The one thing I absolutely believe is how much he hates Barney.

Thanks for sharing this interesting story. I was inspired reading it. Despite hating Barney, maybe the Barney song "I love you, you love me" gave him something to hold on to. I wonder what his perceptions are on how the world has changed. Sometimes when I think of how far our country has regressed I feel like I am in a coma. I am hoping to wake up realizing that Obama was just a bad dream, then I quickly realize this nightmare is real.

This reminds me of something...not meaning to hijack this thread. This is an incredible story. I'm glad it was shared here.

When I was 18 I was rushed into a hospital from my college dorm because my appendix had burst. A little after midnight I was rolled into the surgery room. Only, the anesthesiologist didn’t put me to sleep. He just paralyzed me. As they intibated me I realized that they thought I was unconscious, but I was wide awake. It was a horrifying experience. I don’t remember the operation, but they said that as they closed me up (this was before the days of scoping for this) my hands came up and started pulling the tube out of my throat (no memory of that, either). I spent some time in ICU as my breathing would occasionally stop. To be aware in a useless body is beyond words…

There are photos of him in his past condition over the years on the web, so I actually believe this incredible story. Could others in a catatonic state be in the same state of awareness? That’s right out of a Vincent Price horror movie. Makes one reevaluate the life support disconnect scenario but I’m not sure pro or con.

Bull. More to it that what they're saying in the write-up.

People need to remember that he was in a "vegetative" state and not "brain dead". These are totally different states and one that some have trouble coming to grips over.

Like the 12 year old girl, who was declared brain dead, following a tonsillectomy, I believe. Her parents refused to give up, even though there was NO way she was ever going to come back.

As long as this man's body was properly functioning, without the need for life support, I believe his parent's choice to continue to care for him was the right choice (for them). Unfortunately, the story will probably get turned into a lesson of "hope" for any number of hopeless cases out there. Then, only the medical community will benefit.

My father-in-law died of ALS. It's pretty much the same. He was trapped in a non-functioning body while still conscious. I imagined I saw his eyes plead for death as his body deteriorated into a skeletal shell, and had only machines keeping his heart and breathing going. My mother-in-law stayed with him night and day until she was ready to collapse. She was finally convinced to go home and rest. When she did, he died. I think the nurses at the Hospice took pity on him and turned him off.

I was just thinking of Terri Schindler Schiavo.

I am convinced she was murdered.

I have a really hard time believing this.

Rip Van Winkle... only some of his nightmares weren't... something to consider...

I can sympathize with him to a tiny degree -- I was
an objectivist trapped in a young firstborn male's
body, and no one could begin to understand me
except one friend -- an atheist -- whom my family
could not accept. . they kept playing baptist in front
of me, year after year, and could not see that my
consciousness was awake.

I am sooooooo glad that this man made it!!! -- j

Reminds me of Anne McCaffery's "The Ship Who Sang".