Terry Wallis's Remarkable Recovery

Terry Wallis was left in a minimally conscious state for 19 years after a 1984 car accident in Arkansas, which caused severe brain injuries when his pickup truck plunged off a bridge. Cared for by his parents and wife throughout, he unexpectedly spoke his first word, "Mom," on June 11, 2003, marking one of the longest-known recoveries of consciousness. Doctors believe gradual brain rewiring over the years may have contributed to his awakening, after which he slowly regained limited speech and movement.

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