In a sudden turn of events, Vanja Gudac (43) was rushed to the hospital after collapsing due to a health emergency. Only hours after being admitted, medical staff discovered him on the toilet floor, choking on a fig that had gotten stuck in his throat. As a result, Vanja’s brain ran out of oxygen and he fell into a coma. The entire family was devastated as their idyllic life crumbled like a house of cards within seconds.
The first 15 days of Vanja’s coma were filled with uncertainty and fear for his family. Doctors told them that he wouldn’t survive, but then they asked when they could take him home. Vera Gudac, Vanja’s mother, described him as “a piece of furniture” that they no longer wanted to give up on.
Tatjana Popović Naglić, who is Vanja’s cousin, said that he reacts best to music, videos and audio messages. For her, the biggest reward is when he gives her a wink and a handshake. Despite the institutions giving up on Vanja, she refused to give up on him and believes that he still has hope for a better tomorrow.
Vlado Naglić, another cousin of Vanja’s who lives in Canada, said that every video and picture he receives means “soul food” for him and gives him hope for the future. He encouraged everyone who heard Vanja’s story to send them messages of support.
According to Domagoj Mikić from Dnevnik Nova TV, neurosurgeon Marina Raguž confirmed that messages can stimulate the brain and encourage patients to communicate. She explained that families are always encouraged to talk to their loved ones in comas and play music or engage in other forms of stimulation because it can potentially help them regain consciousness.
Raguž also mentioned several bizarre cases where deep brain stimulation was considered as an experimental treatment option for children who choked on pills or suffocated while playing with balloons. However, she noted that there are several criteria that must be met before someone can be considered as a candidate for this method including neurophysiological, neuroradiological and clinical criteria which involve testing whether there is communication between the brain and periphery and determining the patient’s condition through various radiological tests before proceeding with any treatment methods.
In conclusion, Vanja’s story serves as a reminder of how important it is for families to remain engaged with their loved ones in comas and use all available resources including music videos or audio messages to keep them hopeful for recovery.
