During the first few days he almost died,not because his trauma but because he was given a perfusion with artificial blood having wrong proportions. His lungs started to be filled by "water" and the doctors had lost hope to save him... exept one young doctress, who saved him.

Then, then he was in stage three coma...I don't thik I have to describe what it is. The most of the doctor's diagnostics was like "he will never wake up","it is better he not to wake up" and so on...

My wife and myself just not accepted it. We were spending as mach time as we can,days and nights making shifts, beside his bed taulking to him,playing his faforits song,bringing to his room his usual things.

I think that is what is now called "making nursing". But at this time this was not known and admitted by the medical personnel and we where considered like fools. Who speak to the"dead" body!

In about a month and half time Michel recovered basic vital fonctions,was disconected from the artificial lungs and transfered to one of the Paris hospital, because we are living in this city.He was still in coma.

Then,the professor,head of the this hospital said as the most encouraging think. He just said: Look, I don't know what will happen with Michel. You will tell me that.

After another month Michel gave the signes that he has waked up. He was just able to mouve slightly his right arm and to open and to clause the eyes when asked so. Since this moment we have brought him back at home. He was awake but almost completely paralised. Arms, legs, vocal cords, even eyeballs. He was only able to mouve his right arm and close and open the eyes.

Was not easy to communicate but we have find out that he didn't forgot the linguage but did all the numbers and counting. His past? Difficult to say. We don't know till now.

Then started a long period of recovery and reeducation. It stretched over years.... Voice came,then little by little arms then he left his weelchair...made few steps... then started to walk, slowely,very slowely...this took years.

For to finish with the "phisical" side of the story,today Michel can walk, however quiet slowely, he can't run at all. His has a very special voice... a "broken" one like an old man,but totaly comprehansif. He has an residual paralisis of hands i.e. he makes the thinks slowely as he has sommes difficulties to coordinate his mouvements. Also slight paralisis still exist for his lips and facial musles. Given from were he came,we thank God for Michel's present phisical condition.

Michel lives now in a small appartement near the our one. He can more or less take care of himself in a day to day life.

Now the "inellectual" side of the story:

One year after the accident Michel went back to the "normal" school. My wife has reteached him the numbers and other thinks he forgot. Haw to say...she was just great. When Michel returned to the school he was sill in a wheelchair and inable to write. Again, we where told that we are crazy to send him to this school.

With somme difficulties Michel, but still, Michel was able to follow the teaching. The firs incident happened when he was about 15. One day he told us that he don't want to be anymore with the normal kids but whant to go in a scool for the disabled.What happened is that the"normal"kids have rejected him. He wouldn't tell us this,we have learned this only later on.

So we have managed to send Michel to the school for the disabled. Their is only one such a school in Paris. The result was that Michel had had a very hard time. Half of the kids of this scholl were heavily disabled ones and other half "normal" kids in fact all of them having all kinds of beahvioral problems. Their was a constant fight between this two groops. Michel was not accepted by the "normal" kids and no more by the disabled. In fact his problem was,and still,that he is sommewhere in between. Most probably, Michel has suffered a lot.But being courageous he told us all this only by the end of the second year in this school. He even took a lot of care of one very disabled girl.

Michel spent the last two year of his scolarity in a normal high school. He was in his 17/18 and this was his best time.It was difficult for him to study, but with a lot of support he was making them.

Then went the time of the state exam for bachelor degree... And Michel felt short by 2 points out of 170 for to get it. And then our and HIS real problems have started.

Michel get depressed. As far as I know not because he missed his exam, but becuase he felt in love (queit normal!) but ,of cours,was rejected.

His depression lasted for years. He got,of cours,the suicidal ideas. Went several times to the hospital. Went to a special high school for the depressed students for a couple of years... Finaly got the exams equivalent to the bachelor degree...Still depressed... During his depression periods he turns his anger towards us,his parents. We now that this is normal,but still it not easy to take.

About three years ago it went to the point that we realy needed a brake, at least two weeks brake,from Michel, so I have sent him for two weeks to my fiend who was living in Hong Kong.Michel stayed with him six weeks and when he has returned he was,no not 100% OK, but much much better. Since then he still not realy depressed.Just time by time.. few days.

Other big problem. Michel can't get any job. However,since about a year and half he volonteers.He was lucky to find the organisation called "Plan Internationl". This organisations take care of the childrens who lives in the poor countries. Each day Michel works 4 or 5 hours by helping them with the mailing. This keep his occupied wich is most important. Now, Michel's biggest problem is that he is totaly isolated. He has no relationship,no friendship with anybody. His only contacts are within the family. Other problem is that Michel has not the maturity of the man 28 years old. This is quiet normal as he has no "real" life experience.In fact he is a strange mix of the tremendous courage,generosity,kindness and a difficult teenager.

I can tell much much more but am afraid that you are already annoyed with all this stuff and the whol story will take pages and pages.

Well if you know somebody who had a similar experience,who we can help by our experience or who can share with us their one...

Email Paul