Woman Wakes After 20 Year Coma, Impacts Terri Schaivo Legal Battle

by Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com Editor, February 14, 2005

Clearwater, FL (LifeNews.com) -- Sarah Scantlin was unable to speak
after an automobile accident in which a drunk driver crashed into
her, leaving her in a coma. Though doctors believed her brain was
injured so badly in the accident that should would never be able to
talk again and spend her life in a vegetative state, Scantlin began
speaking a week ago.

Sarah's friends and family gathered Saturday at the health care
center where she lives to celebrate. "She's 100 percent Sarah again.
The family is back together, and it's just simply a joyous
situation," her father, Jim Scantlin, told CNN.

Scantlin was 18 when she was injured and, until last month, she was
aware of her surroundings but unable to speak. Suddenly, she began
talking to workers at the health care center.

"It just happened one day and nobody really knows why," said Sharon
Kuepker, administrator for the Golden Plains Health Care Center.

Now, Scantlin is forming words, counting, and remembering people and
places. "You condition yourself to be able to try to deal with
something like this, and then all of the sudden, the world instantly
changed from despair to joy because it's amazing how important
communication is between human beings," her father told the
Associated Press.

Doctors have no explanation but pro-life advocates believe the case
proves that Terri Schiavo, who is not in a PVS state, could find her
disabled condition improved if she were given proper medical care
and rehabilitative treatment.

Robert Schindler, Terri's father, says he hopes the courts will see
this "miracle" and think of Terri. "In light of the miraculous
awakening of Miss Sarah Scantlin in Kansas and the success of the
new brainwave test reported ... this week, my daughter deserves to
have this test before she is starved to death by judicial decree,"
Schindler said.

Schindler is referring to a study released last week showing the
level of neural activity of disabled patients who listened to tapes
of their loved ones sharing family experiences matched that of the
healthy patients.

The Schindlers say videotape shown on CNN of Sarah interacting with
her parents prior to speaking is remarkably similar to videos of
Terri interacting her family.

Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family says the Scantlin case shows
why Florida courts should spare Terri Schiavo's life and prevent her
estranged husband from ending her life.

"Terri Schiavo deserves the same chance at life that Sarah Scantlin
was given," Dobson said. "Both cases have involved women who
suffered debilitating injuries and continued to live in a disabled
state. Today we celebrate the news that Ms. Scantlin has regained
her memory and ability to speak, and is apparently on the road to
recovery."

"Mental disabilities do not damage a person's worth -- the
preciousness of life is not defined by one's abilities," Dobson
added. "Those who suffer a disabling injury are entitled to the same
right to life as we all are. Those seeking to take away Mrs.
Schiavo's right to life should have second thoughts after hearing
Sarah Scantlin's story."

LAST PARAGRAPH GREAT NEWS!!!!! Terri's parents are traveling to
Kansas to meet with Sarah and her family

FV SAYS: PLEASE EMAIL THIS AND PUBLISH ELSEWHERE. Editor gave
permission for re-distribution.