h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yes, Coronation Street, the millenia-old British soap opera ...

I have read where even laboured typing is far easier for communicating than speech

That's kinda what we're doing here, isn't it? Unless you're reading everything out as you type...

Re: Post 70 ... There are 2 case Reports . Scroll down to 'The first report of Zolpidem, Lois Viljoen 1999 . The first case, Chris Cox, That is sad. My Doctor and family know that if I am found not breathing, no heart beat, DO NOT Resuscitate. It will only be sad for every one . ...
But it looks like the New York Times has a limit on the number of times one can view this article .. sorry .. ...
https://myaccount.nytimes.com/auth/login?URI=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/magazine/can-ambien-wake-minimally-conscious.html&OQ=Q5fQ72Q3dQ31Q26Q70Q61Q67Q65Q77Q61Q6eQ74Q65Q64Q3dQ61Q6cQ6cQ26Q73Q72Q63Q3dQ49Q53Q4dQ52Q5fQ41Q50Q5fQ4cQ4fQ5fQ4dQ53Q54Q5fQ46Q42

From the latest conversations I heard, I think it's now understood that it isn't about him 'waking up', since he basically has. He can understand what is being said to him, and react in different ways. The main issue now is about the mind-to-body connection - i.e., he still can't control his body very well, although he's trying to.
And there are, still, those constant small improvements. The other day his treating doctor asked him to reach with his right hand to his left (it's harder for him to move his left side), and he managed to do that. Prof, I think this sort of progression might be a bit akin to what's been going on with your son - and again, I only hope our lad progresses as rapidly as yours.

news love and I too wish him a speedy recovery, but time can be a great healer and speed is not always the best option.

As the main doctor said to my son - each day is a bonus, as "we" can't tell how much damage has been done

The body is a remarkable structure and will always amaze and confound the norm'

Thank you.


Yesterday someone from his department at USC came by and had him do some math problems. Depending on whether you ask my aunt or my uncle, they were either basic math or graduate-studies level material. I'm not even sure _how_ it was done (pointing at a solution? typing it somehow? blinking the answer?? *shrug* my information is very limited).
Anyway, his cognitive abilities do seem to doing well.

once I run out of fingers and toes, I throw maths out the window

That sounds very promising for him


lil x

That's terrific news! It is obvious progress. Yeah!

Yeah, it mostly seems to be about motor control now. And that's slowly improving, as well. He recently managed to reach his hand to his mouth (with assistance).

Of course, there's still a long way to go. And mental/cognitive disabilities of some sort are always a possibility, in head injuries. Hopefully, he will come out of it okay, though.

This thread has been a real eye opener for me. I know we have never met Lady P, but I always look forward to hearing how your cousin is doing and I think positive thoughts for him and speak of him to friends. There are lots of people who long to hear of his improvements. Thanks for sharing the story with us.

Cor thanks, that's lovely.

I'm happy to be updating about it here; there's just something special about the h2g2 community, that I haven't seen anywhere else on the 'net.

"there's just something special about the h2g2 community, that I haven't seen anywhere else on the 'net"


an on-line "family".
many show true concern to the "researcher" and their family members and friends of.
a shoulder of support, by the power of positive thoughts.
plus true friendship even if not met yet

Thank you.

Most recent progress I heard about: He's getting better at moving his left side; this is good, because it indicates that the right side of his brain is recovering well. Also, he managed to look at a mirror and move his hand accordingly, so his hand-eye coordination is getting better too.

That is really great news. I am so happy for his progress and it must be most encouraging to his family as well.

There isn't much news recently, but in a good way. It's a slow process, but he's making constant progress within it. Last bit of progress I heard, he managed to play dominos - not as in actually gripping the pieces, which I guess requires more advanced motor control than he has at the moment, but he can follow the rules of the game, which is good.
I've looked at the Rancho Los Amigos Cognitive Scale, yesterday (which is the scale he's currently working his way up on), and it looks like he's at about III. I think. I don't know all that much (mum has been updating us kinda sporadically), and can't judge where exactly he fits. But either way, there is still a long and frustrating way ahead. Still, it's good to know he's expected to make full recovery, at the end of it.

Having finished the thesis, I'll probably start looking into flight tickets soon, so I can do my part by helping out over there. Assuming that's okay, with them, of course.

Very Good! The game shows his communication and awareness skills are still there


Very Best Wishes to You and Yours for the New Year


lil x

Thank you!


It's been a rough year. A colleague of my mother's has just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (which, on top of being a horrible thing to go through for her and her family, is also another layer of stress for my mum). But here's to hoping that 2012 brings better news.