Corinne Vien

And when he was first diagnosed, Jake recalls that the hospital actually requested a sample of his stash to be brought in for testing. And he remembers discussing this with Ellen, and she said no. She would not be bringing in a sample. Okay, so what does all of this mean in the medical world?

And when he was first diagnosed, Jake recalls that the hospital actually requested a sample of his stash to be brought in for testing. And he remembers discussing this with Ellen, and she said no. She would not be bringing in a sample. Okay, so what does all of this mean in the medical world?

And for the many people out there who have loved ones in similar situations, in comas or with traumatic brain injuries, with cognitive and physical limitations that suggest little to no consciousness, now knowing of Jake's case, that he was aware the entire time, despite what the world's best brain imaging technology showed, how can we proceed with ever giving any sort of definitive medical suggestions to family members?

And for the many people out there who have loved ones in similar situations, in comas or with traumatic brain injuries, with cognitive and physical limitations that suggest little to no consciousness, now knowing of Jake's case, that he was aware the entire time, despite what the world's best brain imaging technology showed, how can we proceed with ever giving any sort of definitive medical suggestions to family members?

I can't help but think of my own family. I've watched close relatives struggle and, in some cases, lose their lives to diseases that strip away the mind, the body, the very essence of who they are. It sparked difficult conversations amongst my family. If we ever found ourselves in that position, at what point would we want it to end? For lack of a better term, when do you pull the plug?

I can't help but think of my own family. I've watched close relatives struggle and, in some cases, lose their lives to diseases that strip away the mind, the body, the very essence of who they are. It sparked difficult conversations amongst my family. If we ever found ourselves in that position, at what point would we want it to end? For lack of a better term, when do you pull the plug?

Okay, so this is incredibly tough. A position that I hope none of us ever have to be in. But honestly, many of us will probably find ourselves in as we care for elder relatives and sick spouses. A terrible, terrible part of aging. But for some, the decision is presented far earlier than what was expected. And this is where covert consciousness comes into play.

Okay, so this is incredibly tough. A position that I hope none of us ever have to be in. But honestly, many of us will probably find ourselves in as we care for elder relatives and sick spouses. A terrible, terrible part of aging. But for some, the decision is presented far earlier than what was expected. And this is where covert consciousness comes into play.

Dr. Edlow mentioned that there are many scenarios where the bleeding and type of brain injury gives doctors a pretty good guess at the chance of recovery. But there are also cases like Jake where consciousness and recovery isn't so clear. Dr. Edlow has dedicated much of his time to finding the answer to this question.

Dr. Edlow mentioned that there are many scenarios where the bleeding and type of brain injury gives doctors a pretty good guess at the chance of recovery. But there are also cases like Jake where consciousness and recovery isn't so clear. Dr. Edlow has dedicated much of his time to finding the answer to this question.

How do you know if someone is conscious when available testing suggests that they are not? And how can Jake's case change future research?

How do you know if someone is conscious when available testing suggests that they are not? And how can Jake's case change future research?

This reminds me of those nurses who gossiped over Jake, one casually mentioning that he was brain dead. And it makes me wonder, how many doctors, nurses, and medical staff have heard Jake's story and reconsidered the way they speak around their patients? Because the truth is, you never really know who's listening.

This reminds me of those nurses who gossiped over Jake, one casually mentioning that he was brain dead. And it makes me wonder, how many doctors, nurses, and medical staff have heard Jake's story and reconsidered the way they speak around their patients? Because the truth is, you never really know who's listening.

And a single comment could be a glimmer of hope or the crushing blow to someone with locked-in syndrome.

And a single comment could be a glimmer of hope or the crushing blow to someone with locked-in syndrome.

Did you catch that? 15 to 20% of people who are completely unresponsive in a bedside examination with traumatic brain injuries, who could easily be presumed vegetative or brain dead, are actually aware, stuck in their own bodies. 15 to 20%. That is a hard percentage to swallow. But I will say for many of these individuals, there are other ways of identifying this awareness.

Did you catch that? 15 to 20% of people who are completely unresponsive in a bedside examination with traumatic brain injuries, who could easily be presumed vegetative or brain dead, are actually aware, stuck in their own bodies. 15 to 20%. That is a hard percentage to swallow. But I will say for many of these individuals, there are other ways of identifying this awareness.

Terrifying. And even more terrifying when you realize that an EEG and an MRI could expose this covert consciousness in one patient, but for a patient like Jake, show nothing.

Terrifying. And even more terrifying when you realize that an EEG and an MRI could expose this covert consciousness in one patient, but for a patient like Jake, show nothing.