A British student has woken up from an 11-month coma after a car accident, unaware of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Joseph Flavill, 19, of the UK, was rushed to hospital after suffering a serious brain injury when he was hit by a car while walking in Burton, Staffordshire, on 1 March. The sun reports.
Tutbury’s A-level student Joe went into a coma three weeks before the UK was submerged in its first national closure on 23 March.
He caught COVID twice in the hospital, but recovered and has now come out of a coma from the second stage. But it meant he was unaware of the pandemic that has affected billions of people around the world.
He now responds to loved ones, who have to communicate with him on FaceTime.
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“INCREDIBLY HARD”
Only Joe’s mother has been allowed to visit her under virus restrictions, and her relatives are now wondering how to explain the world’s COVID chaos to her.
Her aunt, Sally Flavill-Smith, said she has taken “amazing steps” in recent weeks and now blinks, smiles and lifts her legs as instructed.
“It simply came to our notice then. It might seem like little progress, but the fact that she can give a maximum of five to the nurse is a big step, ”she told Staffordshire Live.
“It’s incredibly difficult for his mother not to see him.
“We also do not know how much he understands his accident before the first closure and it is as if he had slept the whole pandemic.
“It’s difficult, because we know she’s more alert, but how does she explain the pandemic to someone who has been in a coma?
“A brain injury is almost unknown, so we’ve been left with no idea what to really expect.”
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Joe was in Leicester General Hospital, but was moved to Adderley Green Care Home in Stoke for neurological, physical and cognitive rehabilitation four months ago.
His mother was allowed to spend time with him at home on his 19th birthday, but he had to stay socially distant.
Joe, who studied at Blacksmith Academy, caught COVID once while in a coma and once after waking up, but is now progressing well.
Sally said her face lights up when she sees friends and family on the FaceTime screen.
His family wants him to restart his physiotherapy, which he had to stop because of COVID.
He had wanted to leave a year after his A levels to go on a trip, so now his family and friends are planning something special for him.
In a healthy and wholesome way, he who loved hockey had been waiting to attend Buckingham Palace to receive the Duke of Edinburgh’s gold award before the accident.
Family and friends have come together, with more than $ 59,000 raised to help Joe and his mother Sharon Priestley recover from the teen’s recovery.
Around 100 fundraisers have amassed 12,000km by bike, walking, running and rowing to take a virtual trip around the world.
You can donate through the GoFundMe page or through the Joseph’s Journey website.
This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission