Family Regains Consciousness After Life Support Turned Off
Returns to Normal Enough to Play Billiards with Friends
A man in his 20s who fell into a coma in New Zealand experienced a miraculous event when he regained consciousness after the life support machine was turned off.
Currently, the media outlet Stuff reported on the story of 29-year-old Winton King, who lives in Christchurch, on the 25th (Korean time).
King got into a fight after going to a bar following a friend's engagement party last October. He was hit on the head by someone's fist and collapsed on the street, suffering severe brain damage.
Unconscious, King was kept alive with life support at the hospital, during which he also suffered a stroke. His family was devastated by the medical staff's words that “even if he recovers, it would be impossible for him to return to his former self, and he would not be able to use the right side of his body.”
After much deliberation, the family decided that King himself would not want to live such a life and requested the hospital to turn off the life support machine.
King's sister, Amber Sowman, recalled, “Even now, thinking about that moment puts a heavy weight on my shoulders,” and said, “We turned off the life support to let my brother peacefully pass away.”
However, even after the life support was turned off, King's breathing did not stop. Moreover, as time passed, he showed signs of gradual recovery and eventually woke up from the coma. He lay in bed, looked around the treatment room, and even smiled at his family. Sowman said, “That small smile felt like a tremendous victory.”
After a few weeks, King's condition improved enough for him to speak. He was able to say the names of his friends and family and even joked with friends who came to visit him in the hospital. He expressed his gratitude, saying, “My mother and sisters took care of me and helped me get through the difficult times.”
Currently, King speaks and walks as he did before, and his full-body functions have almost returned to normal, surprising the doctors. The computed tomography (CT) scans documenting his condition are planned to be used as learning materials in medical school lectures.
However, many challenges remain for King, including rehabilitation. His vision has been impaired, making it impossible for him to drive again. Some of his memories have disappeared, and his consistency is lacking. He does not remember that his father passed away long ago, so his family has had to explain it to him several times. Although he remembers his cellphone password, he sometimes cannot recall what he ate for breakfast.
Sowman said, “(Because he was injured in a fight) there is still a legal process remaining, but King is now focused only on moving forward.”
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