Question:
My son suffered from what can be considered an anoxic brain injury. He had a brain stem herination during a hydrocepholic episode. He also is very impaired and doctors have told us that is it hopeless. But, we disagree and continue to stimulate him and do all we can to keep him healthy.

I'm wondering if anyone on the list has heard about the man in Chatanooga who was basically comatose for 7 years and then began speaking just recently. He was a police officer that was shot in the head at close range. I am wanting to find out as much as I can because I'm wondering if whatever suddenly made him improve wouldn't help my son as well. I am also wondering if that sort of injury is at all related to an anoxic brain injury.

Answer: Head trauma often involves some anoxia, neuroimmunological reactions to trauma and anoxia are the same, and at my hospital anoxic patients are admitted to the head injury unit--but I'm not sure logic is relevant to "officials", so see what you can learn from various state groups.

We are both special education teachers. By being TBI, she can move to the program that best meets her needs as they change, which is common in TBI victims. Furthermore, she is completely health recovered, including her heart. Why should she then be considered health impaired. All of the symptoms under TBI are those Chris has; memory, learning difficulties, motor planning problems etc. If not TBI, whenever she needs a different program she will require a new evaluation. More importantly, this damn brain injury is what altered a normal life.

Some sources on the net point out to the progressive nature of this type of brain injury and we are wondering if these symptoms are a sign of continuing secondary damage. Some sources also indicate that anoxic brain injury can alter the brain chemistry in such a way as to induce the symtoms described above.

We would like to hear your opinions about this condition, especially in regard to the typical duration of these symptoms and the possibility of permanent brain damage.