Because so many of my friends are extreme caregivers, I really loved this NPR story about a boy who was in coma for twelve years. Turns out that he was aware the whole time.
How many of those non-verbal autistic kids have a life inside their heads? Ian can describe in shocking details events that happened years ago, when he was seemingly in his own world and unaware.
One of my best friends from high school is caring for her son, a former Harvard student, who is now in a semi-vegetative state due to severe encephalitis. I spent a day with the family last summer. I don’t have the words to describe the enormous strength of this family.
Apt. 11d 
To some extent, all children (maybe all people) have a strange unknowable inner life. I remember the summer when my daughter was one, and she had a little inflatable wading pool. She only spoke a handful of words. So we used the word “pool,” but she never did. Then, the following winter, she said something about her pool, even though she hadn’t heard the word in six months. Very strange.
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The novel to read is Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo.
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Yes! Haven’t read that in a zillion years.
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Fascinating story and a reminder to all of us that “assume competence” is a good idea. When I first learned of “locked in” syndrome (associated with a brainstem stroke), I remember thinking that it was the most horrifying situation imaginable (brain perfectly functioning, no ability to move your body). You can move your eyes, though, and technology is allowing people in that situation to break through, as it did for this child/man.
I read some of your friend’s caring bridge, site, and, indeed it is remarkable what some people can do, when they have to. There’s a growing ability of educated, dedicated folks to advance science.
Interesting concept, actually, more generally applicable. I’ve been in a couple of situations when people assumed I didn’t speak English (say, standing on the Piazza St. Marco in Venice) and it’s fairly foolish to make that assumption about someone you don’t know.
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