Fred Derf Veteran Posted May 3, 2005 Veteran Share Posted May 3, 2005 May 3, 2005. 10:34 AM Brain-damaged firefighter recovers ? 10 years later ASSOCIATED PRESS ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. ? Ten years after a firefighter was left brain-damaged and mostly mute following a 1995 roof collapse, he did something that shocked his family and doctors: He perked up. "I want to talk to my wife," Donald Herbert said out of the blue on Saturday. Staff members of the nursing home where he has lived for more than seven years rushed to get Linda Herbert on the telephone. It was the first of many conversations the 44-year-old patient had with his wife, four sons and other family and friends since, said Herbert's uncle, Simon Manka. "How long have I been away?" Herbert asked. "We told him almost 10 years," the uncle said. "He thought it was only three months." Herbert was fighting a house fire Dec. 29, 1995, when the roof collapsed, burying him under debris. After going without air for several minutes, Herbert was comatose for 2-1/2 months and has undergone therapy ever since. News accounts in the days and years after his injury describe Herbert as blind and with little, if any, memory. Video shows him receiving physical therapy but apparently unable to communicate and with little awareness of his surroundings. Manka declined to discuss his nephew's current condition, or whether the apparent progress was continuing. The family is seeking privacy while doctors evaluated Herbert, he said. "He's resting comfortably," the uncle said. As word of Herbert's progress spread, a steady stream of visitors arrived at the Father Baker Manor nursing home in this Buffalo suburb. "He stayed up till early morning talking with his boys and catching up on what they've been doing over the last several years," firefighter Anthony Liberatore told WIVB-TV. Herbert's sons were 14, 13, 11 and 3 when he was injured. Staff members at the nursing facility recognized the change in Herbert, Manka said, when they heard him speaking and "making specific requests." "The word of the day was `amazing,' " he said. Dr. Rose Lynn Sherr of the New York University Medical Center said that when patients recover from brain injuries, they usually do so within two or three years. "It's almost unheard of after 10 years," she said, "but sometimes things do happen and people suddenly improve and we don't understand why." Manka said visitors let Herbert set the pace of the conversations and did not bring up the fire in which he was injured. "The extent and duration of his recovery is not known at this time," Manka said. "However, we can tell you he did recognize several family members and friends and did call them by name." http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentSe...id=968332188492 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreamz Veteran Posted May 3, 2005 Veteran Share Posted May 3, 2005 yeah i just read that. the human body is capable of some amazing tricks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundayx Veteran Posted May 3, 2005 Veteran Share Posted May 3, 2005 touchy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonkwell Bogtrotter Posted May 3, 2005 Share Posted May 3, 2005 May 3, 2005. 10:34 AMBrain-damaged firefighter recovers ? 10 years later http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentSe...id=968332188492 585866417[/snapback] Got to be registere:(:( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Posted May 3, 2005 Share Posted May 3, 2005 That is really amazing stuff :cry: Go him! And if you want to see it, use bugmenot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Derf Veteran Posted May 3, 2005 Author Veteran Share Posted May 3, 2005 Got to be registered :( 585866529[/snapback] I posted the entire article. The link is only for credit and verification purposes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicane-UK Veteran Posted May 3, 2005 Veteran Share Posted May 3, 2005 Amazing. The human body is a complex and deep machine... one day we'll be able to understand little miracles like this I hope! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbet Posted May 3, 2005 Share Posted May 3, 2005 (Y) makes you wonder. Great for the family. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armenian Guy Posted May 3, 2005 Share Posted May 3, 2005 Well people as you see that what happened to Terry was the biggest mistake ever.. they dont even know what happened to this guy that recovered after 10 years..so if things like this is possible does it apply only to certain people??? :no: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Derf Veteran Posted May 3, 2005 Author Veteran Share Posted May 3, 2005 Well people as you see that what happened to Terry was the biggest mistake ever.. they dont even know what happened to this guy that recovered after 10 years..so if things like this is possible does it apply only to certain people??? :no: 585866586[/snapback] This guy was not in a persistent vegetative state. Terry only had a functioning brain stem. Not all comas are equal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbrukardt Posted May 3, 2005 Share Posted May 3, 2005 I completely agree with Armenian Guy, im not trying to be a flamebait or anything. But if this isnt a wonderful thing that shows there is always hope, i dont know what is. Truly wonderful, it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boogerjones Posted May 3, 2005 Share Posted May 3, 2005 Well people as you see that what happened to Terry was the biggest mistake ever.. they dont even know what happened to this guy that recovered after 10 years..so if things like this is possible does it apply only to certain people??? :no: 585866586[/snapback] Yes, it does only apply to certain people. There have been documented cases of people recovering from this type of brain damage. Unfortunately, there have been zero documented cases of people recovering from PVS. So the 2 cases are not comparable.And if any of you are ever unfortunate enough to be close to someone in one of these states, sometimes palliative care is a reasonable thing to think about, even if there is some remote chance for full or partial recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
axis Posted May 3, 2005 Share Posted May 3, 2005 Ugh, there is not always hope. Like fred said, that woman was a vegetable. I knew when I saw this topic on the main page, people were going to compare that woman to this case. I am sure the firefighter has minimal problems in his brain, but nothing that would inhibit the rest of his life. I hope he has a wonderful life as he moves on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ33 Posted May 3, 2005 Share Posted May 3, 2005 wow life is so beautiful... image if our brain's code was written in a programming language, that would be insane code. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Derf Veteran Posted May 3, 2005 Author Veteran Share Posted May 3, 2005 wow life is so beautiful... image if our brain's code was written in a programming language, that would be insane code. 585866638[/snapback] :coma IF injured then heal WHEN healed then wake up ELSE goto coma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GameOverRob Posted May 3, 2005 Share Posted May 3, 2005 wow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valerus Posted May 3, 2005 Share Posted May 3, 2005 Cool. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts