean_F@hotmail.com if anyone would just like to chat or bounce ideas around I'm good for that too. If anyone is interested in seeing a man with no brain activity speaking you can go to Jamie Manuele facebook page. The EEG reports are also on his page stating distinct lack of cortical activity. Jamie had a harrowing journey these past 2 years. He has suffered many set backs and further injury to his brain twice with the over draining of his brain from a shunt/value issue resulting in his brain tearing from his skull and his head filled with blood. He has been abused by staff and neglected by hospitals but still he struggles on. When God calls my boy home i will feel relief for the end of his suffering and enormous grief for the loss of my beautiful son. However everyday is different with many different ideas and feeling. This condition has so much unresolved grief attached to it, sometimes it feels like the day before the funeral but no one has died. No one has the answers we seek as no one knows enough about the human brain. Miracles are all around us. While there is life, there is hope. Don't listen to closely to how things are supposed to progress as you'll find yourself believing this is as good as it gets. If the brain believes it, the body can do it. Don't let any one speak negative in front of your loved one. Don't let anyone define them. Never let anyone say they can't do something. They kept saying Jamie was blind. But now they relies they were wrong. He says it's still blurry but he 100% sees. I pray for your strength because this is the main component of helping your love one in progress. Daphnejean

I feel so bad for all who are suffering as my family is during this difficult time.  My father had a serious brain injury (Subarachnoid hemorrhage) almost 2 months ago.  He was on life support but slowly came off it, now he has a tract.  After about a month he was able to open his eyes but nothing else.  He doesn't move, move eyes etc.  It is so hard to see him this way as i know he would never want this. After about a week and half after the injury the doctors said they expect some "purposeful" recovery, but of course  no guarantee.  I hope he make a recovery... My prayer's are with all.

This is the most helpful thing I have ever read, have been struggling to understand all of the technical stuff about a family members brain injury for the past year and this has mad it so much clearer, thank you very much

My huband can wiggle toe follow commands. Can i obtain a power of atty. If he acknowledges thats his wish?

Thanks for providing this info I have a 21 daughter who is in pvs and i look for help only find that their is not any.

Thank you very much for the given knowledge. One of my friend is now on persistent vegetative stage. It happened due to a blood colt during a Thyroid surgery. Now its more than 2 months. I hope for the best recovery of her. Is there any thing we can do for her??

I have a sister who is in vegetative state for a month now. she has amniotic fluid embolism, a very rare case for pregnant women with the data 1:80,000 who is about to deliver their baby. after the emergency CS doctors need to remove her uterus because of continuous bleeding. after the 2 operation she was transferred to the ICU for her recovery but after 2 hours she had cardiac arrest. it was  very hard, she has 2 beautiful daughters who is waiting for her and misses her. my prayers is for all families who is experiencing the same way. always trust in the Lord coz He is the real doctor, a healer and we should always hold on His promise that He will never leave nor forsake us.

This information has been very helpful.I share the suffering all those loved ones are going through.My nephew 35 year old had a serious  head injury in Fiji when his rental truck was hit by a government vehicle on 26 april.He was airlifted to Auckland hospital on life support.After 5 days he was again air lifted to vancouver canada on life support.Four weeks ago he start breathing on his own.He is opening his eyes and started to move left arm and leg.No movement on right side According to the doctors his brain had been jolted badly.Now he is in the grace of god  sal vancouver canada

My father suffered anoxic brain injury on May 7, 2015. Its been 6 weeks and after a period of no eye opening, he opens his eyes a little more now. He grunts and says things like "uh uh" while his eyes are open. He stares at my mother and follows voices in the room with his eyes. He cries when I play certain songs. Is he in a vegetative state or is minimally conscious? Thank you all for giving me any feedback. P.S. He moves his left arm a lot, but can move his right hand. If I tickle his feet, he doesn't like it. Doctor is very negative and telling me its all reflex.

My heart goes out to these people who are suffering like me

May God will be done in our lives. My mother have been in a vegetative state since 4/8 2015 . Our family also believe in miracles. Its in God hand let miracles continue for God is the same who performed all great things long ago. Prayer also changes things also let love take you through. Family who also trust and stand on faith.

I understand your thoughts of not wanting your loved one to suffer. My husband is in a vegetative state and tomorrow hes being moved to a long-term care facility. My heart hasn't ever felt so hollow. Prayer is powerful so are miracles. I hope we both get one. Be encouraged!!! My husband's name is Cedric.

My mother had a massive stroke yesterday, she is 63. She had her first massive stroke back in 1984, an aneurysm, and survived after being comatose for over 6 months. Originally her stroke was on the right side of her brain which affected and paralyzed her left side of her body. However yesterday's stroke happened on the left side of her brain which is now affecting her rights side of her body along with her speech. Currently she is in a vegetative state, but I see it more as a coma. She has no periods of being awake or responsive to anything. I am a 34 year old single mom and I have spent the last 31 years taking care of my mom. There's nothing I wouldn't do to be able to continue caring for her. However, I just want my mom to no longer suffer or be in pain. I want my mom to be in peace. Unfortunately today I had to sign a DNR and honor her wishes...it nearly destroyed me. But at the same time my mom deserves to be at peace. Please pray for my mom, Pat. We could use all the help we can get. Thoughts and prayers to all who are going through or have gone through this.

Very good description... My Mom is in Vegetative state.. and it almost 2 months of her Brain Surgery (Subarchanoid Haemorrage).. We all are praying for her better recovery.