While a person described as being in a coma may be totally unaware of his or her state or environment, others may have some or even full awareness, contrary to our own perception of their condition. Many a recovered patient has related events that occurred when everybody believed they were still in a coma. I was impressed by twenty three year old Judy, who remained unresponsive in an intensive care unit bed for three months. One day Judy did wake up and gradually regained her speech. Behind her apparent unawareness, Judy was totally conscious.
Many similar stories abound.
In fact, coma is a state of unresponsiveness and apparent unawareness. Ambiguity of terminology was resolved by Dr. LeWinn for the second part of the traditional and still widespread definition. This new definition remains as simple as the original, easy to remember, uncomplicated and far more accurate. Commonly, when coma lasts for a month or more, the individual's eyes may be open and may blink even though the person's stare is vacant, no purposeful responses occur, and no signs of awareness appear. This term was developed by Drs.