Woman Wakes Up after a 20-Year Long Coma | Only Human - Summary

Summary

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**Title:** Miraculous Recovery: Sarah Scantlin's 20-Year Coma

**Summary:**

* Sarah Scantlin, who fell into a coma-like state in 1984 at 18, miraculously woke up 20 years later in 2005.
* Her recovery defied medical conventions, with minimal changes expected after a year in a coma.
* Sarah's best friend, Laurie, recounts their unbroken friendship despite 20 years of silence.
* After waking, Sarah faced significant physical challenges, but her personality and spirit remained intact.
* Remarkably, Sarah claims to remember events during her coma, including 9/11, suggesting she was in a "minimally conscious state" (MCS).
* Despite progress, Sarah still struggles with the effects of her severe injuries, and her journey to full recovery continues.

Facts

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**Personal Facts**

1. Sarah Scantlin was in a coma-like state for 20 years.
2. Sarah woke up from her coma in January 2005.
3. Sarah's date of birth is May 2nd, 1966.
4. At the time of the documentary, Sarah was 41 years old but believed she was 19.
5. Sarah's best friend is Laurie Shockley, whom she met in sixth grade.

**Accident and Injuries**

6. Sarah was hit by a car on September 22nd, 1984, outside a local bar called Tappers.
7. She was airlifted to a specialist emergency hospital in Wichita, 40 miles away.
8. Sarah's injuries were severe, leading to a prolonged coma.

**Medical Condition**

9. Doctors believe Sarah was in a Minimally Conscious State (MCS) during her coma.
10. MCS is a recently described condition, which didn't have a name when Sarah first fell into her coma.
11. Sarah's joints have seized, and her voice is slurred due to 20 years of muscle dormancy.

**Family and Financial Situation**

12. Caring for Sarah led to financial strain, resulting in her parents selling their family home.
13. Sarah's parents now live in a trailer park with their remaining possessions.
14. It was her father's birthday during the documentary, which Sarah acknowledged.

**Recovery and Awareness**

15. Sarah has shown significant determination in her recovery process since waking up.
16. She remembers events from before her coma and claims to recall some events that occurred while she was in her coma, including 9/11.
17. Sarah's perception of time is distorted, making it hard for her to grasp the passage of 20 years.