Posted on 10/10/2006 4:04:27 PM PDT by wagglebee
GRESHAM, Oregon October 10, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A young boy, who had previously been diagnosed as being in a “permanent vegetative state,” has awakened from a 22 month-long coma and is breathing on his own.
Devon Rivers collapsed in a seizure during a phys-ed class in 2004 and his condition was never explained, though some doctors suggested it was caused by an unknown viral infection. Doctors agreed, however, that he had little hope of recovery.
His mother, Carla Rivers, visited him regularly and, in addition to physical therapy by his paediatric nursing home to keep his limbs supple, she talked to him in the belief that coma patients can retain their hearing and some understanding.
"For two years the doctors said there was no hope," said Carla Rivers. "Everything that happens in Devon's life is a gain. There's no losses."
Despite the doctors’ gloomy prognosis, eleven year-old Devon is now being prepared for occupational therapy to help him re-learn motor skills and is able to play with his siblings. Doctors cannot explain the reason either for his unexpected awakening or for his steady recovery.
In August of this year his mother, Carla Rivers, noticed that he began turning his head to follow movement; instead of a blank stare, he was reacting to his environment. Days later Devon was breathing without a respirator.
Carla Rivers said, “Devon may make a full recovery or what we see today may be what we get…God's plan is greater than ours. There's nothing we can do to force it any sooner or hold it back,” she said.
Coma patients and others with severe cognitive disabilities have been labelled “hopeless” only to recover frequently enough that some doctors and ethicists are questioning the accuracy of the diagnosis of “persistent vegetative state” (PVS).
The diagnosis is ambiguous in that symptoms of patients can vary greatly and still be called “vegetative.” A 1996 study published in the British Medical Journal showed that 43% of patients diagnosed with PVS do not qualify for the diagnosis.
In 2003, Kate Adamson, a former coma patient who had been diagnosed PVS, appeared on the television talk show the O'Reilly Factor. She said that, like Terri Schiavo, the hospital had removed her feeding tube that was only reinserted after eight days when her lawyer-husband threatened to sue the hospital.
Read related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Diagnosis of Persistent Vegetative State Questioned as Former Patient Speaks Out
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2003/nov/03111207.html
I'd be interested in the details since that is what may make all the difference.
The problem with living wills and advance medical directives is that in many cases, what is being used is standard boilerplate forms furnished by hospitals. And most of these forms don't allow for a lot of amending to be done because it might not stand up in court later. And keep in mind that these forms are drawn up by the same organization that will later be pushing to discontinue medical care.
Everyone really should have a living will and AMD that is drawn up by an experienced attorney. I realize that this is going to cost several hundred dollars or more, but it's your life we are taking about here.
Why would the granddaughter try so hard to kill her grandma? The speculation was -- financial gain as an heir, or to cover up her mishandling of the old woman's assets.
Here's a link: Mae Magouirk case
Just tired your link our school fire wall will not allow access to the site because it is a pro life site.
That was a hilarious episode.
Isn't that the sad truth in some families. I remember reading a letter to Dear Abby about someone who was upset that their parents were taking lavish trips and spending 'our inheritance". Or the time I went to a local beauty shop and overheard and lady talking about grandchildren trying to empty out and sell their grandma's belongings while she was out of town. A neighbor put a stop to that.
:) One of the tricks from the olde HTML sandbox.
Some years ago there was a book out entitled "Die Broke" (I think that was the name of it).
From the back cover I remember the quote, "The last check you make should be to your undertaker - and it should bounce!"
Don't know if I agree with that, but the man does make a point, in light of your post.
CA....
I've seen that video and I know what you're referring to. She was responding, and I agree.
Thanks for the ping!
I have been reading this discussion of the way to treat patients diagnosed in PVS. You have said you do not want to be kept alive in such a state of suffering when there is no hope of full recovery. I don't think you are terrible for this opinion but I think it is much more complex than what was presented in the pro-death Terry S. case.
Her husband was no angel by any means. He wanted her dead and before that, he wanted her under total control. Did he want her unrehabilitated and ultimately dead because he did not want a witness to what happened to her? You can not know for sure as the testimony of family and friends would not permit such sureness.
Christians are not opposed to permiting one to die who is dying. They would demand mercy in aleivating pain and suffering along the way - that includes food and water because it is very painful to die of dehydration and starvation. They also demand morphine, even if that pain relief quickens the death. Christians will not put you on a breathing machine when you are terminal as reported in the movies.
However, when it comes to killing those who are handicapped - that is not what Christian ethics can permit. If you want folks to kill you because you are not perfect, don't ask Christians to have anything to do with your death. Since Christians make up the majority of the voting public, don't expect the State to take up the policy of killing the handicapped. And when the State does, as in the case of Terry S., expect Christians to raise hell about it.
Think about it long and hard. Do you want folks without the burden of morals, and most likely with self interests to see you dead, to be legally, in control of you at your death?
Many would starve you and dehydrate you and claim it feels wonderful to you while you have no voice to say...You can oly suffer their ignorance and/or self interest. Handicapped people can have a happy life and don't want to be killed by relatives in cahoots with the State.
Careful. It is more complex than you are seeing right now.
Thanks for finding that link. You're right, she had financial power of attorney and used that to have the woman starved and dehydrated.
I went to dogpile and couldn't find it because somehow I thought the woman was from Maryland, not Georgia.
Not really. I charge certain individuals with my care - to them whom I trust. If I become a financial burden and in no way can, myself, reap the benefits of this world, I don't want any artifical means to sustain my life (whether that means nutrition provided outside of my normal digestive system or the like).
It is simple.
Well, that was pre-viagra. And even then, the commercial motive wouldn't stop some kind a' gal. I mean isn't Larry King recently married?
I don't recall ever hearing of a time when Larry King wasn't recently married. I also hear he's a nice guy, but have to chide you on one point. He's not a day over 300.
Never underestimate the human body's power to heal it self.
"Recent" has a extended meaning in Larry's case.
The story I was referring to was on Oprah perhaps ten years ago, and although I couldn't find it, I did find another site that had some pretty amazing stories about people overcoming brain injuries. None of them seem to be as drastic as the story I saw years ago, but one of the people had the entire frontal lobe missing. www.braininjury.com
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