Man's brain rewires itself after 19 years in coma

In 1984, Wallis was a teenager when his car plunged into a river bed. The accident cut several nerve endings in his brain, leaving him in what doctors call a minimally conscious state.

He stayed that way for almost 20 years, neither moving nor communicating.

"If you put something in front of his face, he didn't blink," said his mother, Angilee Wallis.

Then, in 2003, he spoke. Scientists finally think they've figured out how.

Analysis suggests tiny nerve connections in Wallis' brain have re-grown and replaced the ones sheared apart by the accident.

Wallis, who is now 42, is one of the few people known to have recovered so dramatically so long after a serious brain injury.

"It's big news that somebody can make important, meaningful changes in their function after 20 years following a severe brain injury," Schiff said.

"The big picture might be that some patients may be reconnecting parts of their brain."

Wallis still needs help eating and cannot walk, but his speech continues to improve and he can count to 25 without interruption. He can now move his legs.

The findings, published Monday in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, raise hopes for a greater understanding of brain damage recovery.

However, researchers say they could not pin down the exact type of tissue regeneration that had taken place, nor do they know how to make other patients like Wallis recover.

"Right now these cases are like winning the lottery," Dr. Ross Zafonte, rehabilitation chief at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, told the Associated Press.

"I wouldn't want to over enthuse family members or folks who think now we have a cure for this."
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...ub=CTVNewsAt11

I just can't imagine what something like this would be like.............:(

It is a battle Psycho..but it also gives hope yes? That is why some of us were wanting the Schiavo case to turn out different..when you work in Health Care/Rehabilitation Nurses sometimes see things we call miracles but still have the "Experts" telling us there is no hope. I am so curious wanting to know HOW his brain regenerated in those injured parts. Thanks for posting this article.

That's an amazing story.

Imagine having to learn everything all over again at that age. I wonder if he even remebers or realizes what has happened...?Bye.