Well, is he reading, or playing games? What does he like to do?, tell him to do that. Remind him of stuff from the past. Ask him to remember stuff. My memory is so bad!

There is a lot you can do to help. Keep positive and patient with his recovery. The human body is a miraculous thing and many people recover completely while others have various recovery results. He will need positive reinforcement during his recovery. If he is still on a coma, just talk to him like normal. Often the mind hears familiar voices and kind words even though you may not notice any response. If you have other family members, take turns sitting with him so no one person carries the burden alone. Remember to take care of yourself too. The stress of a loved one being injured can take a toll. Only time will tell. I wish a speedy recovery for your brother and strength for you. Hang in there.

He's still in a coma. I just don't know what to say to him while I"m there with him. I try to talk to however I'm with or the nurse while I'm there, but I struggle to talk to him a lot.

Talk to him about yalls past. My family told me when they talked to me they knew i heard them because my heart started beating faster.(i don't remember anything) They just wanted me to wake up. Then the nurses got on to them but they didn't care they had to talk for a shorter period of times. My family had ups and downs because the doctor really doesn't know. But keep thinking postive and keep praying. It not going to be easy for you so you need to take care of your self too. If he does pull out of it he will need you. I will be praying for you.The doctors tells all their patients that. Everbody is different in recovering

We will be here for you and your family.

Just dont give up just yet, Talk to him like he's awake. Play music he likes, read to him and put the tv on. Anything to stimulate his brain. My husband woke up after 2 1/2 months from a coma. He is disabled but is still learing new things. But everyone heals different and everyones brain is different. We will pray for your brother and let me know if you need to talk.

Anything you would normally talk with him about would be good. By talking to him you are stimulating his brain and helping the healing process. I have a neighbor who was in a coma for 30 days. His wife made a recording of sounds he heard on a daily basis...the sound of his car starting and backing out of the garage, the sound of his cat, his dog barking, the door of his house shutting. She played these sounds for him every day. Something so simple can make a big difference. Is there any change today?

I agree with previous postings, any stimulus is good. The more the better unless he complains about being overstimulated (it's possible if the injury is fresh--or even if it isn't).

Wow. What a nice sister he has. Best of luck on recovery. I would surround him with family and help him remember like "see what you before your accident? You were working and this happened and this hapenned blah blah. Jogging the memory is good and surround him with people who love and support him. Best of luck, Gabby

We had a few flickers of hope with some movement but unfortunately the swelling in his brain has increased and he's back on sedation. They're still having trouble controlling the swelling even though he's fully sedated and on everythingthey can possibly give him. So we're just hoping and preying that he starts to behave himself. God give me strength. We were hoping for some good news over the weekend so we could tell my mum. She's also in hospital recovering from a bone marrow transplant. We're held off telling her hoping they would both improve. She's had a couple of rough days too so we're going to have to wait a few more days.

The news about the swelling is normal so don't be too afraid. It will take time for the injury to heal. This is part of the roller coaster ride for you. Sorry to hear about your mother. You poor dear....we will definitely be praying for you, your brother and mother! Keep the faith! Keep us posted on their recovery.

hi. i'm a brain injury survivor but my fiance saw a documentary on a new drug called AMBIEN in the u.s. originally a sleeping tablet but has amazing results on all types of brain injury. bring people out of vegetative states after 20 years! has been 7 years since my injury and coma and after my family was told i would die and the when i came out of the coma, that i would be a cabbage, i would say take everything the doctors say with a large pinch of salt.
good luck, paul.

As you have heard possibly a million times, every brain injury is different. My son's father's swelling situation was similar. He was in a medically induced coma to control the swelling. During this time he had 2 brain surgeries for blood clots. He was taken off the coma medication, the brain started to swell again and they put him in a medically induced coma again. During this time they did a 3rd surgery to place a catheter between his skull and brain. This was to drain the fluid. Thank GOD this worked. We are a year into this now and he is getting better little by little. Most people here care relate exactly what you are going through.
Hang in there, stay strong and pray alot.

Thanks everyone.
Your making me feel a lot better. I know the doctors have to tell you the worse. It just makes it so hard to stay positive when every visit seems to bring bad news. But we're all trying very hard. Thanks again.

It helps if you can make yourself useful, passes the time and gives you something to talk about. Ask his nurse or physio to show you some movements, exercises you can do with your brother to keep his limbs moving. This is good for him and for you. Try using colour therapy,is there a consultant/aurasoma in your area. Once again this gives you something to do and it may prove helpful. Get an exercise book and leave it by brothers bed for folk to write in when they visit. This includes you, talk about what is going on, how you found him today, any changes etc, and read extracts out of it to him. When he recovers he will treasure this. 10 years on my son still reads his book, nurses, therapists friends and family all made contributions. You may like to use a video camera, this too is a good record. Doctors give an opinion, sometimes it is correct, sometimes not, head injury is very much a wait and see game. As hard as it is try to remain positive, treat your brother as you always did,with love, humour and as if he is with you for in fact he is even if there is no response.If you are having trouble eating go for a smoothie, fruit, fruit juice so you are getting some good nutrition. See your local health shop or naturopath for reccomendations to help you through cos stress can wreck havoc with your system over time. Sometimes you just have to go on faith. Time is a healer but right now that seems so hollow, good luck and think positive.