Lack of Oxygen to the Brain leading to a Coma

[Shadi's Rachie]

My Father-In-Law had an ulcer in his stomach which caused his stomach to rupture causing severe pressure which cut off his oxygen supply and he went unconscious.  My husband tried to give him mouth to mouth resuscitation until the ambulance arrived approx 15-20 minutes later.  He has been in a coma for 2 days and is on a life support machine.  The only sign of any brain activity so far is that he is taking some independent breaths.  How long can someone go without oxygen before there is brain damage ?  If someone has been without oxygen for 15 minutes is there any hope that they can wake from a coma without any brain damage.  If there is brain damage, is it always severe or does it depend on each patient ?

[beesuzanne]

Never lose hope. Miracles happen all the time.

[chuckswoman]

How is the father-in-law?

[misato]

hello. I have just read your posting about your father-in law. How is he doing?
My mother had a heart failure and had went into a cardiac arrest in the ambulance. CPR was performed while the ambulance was driving to the hospital( for about 19 minutes) but she didnt get her heart kick started til she got to the hospital. She was taken into ICU and they lowered her temperature right away to minimize any brain damage for about 3 days.
They were sedating her on purpose at the time but now that they took her out of sedation, she has opened her eyes and all but she is still hooked up to the ventilator (it's there to help her breathe even though she breathes on her own). they did some neurology testing to read her brain wave-signals and I am waiting for the results for now. I just wanted to hear your experience so I couldnt help to write you this post.

[Cookie122]

Each individual is different and the brain is so complex. What might cause serious brain damage in one person may only cause slight damage in another. People have been shot in, stabbed, and are missing large chunks of their brains and are able to live normal to somewhat normal lives. Don't give up, like someone else said miracles can happen, don't give up hope. Your father-in-law is able to sense everyone by his side and that will help him fight to come back.

[Hairgirl7]

The exact same thing happened to my mother on May 15, 2008. She has now been in a coma for 3 weeks, but we are patiently waiting, praying, singing, and talking to her so that she would know that we have not left her side. I will pray for your mother. I believe in miracles and will always have hope and believe that the Lord will bring our mothers back to us even better than before.