Questions on conciousness

[debgab]

My husband, whom I’ve already written a post about requesting prayers, has been unconscious/coma for nine days. He’s battling for ten years a pituitary tumor that has become invasive. He had a seizure which was why he was brought to the hospital, and soon after went into cardiac arrest, then more seizures on an off the next few days. They’ve been controlling the seizures now and the thought is that he’s got severe brain damage and so has been “asleep”. I wonder about consciousness, and where did it go? What happens to people that are in a coma for a long time? In my husband’s case, it looks like we’re going to lose him because of other factors besides the tumor. I have this thought that may be wrong, but I want to run it by you all; I’m thinking it’s possible that God could be helping my husband to purge out the rest of any sins by speaking with him in his state of unconsciousness. If not God than his guardian angel or a relative that would be allowed to communicate to him things that are necessary for him to go to heaven. Has anyone else had a thought like this? Or could his state of being be for my benefit? A testimony of suffering for us and his family? I wonder if he could be the way for his family to come back to God because his Dad is agnostic, and think the rest are too. When my husband was well, I remember him worrying about his Father and his lack of belief. My husband converted to Catholicism before he became disabled. I also wonder if parts of his consciousness are here and part is going towards God, as if he’s somehow in between the world and heaven. Just wondered if anyone else been in my shoes and what kind of thoughts did you have about this experience.
Sincerely,
Debbie

 

[Waiting]

I’m convinced that a person’s suffering, especially his terminal illness, is given to that person by God to reduce or eliminate his time in Purgatory. Whether God is in contact with the unconscious soul, I don’t know, but I do feel that God makes the dying person aware of his situation, and gives him this opportunity to atone for sins. I’d like to feel that I’ve put in my Purgatory on earth. It’s certainly a good thing to offer your sufferings to God in expiation of your sins, or for the poor souls in Purgatory.

 

[MarisaJean]

Dear Debbie-

I’m so sorry to hear what you and your family are going through right now. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers.
I want to share this story with you from my own first hand experience. I am and Neurology technologist, I do brainwave studies on cases similar to what your husband is going through. You name it, I’ve seen it. Well a while back I had a boy that was having so many seizures we induced coma on him with medications. This made the brain virtually silent of activity, we kept him like that for about 1 month due to his severity and other conditions. Everyday I checked up on him, introduced myself and talked to him, even though he was intubated with no brain activity at that time. Then when the Dr decided to begin to wake him back up I was so excited. By this time I had gotten to know his family and I felt like I knew him too! So I walked in and said the same thing I said every morning. I walked in and introduced myself and asked him how he was feeling today since he could talk and to my amazement he said you are Marisa, you have been in my room everyday checking on me! I could not believe it. I always read about people being able to hear you when they are in questionable states and I am a firm believer that they can. So I am very careful as to what I say now. I always talk to them like I would every other patient, I explain things to them even though they cannot talk back and I care for them just as I would a waking person.

My advice to you is to talk to him. Tell him all the things you want to say. Tell him what you have loved about your life with him and all your hopes and dreams. Do not hold anything back Debbie.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this very difficult time. Please remember we, as a huge forum are here for you when you need us.

-Marisa

 

[debgab]

Boy thanks for that Marissa, you brought a tear to my eye. I have spoken to him in a very emotional heartfelt manner the first couple of days he was in there and have said prayers for him right close to his ear. He is still in the same position but has movement that I think the docs believe is involuntary but I don’t know, sometimes it just looks normal to me.
Thanks for sharing that story with me it helps to hear things like that to know other people have similar experiences. Its pretty wild how the boy woke up and knew your name; extraordinary!
I feel a little guilty for not seeing him yesterday, but going to be with him this afternoon. I’m a little scared of seeing him after not being there yesterday. I can’t tell you why.
Anyway, I’ll be glad to hear anyone else’s thoughts/experiences about this kind of thing.
Sincerely,
Debbie
p.s. And thanks to you all for having responded to my post.

 

[wcknight]

You and your family especially your husband are in my prayers. Have you asked your father in law to pray or offer a mass for your husband ? Maybe you are right and perhaps your husband is the way for some of your family members to return to God.

People have come out of long comas before, I hope and pray your husband does also. May the Lord help you and your family throughout this crisis.