Another Unexpected Recovery from a Brain Dead Accident Victim

ARTICLE SYNOPSIS:

A young Oklahoman who suffered catastrophic brain injuries from a four-wheeler accident and was declared legally and medically dead, showed signs of life minutes before his life support system was to be shut down.
Follow this link to the original source: "Zack Dunlap and his family talk about his recovery"

COMMENTARY:

In November 2007, Zack Dunlap suffered a broken collarbone, multiple skull fractures, and, according to doctors, "absolutely catastrophic" brain injuries after his four-wheeler flipped over.

After a medical team determined that there was no blood flow to Dunlap’s brain, he was declared legally and medically dead by a medical team. His devastated family decided to remove him from life support and made arrangements for organ donation. A medical team prepared to harvest his organs, and a helicopter was on the way to transport those organs to another hospital.

In the intervening time, the extended family and friends gathered together to say their goodbyes. Dunlap’s grandmother prayed for "Just a miracle. That he was too young for God to take him. It wasn’t time." His cousins, Dan and Christie Coffin, both nurses, prayed for ten minutes, even telling Zack to ask God for help. Suddenly there was a feeling something was changing. They viewed the monitor and thought it showed traces of improvement. Dan checked Zack’s reflexes by drawing the blunt edge of a pocketknife the length of his foot and Zack’s foot jerked back. Then Dan pressed his fingernail underneath Zack’s, and a stronger reaction occurred. This was a purposeful movement to the Coffins, but hospital personnel put it down to memory reflexes.

Nevertheless, medical treatment was ordered resumed — and Zack opened his eyes five days later. Two days after that, he was off the ventilator. After a week went by he spoke his first words and started walking.

Dunlap does not remember the accident, but does remember the doctor declaring him dead. "I heard it and it just made me mad inside." He told Dateline NBC that he wanted to throw the doctors through the window. Dunlap’s grandmother commented, "I have seen a miracle. I’ve got proof of it," as the tears still rolled down her face.

Forty-eight days after being declared dead, Zack returned home under his own power. He intends to start driving a car again, but says, "No more 4-wheeling." Fishing looks much better to him right now.
These types of "miracles" that come to our attention really do challenge the medical community’s protocols when it comes to medical treatment of the minimally conscious and even brain-dead patients. But this can only be for the better. The more miracles there are, the more improved and longer-lasting treatments will become. Perhaps others will be given the time and care they need to recover, and not so quickly relegated to the morgue.