Clayton Mother and Son
Is there a kind of feeling that can transcend life and death?
In a critical condition, a British mother in deep coma was miraculously awakened by her son's voice. The urgent wish for an early reunion with her son enabled this mother to recover rapidly, which greatly surprised all the doctors.
Rekindling Hope for Life
This mother who miraculously woke up is Maureen Clayon, aged 32.
In late July this year, Maureen contracted food poisoning at a fast-food restaurant in Wrexham, North Wales, and was infected with E. coli. She suffered from symptoms such as convulsions and renal failure, her life hanging by a thread. Subsequently, she was sent to the hospital. To minimize the side effects of treatment, the doctors induced her into a coma through medication. Maureen thus entered a comatose state and received dialysis treatment.
After waking up, Maureen frankly admitted that she had once been unable to bear the pain of illness, almost losing her will to live. However, after hearing the voice of her infant son, Ollie, she reignited her hope for life. "I admit I thought about giving up. In fact, I felt that living was worse than dying," the UK's Daily Telegraph quoted Maureen as saying on September 9, "But when I heard Ollie's voice, I told myself, 'You have to survive.'"
Maureen believed that it was her attachment and longing for Ollie that helped her overcome the disease. Maureen said, "I only remember lying there, thinking about hugging him, seeing him, touching his little hands... I knew I had to survive because he needed a mother..."
Unwavering Husband
Ollie's voice "awakened" Maureen, but Maureen also believed that her husband Paul, who stayed by her side unwaveringly throughout, played an indispensable role.
During Maureen's coma, she required intensive care. To avoid infection by bacteria, Ollie, who was only 11 weeks old, could not enter the ward to visit his mother.
The meticulous Paul recorded Ollie's voice, took photos, and made videos of him. Maureen said that although she was in a coma, she could vaguely hear Ollie's voice. "Paul played Ollie's voice for me, and I heard it. Then I told myself, 'I cannot give up, I must survive'... Thank God, I made it." After being in a coma for five weeks, Maureen continued to receive intensive care for three more weeks. Once her condition stabilized, she was transferred to a general ward. As soon as Maureen was moved to the general ward, she eagerly reunited with Ollie. Currently, apart from minor liver damage, Maureen's body has basically recovered.
By Ye Shenglin (Xinhua News Agency)