Our Second Life

This article is presented to you by the German magazin not.

01.08.2007

Daniela Büscher cares for her
husband who is in a coma vigil
© not

It all started with splitting headache. When the carpenter, who was 35 at that time, additionally got defects of vision and trepidation, Daniela Büscher called the emergency physician. He diagnosed tensions. When the troubles got worse his wife brought him into the hospital in Minden, Germany. After a computed tomography scan the diagnosis was certain: cerebral haemorrhage due to a burst vessel in the brain. The surgery followed two days later. The couple was calmed by explaining that it was a routine procedure. Potential negative consequences were not mentioned.

The reunion at the intensive care unit was frightening – Andreas had been put into artificial coma. During the surgery further massive bleedings had occurred. In the following five month there were more complications like strokes, pneumonia, kidney failures, convulsions and fluid retentions in the brain. Andreas’ cranium had to be opened five times – but without success. The patient stayed comatose and was checked out with no further treatment options. Physicians gave the wife the advice to bring her husband into a nursing home: "You won’t be able to care for him!"

However, she decided differently: "For me and the children it was clear, Andi would come home and not go into a nursing home. We were sure that Jesus would give us the power we need." Today, Andreas lives in a friendly room with view over the garden in their accessible house in Hüllhorst, Germany. Daniela is supported in her husband’s care by a professional nurse. Several times a week Andreas gets physiotherapy and kinesiatrics – for this purpose therapists come into the house.

Andreas makes little progresses. He is able to breathe without help and take sips. His constitution has improved insofar that today the couple can go for a walk in the surrounding area with the wheelchair.

Daniela Büscher does not regret having ignored the physicians' advice and bringing Andreas home. Thus he can be part of the family life. "I know that Andreas understands everything what I or the children say. And he answers our questions by opening or closing his eyes." And she is totally convinced: "Even coma vigil patients are never unconscious. As long as a person lives, his mind is also alive and with it his consciousness."

© not