Coma patient wakes up hours before he was to be taken off life support
Phoenix : AZ : USA | Dec 24, 2011 at 7:43 PM PST
By Jennifer Rees
A coma patient woke up only hours before he was to be taken off life support at a Phoenix hospital, reports said. Sam Schmid, the 21-year-old University of Arizona student, is now able to speak brief sentences and walk with the help of a walker.
Sam Schmid, who went into coma after a car accident in October and was left with serious head injuries, is on the road to complete recovery now. But it is going to take time. According to doctors, Schmid has a long recovery in front of him to recuperate complete speech, stability and memory aptitudes.
“Right now, IΆm feeling all right ... except for the rehabilitation, IΆm feeling pretty good,” Schmid said. “I see myself leaving the house, going to school, work, basic things like that, I just want my life to be what it used to be.”
Following his accident and brain injury, Schmid underwent brain surgery performed by Dr. Robert Spetzler at PhoenixΆs Barrow Neurological Institute, but no responsive signals were noted. Therefore, the medical staff started discussing about taking him off life support, but Spetzler suggested keeping him on life support for some more days because an MRI scan showed that he was not at a point of no hope of survival. The staff were surprised when Schmid started following instructions to hold up 2 fingers.
“They never approached me to say would I donate his organs,” said Susan Regan, SchmidΆs mother. “The people that were surrounding us were just asking about Sam, his quality of life, what Sam would want if we had to come to a difficult decision.”
According to reports, Schmid is spending his time in physical therapy and is overseen by Dr. Christina Kwasnica. She said Schmid's recovery was amazing. However, she avoided making any predictions about his complete recovery and normality.
“ItΆs so early in SamΆs injury. We have no idea where the ceiling is,” Kwasnica told the Post.
Schmid, who has studied business and was a basketball coach of the University of Arizona recreation center, has been allowed to spend Christmas day with family members, but the Post reported that he would not formally be discharged until next week.
Jennifer Rees is based in Seattle, Washington, United States of America, and is an Anchor for Allvoices.
Become the person you would want to have as a friend yourself!!!!!