Daily Dad News

Essex Father Awakes From Coma, Loses 17 Years Of Memories

December 27, 2011

An Essex man has risen from a medically induced coma after suffering cardiac arrest that additionally caused severe brain damage, losing 17 years of memories as a result. Gary Rogers, 43, was on vacation with his family in Turkey when the father of two fell ill after suffering a heart attack. Turkish officials in an intensive care unit held Rogers before sending him home to an Essex hospital where doctors there awoke Rogers from his slumber last year.

Linda, Rogers' wife, shared with British newspaper Daily Mail that rebuilding a life with her husband has been a struggle as she serves as his full-time caretaker. “Although some of Gary’s memories from longer ago have returned, he struggles to remember anything about the last year, or the two years leading up to his heart attack,” shared Mrs. Rogers.

Mrs. Rogers was told that her husband suffered significant brain damage, but the extent was unknown to her until she asked Rogers if he knew what year he was in. “I asked him what year it was, and he said 1994 - he was dumbfounded when I said it was 2010,” shared Mrs. Rogers. “I had to stay strong for the girls and Gary, but inside I was broken. The girls were crushed, knowing that their dad didn’t have a clue who they were. But we had to stick together and keep fighting. We knew we’d pull through it as a family.

Rogers’ daughters, 18 and 15, were strangers to their dad who couldn’t remember anything past the last 18 months leading up to his heart attack. With his wife’s care and assistance from the family via notes and photos, Rogers has pieced together parts of his life although he can’t even remember spending last Christmas with his family. However, Rogers is determined to rebuild his life with his family as best he can. “I am hoping to remember this Christmas and the way I look at it is that I will be with my beautiful girls and loving, caring wife, family and friends and that is what is important,” he said.

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