Very inspiring true story - GoFuckYourself.com

loverboy · 05-03-2005, 10:24 AM

just wanna share it

Brain damaged for 10 years, firefighter makes astounding recovery
http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/05/03....ap/index.html

ORCHARD PARK, New York (AP) -- Ten years after a firefighter was left brain-damaged and mostly mute during a 1995 roof collapse, he did something that shocked his family and doctors: He perked up.

"I want to talk to my wife," Donald Herbert said out of the blue Saturday. Staff members of the nursing home where he has lived for more than seven years raced to get Linda Herbert on the telephone.

It was the first of many conversations the 44-year-old patient had with his wife, four sons and other family and friends during a 14-hour stretch, Herbert's uncle, Simon Manka said.

"How long have I been away?" Herbert asked.

"We told him almost 10 years," the uncle said. "He thought it was only three months."

Herbert was fighting a house fire December 29, 1995, when the roof collapsed, burying him under debris. After going without air for several minutes, Herbert was comatose for 2 1/2 months and has undergone therapy ever since.

News accounts in the days and years after his injury describe Herbert as blind and with little, if any, memory. Video shows him receiving physical therapy but apparently unable to communicate and with little awareness of his surroundings.

Manka declined to discuss his nephew's current condition, or whether the apparent progress was continuing. The family was seeking privacy while doctors evaluated Herbert, he said.

"He's resting comfortably," the uncle said.

As word of Herbert's progress spread, a steady stream of visitors arrived at the Father Baker Manor nursing home in this Buffalo suburb.

"He stayed up till early morning talking with his boys and catching up on what they've been doing over the last several years," firefighter Anthony Liberatore told WIVB-TV.

Herbert's sons were 14, 13, 11 and 3 when he was injured.

Staff members at the nursing facility recognized the change in Herbert, Manka said, when they heard him speaking and "making specific requests."

"The word of the day was `amazing,"' he said.

Dr. Rose Lynn Sherr of New York University Medical Center said when patients recover from brain injuries, they usually do so within two or three years.

"It's almost unheard of after 10 years," she said, "but sometimes things do happen and people suddenly improve and we don't understand why."

Manka said visitors let Herbert set the pace of the conversations and did not bring up the fire in which he was injured.

"The extent and duration of his recovery is not known at this time," Manka said. "However we can tell you he did recognize several family members and friends and did call them by name."

Manowar · 05-03-2005, 10:33 AM

Woah. That's awesome news

Harmon · 05-03-2005, 10:34 AM

http://www.gofuckyourself.com/showthread.php?t=463136

mahoney · 05-03-2005, 10:35 AM

Yeah, I heard about this on the way to work. Pretty inspiring

loverboy · 05-03-2005, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harmon

http://www.gofuckyourself.com/showthread.php?t=463136

sorry, just got back after couple of hours of sleep. had no time to read the entire GFY thread. if i knew it was posted here already, surely i won't do double post.

Sosa · 05-03-2005, 10:40 AM

pretty crazy that is.

Misty Kristy · 05-03-2005, 10:48 AM

wow I hadn't heard anything of it that's pretty amazing.

jukeboxfrank · 05-03-2005, 10:49 AM

Good thing he did not have a wife that said he would not want to live like that ha?

loverboy · 05-03-2005, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mahoney

Yeah, I heard about this on the way to work. Pretty inspiring

yup, talking about not giving up

05-03-2005, 06:42 PM

good shit

Stacey_JoinRightNow · 05-03-2005, 06:49 PM

nothing is impossible, aiyt?

reynold · 05-03-2005, 09:02 PM

that is an amazing story. miracles do happen.

Spunky · 05-03-2005, 09:03 PM

Good for him...unbelievable..somebody was looking down at him

L0rdJuni0r · 05-03-2005, 09:20 PM

that is awsome.... i saw this on the news this morning.

Makes you wonder why the starved terri schaivo to death

05-03-2005, 10:24 AM	#1
loverboy When it rains, it pours Industry Role: Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 20,609	Very inspiring true story just wanna share it Brain damaged for 10 years, firefighter makes astounding recovery http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/05/03....ap/index.html ORCHARD PARK, New York (AP) -- Ten years after a firefighter was left brain-damaged and mostly mute during a 1995 roof collapse, he did something that shocked his family and doctors: He perked up. "I want to talk to my wife," Donald Herbert said out of the blue Saturday. Staff members of the nursing home where he has lived for more than seven years raced to get Linda Herbert on the telephone. It was the first of many conversations the 44-year-old patient had with his wife, four sons and other family and friends during a 14-hour stretch, Herbert's uncle, Simon Manka said. "How long have I been away?" Herbert asked. "We told him almost 10 years," the uncle said. "He thought it was only three months." Herbert was fighting a house fire December 29, 1995, when the roof collapsed, burying him under debris. After going without air for several minutes, Herbert was comatose for 2 1/2 months and has undergone therapy ever since. News accounts in the days and years after his injury describe Herbert as blind and with little, if any, memory. Video shows him receiving physical therapy but apparently unable to communicate and with little awareness of his surroundings. Manka declined to discuss his nephew's current condition, or whether the apparent progress was continuing. The family was seeking privacy while doctors evaluated Herbert, he said. "He's resting comfortably," the uncle said. As word of Herbert's progress spread, a steady stream of visitors arrived at the Father Baker Manor nursing home in this Buffalo suburb. "He stayed up till early morning talking with his boys and catching up on what they've been doing over the last several years," firefighter Anthony Liberatore told WIVB-TV. Herbert's sons were 14, 13, 11 and 3 when he was injured. Staff members at the nursing facility recognized the change in Herbert, Manka said, when they heard him speaking and "making specific requests." "The word of the day was `amazing,"' he said. Dr. Rose Lynn Sherr of New York University Medical Center said when patients recover from brain injuries, they usually do so within two or three years. "It's almost unheard of after 10 years," she said, "but sometimes things do happen and people suddenly improve and we don't understand why." Manka said visitors let Herbert set the pace of the conversations and did not bring up the fire in which he was injured. "The extent and duration of his recovery is not known at this time," Manka said. "However we can tell you he did recognize several family members and friends and did call them by name."

05-03-2005, 10:34 AM	#3
Harmon ( ͡ʘ╭͜ʖ╮͡ʘ) Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 20,010	http://www.gofuckyourself.com/showthread.php?t=463136 __________________ [email protected]

05-03-2005, 10:35 AM	#4
mahoney Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Las Vegas Nv Posts: 5,318	Yeah, I heard about this on the way to work. Pretty inspiring __________________ Vegassexparty.com

05-03-2005, 10:48 AM	#7
Misty Kristy Confirmed User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Santa Fe, NM Posts: 274	wow I hadn't heard anything of it that's pretty amazing. __________________ Misty Kristy ICQ 201054478

05-03-2005, 10:49 AM	#8
jukeboxfrank Confirmed User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: www.jenniferworthington.com Posts: 1,207	Good thing he did not have a wife that said he would not want to live like that ha? __________________ ICQ= 231-182-592

05-03-2005, 10:33 AM	#2
Manowar jellyfish Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 71,528	Woah. That's awesome news

05-03-2005, 10:40 AM	#6
Sosa In Tushy Land Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Nebraska Posts: 40,149	pretty crazy that is.

05-03-2005, 06:42 PM	#10
blueb8llz Guest Posts: n/a	good shit

05-03-2005, 06:49 PM	#11
Stacey_JoinRightNow Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Montreal Posts: 6,269	nothing is impossible, aiyt? __________________

05-03-2005, 09:02 PM	#12
reynold Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Global Traveler Posts: 51,271	that is an amazing story. miracles do happen.

05-03-2005, 09:03 PM	#13
Spunky I need a beer Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: ♠ Toiletville ♠ Posts: 133,944	Good for him...unbelievable..somebody was looking down at him __________________ *YOUR INFORMATION HERE*

05-03-2005, 09:20 PM	#14
L0rdJuni0r Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Cancun, Mexico Posts: 5,883	that is awsome.... i saw this on the news this morning. Makes you wonder why the starved terri schaivo to death __________________ Affordable video and picture editing. junior[at]jampackproductions[DOT]com ICQ: 605429331