Concussions and Other Brain Trauma by Ryan Nagelhout

Author:Ryan Nagelhout
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Greenhaven Publishing LLC

Terri Schiavo’s court case and subsequent death raised many issues about when life ends after TBI.

Patients who are diagnosed with minimal consciousness exist on a level just above a PVS. In this condition, patients exhibit minor signs of consciousness and awareness. They may be able to make the smallest of deliberate movements, such as a small verbal sound or motions with fingers. They can respond to language and can fix their eyes on the movement of objects and obey simple commands, but they cannot communicate with others.

Physicians have concluded that patients who have been in a coma or PVS for a year have no possibility of recovery. Patients who are in a minimally conscious state have a slightly better prognosis—a onein-five chance of recovery. Although the odds are against them, patients have been known to recover from comas and similar conditions. In 2017, former Los Angeles Dodgers player Pedro Guerrero suffered a severe stroke and fell into a coma. Doctors believed there was no chance of recovery and tried to convince his wife to remove him from life support, but she refused. Two days later, however, Guerrero regained consciousness. His wife said, “It is a miracle that Pedro is alive, completely conscious and speaking clearly two days after a doctor basically declared him brain dead.”40 The media often reports on these miraculous recoveries, but rarely mentions that recovery from a coma, when it happens, is typically a slow, difficult process for both the patient and their loved ones.

Taking a Toll

TBI takes a toll on patients and their families, but it also takes a financial toll on society. According to a CDC study, the costs of caring for TBI patients approach $38 billion a year. The CDC study also pointed out the emotional stress and suffering these injuries cause for the family and friends of those who struggle to recover from these injuries.

Muhammad Ali’s family tried for years to slow the deterioration of his cognitive abilities before his death. Mike Webster’s son cared for him during the final few months of his life. The Quarry family bore the responsibility of caring for Jerry and Mike as they descended further into dementia. The Giess family endured Alec’s mood swings and forgetfulness. Prior to serving in Iraq, Giess owned a business. Since sustaining TBI in the war, Giess has found that he can no longer handle the intellectual demands of his business. Now he works in a warehouse. “Alec says he would give us a limb to have his head back,”41 his wife, Shana Giess, said.

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