The Amazing Story of Christa Lilly, Heart Attack and Stroke Victim
March 9, 2007 by Lei
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Christa Lilly had a heart attack and stroke in 2000 and has (mostly) been in a coma ever since. Last Sunday, she woke up.
Christa had no idea that she’d been “asleep” for so long and had no sense of the passing of time. For three days, she enjoyed the company of her family, including four daughters and three grandchildren. She even gave a television interview. When her internal clock chimed, Christa lost consciousness again.
The heart attack and stroke damaged her brain to the extent that it is only able to be fully active for a few days at a time. This past weekend was the fifth time she’s been alert since becoming comatose.
Dr. Randall Bjork:
There’s really no reference point in our medical literature … Christa’s brain is on the ropes, so to muster enough energy to have three days of conversation she has to be in relative hibernation for months.”
This is a miracle. This is all mystical and I can’t explain it. We don’t have a name for this, but I call it ‘cyclical awakenings.’
Guardian Unlimited, March 9, 2007
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Tags: coma, comatose, vegetative state, heart, heart attack, heart disease, stroke, diseases, illness, health, medicine, christa lilly
