Woman Wakes After 20 Year Coma, Impacts Terri Schaivo Legal Battle
by Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com Editor, February 14, 2005
Clearwater, FL (LifeNews.com) -- Sarah Scantlin was unable to speak after an automobile accident in which a drunk driver crashed into her, leaving her in a coma. Though doctors believed her brain was injured so badly in the accident that should would never be able to talk again and spend her life in a vegetative state, Scantlin began speaking a week ago.
Sarah's friends and family gathered Saturday at the health care center where she lives to celebrate. "She's 100 percent Sarah again. The family is back together, and it's just simply a joyous situation," her father, Jim Scantlin, told CNN.
Scantlin was 18 when she was injured and, until last month, she was aware of her surroundings but unable to speak. Suddenly, she began talking to workers at the health care center.
"It just happened one day and nobody really knows why," said Sharon Kuepker, administrator for the Golden Plains Health Care Center.
Now, Scantlin is forming words, counting, and remembering people and places. "You condition yourself to be able to try to deal with something like this, and then all of the sudden, the world instantly changed from despair to joy because it's amazing how important communication is between human beings," her father told the Associated Press.
Doctors have no explanation but pro-life advocates believe the case proves that Terri Schiavo, who is not in a PVS state, could find her disabled condition improved if she were given proper medical care and rehabilitative treatment.
Robert Schindler, Terri's father, says he hopes the courts will see this "miracle" and think of Terri. "In light of the miraculous awakening of Miss Sarah Scantlin in Kansas and the success of the new brainwave test reported ... this week, my daughter deserves to have this test before she is starved to death by judicial decree," Schindler said.
Schindler is referring to a study released last week showing the level of neural activity of disabled patients who listened to tapes of their loved ones sharing family experiences matched that of the healthy patients.
The Schindlers say videotape shown on CNN of Sarah interacting with her parents prior to speaking is remarkably similar to videos of Terri interacting her family.
Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family says the Scantlin case shows why Florida courts should spare Terri Schiavo's life and prevent her estranged husband from ending her life.
"Terri Schiavo deserves the same chance at life that Sarah Scantlin was given," Dobson said. "Both cases have involved women who suffered debilitating injuries and continued to live in a disabled state. Today we celebrate the news that Ms. Scantlin has regained her memory and ability to speak, and is apparently on the road to recovery."
"Mental disabilities do not damage a person's worth -- the preciousness of life is not defined by one's abilities," Dobson added. "Those who suffer a disabling injury are entitled to the same right to life as we all are. Those seeking to take away Mrs. Schiavo's right to life should have second thoughts after hearing Sarah Scantlin's story."
LAST PARAGRAPH GREAT NEWS!!!!! Terri's parents are traveling to Kansas to meet with Sarah and her family
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Morning Bump!