Best friend in critical condition following car accident.. traumatic brain injury advice?

[Anonymous]

Hi, so im looking for advice from people who may have been in similar situations.. my best friend was involved in a car accident 8 days ago where he was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition. When paramedics arrived on scene he was unresponsive and knocked out, they put him in an imduced coma due to swelling in gis brain and have only just taken him off sedation (7 days later). He is still unresponsive and they haven't been able to wake him so far. I have asked questions but it seems they can never "really answer" them bluntly.. "is he braindead?" - no. "Is he in a vegative state?" - no. "What are the chances of him waking up?" - we dont know. "What happens from here?" - we can't be sure. It seems noone can give a straight answer! Since yesterday my friend has also been responding to what i beleive is voices/touch etc and if i hold his hand he will squeeze it.. docs and nurses aren't sure if thats him reacting to people or if its his nerves.. im just so confused! All i know so far is ge was found unresponsive and has been that way ever since, they have been monitoring the swelling in his brain and say it has been "stable" for several days. When they check his eyes with a light they dialate but "slowly" he broke 9 ribs, 4 fractures in his spine, both lungs collapsed so he has been on a breathing machine yet they say he can breath on his own with difficulty, he has a feeding tube etc and a wire monitoring his brain... that is ALL i can understand from their lack of information! ANYONE thats been in a similar situation or has medical knowledge and can shed some sort of light would be GREATLY APPRECIATED! thanks in advance!

Updates

+1 y

Oh! And also who can decide how long he should stay on life support? He is 29 years old, has a girlfriend and young child... is that the decision of doctors, partner or parents?
Does the hospital have to keep him on support for certain amounts of time... there's so many questions!!!

[Anonymous]

If he's not brain dead or in in a vegetative state that's good. As frustrating as it is there is no clear cut answer. Each patient is on their own, so to speak.
I believe he should be left on life support for as long as he has brain function. It is the parents decision. No one can tell you to terminate a life especially since there is still hope. The hospital may at some point transfer him to a facility that deals with patients of this nature.
IF you have the nerve poke the bottom of his foot with a sharp object like a nail file. If he responds that's good.
I believe it's a positive sign that responding to what you believe is voices/touch etc and if i hold his hand he will squeeze it. Why would nerves make someone squeeze their hand. Right now that's his only for of communicating.

[Asker]

Thank you! I pinched his finger yesterday just to see if he could feel it and he moved his hand back so i figured he HAD to feel it... doctors and lack of information just made me question my sanity

[NYkid27]

They're not holding back information from you. There's no way to tell when or if someone will wake up from a traumatic injury like that. All they can do is keep him alive and wait

[Waffles731]

I'm so so sorry but this isn't the place to ask.

[Asker]

I dont know where to ask :(
Sorry if i offended you.

[Waffles731]

It didn't offend me,
It made me feel sympathy.
I do know that it really can vary, he might recover or he might die.
The brain is a fickle thing. I hope he recovers and if not I hope he and his family will find peace

[Asker]

I think im just finding it hard to understand because of the lack of information...

But thank you

[bcromartie]

So what's your question?