Imagine being trapped inside your own body unable to speak or move. Imagine you have a one-month-old baby and your doctors are telling your family that they recommend allowing you to die! This nightmarish situation happened to Nissa Smith.
In 2001, the Utah mother of three was nursing her one-month-old baby when she suddenly collapsed. She had had a stroke.
A day later in hospital, Nissa could not talk or move despite the fact she knew she what she wanted to say and do. Doctors did a brain scan and told her family there was little hope she would recover and to prepare for the worst.
But in fact, Nissa had locked-in syndrome, a rare condition which is caused by damage to specific portions of the lower brain and brainstem, with no damage to the upper brain.
The future looked grim, if it had not been for one nurse who saw a spark in Nissa’s eyes. “If you can hear me, close your eyes twice,” the nurse asked Nissa. Nissa closed her eyes twice.
Within hours, caregivers and family members learned to communicate with Nissa. It took months for Nissa to slowly regain movement and her speech, and years later she does so with some difficulty, but her recovery is truly miraculous!
Nissa’s story reminds me of Martin Pistorius, who spent a decade locked in his body!
Thank goodness her nurse noticed the subtle signs that Nissa was still alive.
Share this remarkable story with your family and friends!
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