Odd News

For 23 years Rom Houben was believed to be in coma. Now he feels reborn because doctors has finally found a way to communicate with surrounding world. Houben's doctor found that years ago Houben was wrongly diagnosed. Instead of being in a vegetative state he was suffering in a paralyzed body saing now that he felt alone, frustrated and lonely. Now he is able to communicate by using a computer touchscreen where helped by a therapist, he can tap with incredible speed. Belgian Houben is now 46 and last Tuesday he was interviewed by Associated Television News. However, bioethicists do not believe it was Houbes who was communicating, saying that it is impossible for a person with a profound injury who could not communicate for such a long time to answer as Houben did. But the medical team which is taking care of Houben verified by special tests that it was really him communicating. Houben was seriously injured in a car crash in 1983, when he was 20. Doctors diagnosed hi! m as being in a vegetative state, now doctors believe he was conscious all the time. When an expert used a specialized type of brain scan that is nowadays available he found out that though Houben is not able to speak or move, inside he can think and reason. This fact helped the expert to provide Houben suitable equipment which helps him to communicate. Assisted by a therapist who moved his finger, Houben said he felt frustrated but also very blessed by his family. Furthermore, he wrote it was very hard for him to not be able to support his family in hard times. It is very frustrating when you cannot participate in life, he added. The speech therapist Linda Wouters told that Houben navigates her hand with gentle pressure from his fingers. Many people still do not believe it is Houben communicating. But doctors showed him an object while his helper Linda was outside and when she came back he was able to write it down correctly. Everything was checked and confirmed. Th! erefore doctors and his family as well are sure that it is rea! lly him.

related story (sgx15992): http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1230092/Ro...

by Magdalena Rosova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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