‘Brain dead’ man trapped inside body heard staff debate about turning off his life support

A man who was labeled “brain dead” made medical history by becoming the first person to recover from an extreme form of locked-in syndrome, after hearing doctors discussing how to turn off his life support. Jacob Handel, former director chef in boston, MassachusettsHis world was turned upside down in 2017 when he was diagnosed with acute toxic progressive leukoencephalopathy, which turned into locked-in syndrome and caused his body to shut down.

Despite being fully aware of his surroundings, he was unable to move, speak, blink or communicate due to complete paralysis. In a terrifying turn of events, he could hear medical staff debating whether to turn off their respirators. However, he managed to move his wrist and later developed blinking skills. After years of struggling, he has made an incredible recovery and can now speak and move independently.

He is the first person to recover from stage 4 acute toxic progressive leukoencephalopathy, a condition that can be triggered by brain trauma, infection and exposure to toxins. While it is unclear how Jacob contracted the disease, he believes his previous career as a chef and his exposure to chemicals may have played a role.

At age 35, Jacob’s life took a dramatic turn when he was diagnosed with a rare terminal brain disease. He shared: “Everything has changed after what happened: my perspective, my feelings. Everything is much more positive in every aspect,” he reports. the mirror we.