Car Crash Victim Awakens From Coma
Josh Villa, 29, was in a coma for more than a year as a result of a traumatic brain injury. Doctors felt that nothing more could be done to awaken him. As a last resort, doctors enrolled Mr. Villa in a six week study in which an electromagnetic coil was used to stimulate his brain tissue. The coil was held over the front of his head.
In the beginning there was very liitle change in Mr. Villa's condition. After undergoing 15 sessions, he began to show improvement. The coil, was used to exite brains cells in the right pre-frontal dorsolateral cortex. This part of the brain is strongly connected to the brain stem. The brain stem sends out uplses to the rest of the brain that tell it to pay attention.
Mr. Villa, for now, is being care for at his home. He is speaking simple words. Hs mother, Laurie McAndrews of Rockford, Illinos who has been taking care of him, says "You started talking to him and he would turn his head and look at you. That was huge."
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