Terry Wallis (File
Photo) | BEIJING, July 4
(Xinhuanet) -- A car accident victim who recovered from his nearly 20
years' unconscious state is rekindling the hope that the brain has the potential
ability to suddenly recover from severe injury.
This was found in a study published Monday in the
Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Terry Wallis, 42, of Arkansas, the U.S., was thrown from
a car in an accident twenty years ago. He suffered severe brain injuries and was
barely conscious for nearly 20 years. Amazingly he regained speech and movement
three years ago because his brain spontaneously rewired itself, growing tiny new
nerve connections to replace the ones sheared apart in a car crash.
"It's truly a remarkable case," said Dr. Nicholas
Schiff at Weill Cornell Medical College.
While Wallis' speech was difficult to understand, his
recovery was so remarkable that scientists wanted to study his brain, using
cutting-edge imaging technology which uses color coding to show areas of growth
and activity.
The findings are groundbreaking to some
extent. Although his progress is exciting and inspiring, doctors said the
same cannot be hoped for people in a persistent vegetative state. Nor do they
know how to make others with less serious damage recover, as Wallis did. Enditem
(Agencies)
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