A Belgium man was completely paralyzed after an auto accident when he was 23 years old.
Rom Houben was believed to be in a vegetative state, but was completely conscious and heard every word said around him, according to reports.
For over two decades Houben had laid in a bed seeing and hearing people come and go, without being able to react or communicate. Even having to hear of his own father’s death and not being able to even cry but the feelings and thoughts are still being processed in his brain.
Now after a new system of detecting consciousness, Houben is able to talk to the world.
Houben’s story was revealed in a paper written by Steven Laureys, a doctor at Liege University who wrote a recent paper that detailed the case. The paper discusses how Minimally Conscious State (MCS) were misdiagnosed as being in the much more serious Vegetative State (VS).
In it, Mr Laureys said that in about 40% of cases in which people are classified as being in a vegetative state, closer inspection reveals signs of consciousness.
The paralyzed Houben had no way of letting doctors know that he could hear every word they were saying.
“I dreamed myself away”, Houben, now 46 told the Daily Telegraph, by tapping out a message on a copmputer. “I screamed, but there was nothing to hear.”
‘I want to read, talk with my friends via the computer and enjoy my life now that people know I am not dead.’
Mr Houben said: ‘All that time I just literally dreamed of a better life. Frustration is too small a word to describe what I felt.’
Rom Houben Trapped In His Own Body For 23 Years
Having been in the medical field for a number of years I always felt patients could hear and understand and told everyone to be careful of what you said to them. I am happy to know that this has been figured out. I am very happy, hopeful, and prayerful for Mr. Houben. I wish him the best in his recovery and many blessing.
I think this is a wonderful breakthrough.
And it shows that God doesn’t leave anyone.
Prayers is what made this happen.
I commend his family for not giving up on him
over the many years. God will bless them for their
kindness.
So, God just decided to torture this man and his family for 23 years?? What a kind and loving spirit!
he could have been in hell. this was an act of mercy.
I wonder if Terri Schiavo’s family is wondering is they were right all along???
Her brain was a fraction of the size of a healthy human brain. There was no doubt she was brain dead
My heart still goes out to the Schiavo family. Kim, I with you about Terri. I think she still had it in her…but just couldn’t speak. If it’s true what they say – that the brain controls our actions like smiling, blinking, etc., then I would say Terri was trapped in her own body. Shame on her husband for allowing them to disconnect her feeding tube. He will get what’s coming to him. Not so much for allowing the feeding tube to be disconnected but for not allowing her mom and dad to take full control over her medical issues. This is mom and dad we’re talking about. They gave birth to Terri. If we say in a court of law “that’s hearsay” and we don’t allow the testimony than why did we allow the tubes to be disconnected just because of what he said? Some things are just not right. I’m happy that the Houben family stayed strong in their convictions!
Its frightening to think of the possibility of something like this happening,but reassuring to know that each day more is learned about previously unknown conditions,and new found medical technical advances.
The scientific field discoveries look very promising as well.
I once read like 20 years ago,that someone, an older woman who was ‘frozen’ but somewhat responsive,’Awoke’ with a supply of a nutrient mineral that she was deficient of. However I can’t remember the particular mineral.This happen in a rural area and it was not publicized widely.
It may be that a lot of incapacitating maladies and pesky conditions are due to malnutrition and foods intolerance;and that this simple remedies can also help to restitute people back to health such as this case.