Doc1647545523 Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 A type of "Locked-In Syndrome," this paralysis left this young man so completely paralyzed that he was believed to be in a coma, essentially what most people would call a "vegetable." But he was conscious, aware, the whole 23 years but unable to communicate in any way. A diagnosis missed repeatedly by his numerous doctors. I can't imagine the nightmare this must have been for him. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/belgium/6632518/Conscious-man-in-coma-for-23-years.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaplay1647545503 Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 I dont even want to read it. That sounds horrible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex L. Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 I wonder how common this kind of thing is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc1647545523 Posted November 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 In the U.S., perhaps a few thousand cases a year that are recognized. Who knows how many are not correctly diagnosed? Here is a reference to some notable cases: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locked-in_syndrome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTQ B4U Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 I see where he's "communicating" and reading, but I wonder how he'll progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc1647545523 Posted November 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 It sounds as though he's making some progress--a miracle considering the therapy started 23 years later than it should have. The Wikipedia link above mentions some high tech devices tailored to aid people with this condition. I believe the first few hundred words I'd type out would be words directed at my idiot doctors who missed the diagnosis ..... words you wouldn't find in the Bible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Cranium Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 I'm surprised after all that time he would not have gone insane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sol740 Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 That's so fucking sad I don't know what to say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KillJoy Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 I saw this earlier on Yahoo..... FUCK THAT! I would rather be dead.... KillJoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorne Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 I'm with killjoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oh8sti Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 i heard about this, makes me want to punch the doctors involved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unfunnyryan Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 (edited) Its like Johnny Got His Gun, but 23 years longer. Thats pretty terrible. Laying there with no way to express you are mentally alive, for longer than I've been alive. Wow. Edited November 24, 2009 by unfunnyryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morabu Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 that's sad as fuck, i would have went insane. it makes me wonder how many people are out there right now with this condition, and how many people we've killed while being in that state. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Main3s Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 i heard about this, makes me want to punch the doctors involved. You can't you're paralyzed remember! And yeah that would suck. Because you know his parents sat in there and talked to him. Imagine what he must have heard, we love you, we miss you. Maybe they confessed shit to him, who knows 23 years is a long ass time. What the doctors must have talked about in front of him, not knowing that he could hear it all. I mean, WOW… Then think about the conversations on whether or not to pull the plug. “Oh he can’t hear us doc, I don’t want my child to go through that, lets just end it”… That’s some crazy shit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRed05 Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 Terrible. He can still breath on his own right? Could he have not tried to communicate by breathing faster/louder/deeper/harder? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg1647545532 Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 If you're bored and interested, a member of another forum I'm on has locked-in syndrome from a stroke 10 years ago. Here's a thread where he takes questions about his condition/life: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=539322 I had no idea LIS existed until I saw that thread. The fact that he can type with his eyes and still be a part of the world via the internet is pretty incredible. I can't imagine suffering through that even a decade ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRed05 Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 ^Just looking at his name on there, looks like he has a sense of humor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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