Brain Injured Patients Need More Time

Sam Hemming and her boyfriend were in an accident where she sustained a serious brain injury.  Only nineteen days afterward, doctors gave up all hope and told the family it was time to turn off the ventilator.  They said their goodbyes and just before the switch was flipped, Sam wiggled a toe.  Doctors gave her a tracheotomy and a few days later she was breathing on her own.  Now she’s walking and talking.  Sam needs more therapy and her road is long but she’s on her way.  Tragically, every day a patient is given up for dead and prematurely killed by the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment.  Doctors must give the brain a longer time to heal.  Imagine being a patient, aware of your surroundings as the doctors give up on you, flip off the switch and you slowly suffocate.