Yes. There are many stories of inspiring people who recover from a coma and go on to live relatively normal lives, sometimes beating hefty odds in the process. According to a one National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research study, the quickest recovery typically occurs in the first six months, but for some people this initial healing period may last up to two years. Sadly, this scenario is not always the case. A comatose person may never regain consciousness, or may have lifelong cognitive impairments once the coma has lifted.