Going into a coma can be a frightening and life-changing experience. For some people, comas last only a few days or weeks before they regain consciousness. But for others, comas can drag on for months, years, or even decades. This raises the question – what is the longest recorded time someone has remained comatose before waking up?
What is a Coma?
First, it helps to understand what exactly a coma is. Essentially, a coma is a prolonged state of unconsciousness. It is caused by severe injury or illness that affects the brain’s ability to remain awake and aware. There are several levels of coma, ranging from deep comas where the person is completely unresponsive, to lighter comas where the person may move or react somewhat but remains unconscious. The brain is still functioning in a coma, but at a very basic level.
There are two main types of coma:
- Medically induced coma – this is an artificially induced coma, deliberately put in place with anesthesia drugs to help protect the brain and body while it heals. This is usually done after major trauma or during certain medical procedures.
- Natural/Spontaneous coma – this occurs as a result of injury, illness, or other underlying condition like stroke or brain infection. The brain goes into a coma state on its own in order to try to heal.
Comas are considered a medical emergency because prolonged unconsciousness can have serious effects. The longer someone is in a coma, the less likely they may be to fully recover. Taking care of a coma patient requires intense medical support and monitoring.
Longest Recorded Comas
There are some remarkable cases throughout history of individuals surviving comas lasting weeks, months, and years at a time. Here are some of the longest reported coma cases on record:
37 Years – Terry Wallis
Arkansas native Terry Wallis holds the record for the longest coma ever documented. In 1984, at age 19, Wallis was in a car accident that left him quadriplegic and comatose. After 19 years in a deep coma, showing only minimal consciousness, he began slowly emerging and regaining awareness. Over the next few years he gradually became more alert and functional, eventually able to speak and recall memories. However it was a slow process with long plateaus. In total Wallis spent an astounding 37 years in an unresponsive or minimally conscious coma before transitioning back to fuller awareness.
19 Years – Munira Abdulla
In 1991 in the United Arab Emirates, Munira Abdulla was left in a coma after a serious car accident. She was 32 years old at the time. Doctors believed she would not recover due to her severe brain oxygen deprivation. However Abdulla regained consciousness 19 years later, in 2018, at age 45. She is still recovering slowly but has been able to communicate and recall events prior to the accident. Doctors have been astounded by her recovery after such a lengthy coma duration.
16 Years – Terry Vance Garner
Oregon man Terry Vance Garner went into a coma in 2002 at age 38 after he tried to rescue a calf from a farm accident and was injured. Doctors gave him only a small chance of survival, but 16 years later in 2018 he emerged from the coma, regained speech and motor skills. Now in his 50s, Garner is undergoing physical therapy to rebuild muscle and mobility lost after over a decade in an unresponsive state.
10 Years – Jan Grzebski
Polish railroad worker Jan Grzebski entered a coma after a train accident in 1988 at age 42. He awoke from his coma 19 years later in 2007. Doctors were amazed at his awakening and recovery after so many years unresponsive. However Grzebski was confused to find the world dramatically changed – unaware that communism had fallen and technology greatly advanced during his decade-long coma.
6 years – Terry Hopkins
In 2010, New Yorker Terry Hopkins suffered a heart attack and stroke that left him in a coma for 6 years. His family maintained hope even though doctors gave little chance of him waking up after the first year. In 2016 Hopkins regained consciousness, initially only able to communicate by blinks and nods. But within a year he made a nearly full recovery and was able to go back to work and drive again.
Longest Medically Induced Comas
For medically induced comas, where unconsciousness is deliberately maintained for a period of time by medical staff, there are also some notable long-duration cases:
1 Year – George Taylor
George Taylor entered the longest recorded medically induced coma in 1966 at age 9 in the United Kingdom. He had a rare neurological illness, and doctors felt a prolonged coma would give his brain the best chance to heal. Taylor was put in a coma for a full year, before being brought back to consciousness. Thankfully the coma treatment was successful, and Taylor recovered and went on to have a full healthy life.
10 Months – Sarah Scantlin
In 1984, Sarah Scantlin was hit by a drunk driver at age 18 and severely injured. She was in a coma for a month after the accident. Doctors then medically induced a further coma for 9 months to allow her brain and body to recover. In total, Scantlin was unconscious for 10 months. In 2005, she stunned doctors by beginning to speak and move again after 20 years of minimal consciousness. Today she continues recovering slowly but has been able to recall some memories and interact.
2 Months – Carrie Coons
Illinois woman Carrie Coons suffered a stroke shortly after giving birth in 2011 that left her in a coma. Doctors induced a 60-day therapeutic coma to protect her brain, followed by a 30-day gradual awakening process. Coons eventually awoke and recovered well, relearning how to walk and talk within months. She is now raising awareness of the benefits of induced coma treatment after her successful 90-day coma experience.
Factors Affecting Coma Outcomes
Why do some people remain trapped in comas for years at a time while others recover in a matter of days or weeks? There are a few key factors that influence coma duration and outcomes:
- Cause – The underlying reason for the coma has a major impact. Traumatic brain injury from events like car accidents often cause more persistent comas than something transient like an infection.
- Severity – The extent of damage and how widespread it is affects coma length. Mild, localized brain damage may heal faster.
- Age – Younger people’s brains tend to be more resilient and able to reconnect and heal from comas better than older individuals.
- Brain plasticity – This refers to the brain’s ability to adapt, form new connections and “rewire” itself after injury. Greater neuroplasticity leads to better recovery.
- Medical care – The quality of medical treatment available affects the likelihood of emerging from a long coma and resuming functioning.
Even mild stimulation like hearing a loved one’s voice or music may help some people regain consciousness from a persistent coma state. But every case is unique – there are always exceptional stories of miraculous awakenings after months or years that defy the odds.
Recovery and Outlook
Unfortunately, the longer someone remains in a coma, the higher the risks of lasting effects. These include:
- Memory and cognitive problems
- Difficulty walking, communicating, and caring for oneself
- Paralysis or muscle atrophy
- Loss of bladder control and other functions
- Change in personality
- Increased risk of infection, blood clots, and other complications
Coma patients require intensive, around-the-clock supportive medical care and rehabilitation. The costs of long-term coma care can easily run into the millions. Recovery is gradual, frustrating, and incomplete in many cases – it may take months or years to regain basic abilities like eating, walking and talking after a prolonged coma.
However, the fact that people like Terry Wallis can emerge after 19 years in a minimally conscious state and gradually return to interactive life is truly remarkable. It speaks to the incredible resilience of the human brain if given sufficient time, the right stimulation, and medical support. For loved ones caring for someone in a long-term coma, these cases provide a glimmer of hope.
Conclusion
The longest verified period of time spent in a coma and surviving is an astonishing 37 years, in the incredible case of Terry Wallis. However, comas lasting 10, 15 or even 20 years are not unheard of. What is clear is that comas have the potential to last for unimaginably lengthy periods of time in certain situations. With intensive around-the-clock care and rehabilitation, it remains possible for at least some patients to eventually wake up and regain function even after many years in an unresponsive state. Though rare, these exceptional awakenings after years or decades spent comatose give hope that with the remarkable plasticity of the human brain, recovery may still be possible.