Coma ∞
Or “How fortunate am I?”
I’ve just watched “The Man Who Slept for 19 Years“ on Channel 4, which gives a scary insight into the fragility of the human brain. Although at the same time showing how resiliant the human body is, that someone could wake from a coma after 19 years, and regain the power of speach.
Each year, almost 12,000 people will suffer a head injury so severe that they will remain unconscious for six hours or more. After five years, only 15% of these people will have returned to work.
I was one of those people, after being hit by a motorbike, nearly 10 years ago. I was unconscious for several hours, however I don’t remember much of the following few days. Luckily I sustained no injuries to my brain (although my sister might argue otherwise) and I quickly made a full recovery.
Everyone has told me how lucky I was, and I agreed. Hoever, watching this has really reinforced that viewpoint.