Brain-injured man speaks after ten years

From Newsday:

A firefighter brain-damaged in a 1995 roof collapse had an "amazing" weekend, recognizing and speaking with his four sons and other family and friends for the first time in years, a family spokesman said Monday.

"I want to talk to my wife," Donald Herbert said out of the blue Saturday at the skilled nursing facility where he has lived for more than seven years. Staff members put Linda Herbert on the telephone.

It was the first of many conversations he had during a 14-hour stretch, Herbert's uncle, Simon Manka said.

The family is being unusually secretive about his previous as well as his current condition. The hospital seems elated.

Terri Schiavo could not be reached for comments.

Posted by Danny Carlton at May 3, 2005 10:36 AM