A 19-year-old teenager who got hit by a car has woken up from an 11-month coma not knowing that there is a pandemic going on.
The man also caught the virus 3 times when he was in coma.
Joseph Flavill, who is also known as Joe, got hit by a car when he was walking near his house in Tutbury, Staffordshire.
The incident happened on March 1, 2020, 3 weeks before the first national lockdown of Britain.
After walking up, he is now showing signs of recovering.
He is now capable of communicating through blinks, smiles, and moving his limps on cue.
But because of the pandemic, his family are unable to visit him.
Sally Flavill-Smith, the aunt of the teen, said:
It’s the best we have seen him recently. It might seem like little progress but the fact he can give the nurse a high five is a really big step. It’s unbelievably hard for his mum not being able to see him. We also don’t know how much he understands as his accident was before the first lockdown and it’s almost like he has slept through the whole pandemic. It’s hard as we know he is more alert, but how do you explain the pandemic to someone who has been in a coma? A brain injury is very much the unknown, so we haven’t been given an idea of what to expect really.
Joe was rushed to the Leicester General Hospital after the crash last year.
He spent 6 months there before moving to the Adderley Green, a neurological rehabilitation centre in Stoke-on-Trent.
While he was in coma, he contracted the coronavirus.
He ended up testing positive once again after waking up from the coma.
Sally added:
At first his eyes were open but he wasn’t responding to anything, but over the last few weeks he’s taken amazing steps. He’s really trying to engage and blinks and smiles. He’s raising his limbs on instruction. He’s making really good progress. We’ve got to try to remain positive. He’s definitely making improvements.
The family of the teenager has set up a GoFundMe Page.
They said in the page:
May 2020, Joseph was due to attend Buckingham Palace to receive his Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. Until 1st March 2020, Joe’s life was was full of sport – hockey, cricket, surfing, skiing and a passion for music, all whilst completing his final year of his A-levels. He had ambition and passion, you name it he did it with huge energy and a cheeky grin. On March 1st, 18 years of energy and laughter came to an abrupt standstill when Joe was tragically hit by a car and received a severe traumatic brain injury, from which he still hasn’t woken up. He has successfully fought off Covid 19 and is responding to basic stimulus and is being treated at Leicester General Hospital, but remains in a coma. Part of the support we want to give Joe and Sharon is to raise funds for the path ahead. It’s unclear what the long term impact on Joseph will be, but we do know that the journey will be long and costly. We will update the website with Joe’s progress and specific needs, equipment and rehabilitation treatment as we go along. There are many ways in which you are able to get involved to help Joe, please follow us on www.josephsjourney.co.uk for all our news and activities planned. We would be delighted if you would be able to get involved and support Joe in his journey.
You can donate by clicking here.