such a condition is generally caused by severe brain damage as a result of a stroke, Alzheimers disease, or drug overdose. These conditions would cause a lack of oxygenated blood supply to the brain, killing portions of the brain. Patients will then be likely to lose much brain activity, the ability to full expand their lungs (this inability may cause infections in the lungs, and/or the ability to ingest solid food. Therefore, the patients must be linked to respirators and/or feeding tubes. The respirator may causes choking thus the body jerks about giving the perception of serious pain. The artificial nutrition will cause bloating of the face, giving a Porky Pig like complexion. Also, the brain damage may result in tensing of the muscles as with stroke victims, giving the body a rigid and contorted form. However, even though the patients have lost brain function, some may still have the ability to move their eyes, but without the brain to interpret the images. This is probably the most disconcerting aspect for the family to witness, to see the eyes move but to know that the patient is brain dead. This is very different from the idealized physical beauty of both Snow White and Sleeping Beauty.Just as the difference of appearance is drastically different between stories and reality, so is the difference of the role of the handsome prince and reality. In fact, statistically, the patients face an up hill battle that a kiss from a prince can do nothing to help. Most patients who are in such a condition are essentially brain dead, with only an insignificant amount of brain activity. All patients who have been in the state for over 12 months have only a 1 in 62 chance of recovering, and no one have ever awakened after 30 months of being comatose.These are grim details and statistics that should change peoples misguided concepts of comas. Patients are not in a peaceful slumber; their bodies are suffering physically and mentally. ...
