Case # 2: Coma and Hemiplegia after Brain Surgery

December 2^nd, 1994

I received a call from Linda, a former student at The Homeopathic College. Michaela, a female African-American employee of hers, had been playing “catch” with Rachel, Michaela’s ten-year-old daughter. When Michaela slipped and lost her balance, Rachel fell and hit the back of her head against the wooden armrest of the couch. The girl seemed okay at first, but then Michaela noticed that she looked pale and disoriented. She immediately took her to the ER at Duke University Medical Center (DUMC), in Durham, NC, where Michaela was immediately arrested for “child abuse,” while Rachel was taken to have brain surgery for subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Rachel survived the surgery; however she slipped into a coma within the hour. Michaela, who was a single mother of two, had given Linda power of attorney and temporary custody so she could look after her child while she was awaiting trial. All of this had happened a week prior to her call. For the past week Linda had brought Rachel various remedies in medium to high centesimal potencies—Arnica montana, Carbo vegetabilis, and Strontium carbonicum—without effect. Linda was calling to see if I could help.
Linda met me at the hospital and introduced me to the attending physician who informed us that the girl has already been transferred to a facility for the care of comatose patients. However, he added, I could see her because I had permission from the legal guardian. Following his directions through a maze of long hallways and elevators, I found the girl in a darkened room, lying on a platform-like bed, attached to some electronic equipment and attended to by a nurse.
The nurse had been told to expect my visit, reminding me that her patient was in a coma and that she could not receive medication of any kind. I assured her I had no intention of giving her any medication. She repeated her reminder, as if she did not believe me. She added that Rachel could be in this state for weeks. Was she trying to discourage me? Then she left the room, shaking her head, to attend to her many other comatose patients. I have seen similar reactions of disbelief before on the part of medical personnel or even some family members when I was called into hopeless cases, where the staff or family member “knew” that nothing further could be done.
While my eyes adjusted to the dimmed lighting, I began to observe the girl looking for clues. She was lying on her back motionless and looked like she was sleeping, except for her half-open eyes. She was breathing calmly but more slowly than normal and apparently with some difficulty, as I could hear a regular snoring sound. Her pulse was full and slow. There was no response to touch. I looked closely at her eyes and could see that her pupils were contracted despite the dark room. Her face appeared darker than expected, taking into consideration her normal dark skin color. I talked to her; however, there was no reaction of any kind.
I returned to the office and called Linda. She was to pick up the remedy Opium 1Q, one pellet in water and apply a haptic dose to Rachel’s forehead, repeating once daily for up to ten days, succussing before each dose. Linda promised she would do her best.

December 7^th, 1994

Linda called, overjoyed with good news. “Rachel is out of the coma! I gave her the dose on the forehead every day. After the first dose I saw a twitching of her toe. Today I was told she has been out of the coma for 24 hours and is responsive. However she has difficulty talking, she is drowsy, disoriented, and according to the neurologist, she is paralyzed on the whole left side.” The first two symptoms are to be expected after brain surgery and coma, and paralysis is not uncommon.
I was unable to see Rachel at the hospital, so I asked Linda to call me from there. Linda described Rachel making strange hand movements, as if she was picking at her bedcovers. She was able to make sounds but was unable to articulate, eat or even swallow. The remedy selected was Helleborus, in liquid Q-potency, plussed daily, in the haptic dose, applied to her arm, since the nurses were very nervous about giving anything by mouth, in alternation with Arnica montana 1Q. When giving remedies in hospital it is a good idea to stick to the haptic or olfactory dose—either applying the liquid dose to the skin or holding the bottle under the nose to sniff it.

January 19^th, 1995

The next remedy I selected was Lachesis 1Q in alternation with Arnica montana 2Q, in standard plussed doses, with Arnica montana to be discontinued after a week. Arnica montana can sometimes work wonders in symptoms remaining after surgery; in this case it clearly did. After Arnica, Lachesis is clinically the most successful remedy in left-sided cases of hemiplegia resulting from brain hemorrhage. Linda gave the remedies to her—now in the olfactory dose, since the nurses felt comfortable with this route of administration.
I saw Rachel at the end of another ten days in her hospital room. She was now sitting up in bed and was able to eat and swallow with assistance. She was trying to talk. The attending physician was very happy with her progress. She was receiving speech therapy.

February 28^th, 1995

Linda had been giving Rachel Lachesis 2-4Q, daily, ten days each. Rachel was able to use a pencil with her left hand. She was walking with a walker. She still had difficulty pronouncing words, but her overall progress in all areas was nothing short of phenomenal. I would see her again in six weeks.
Two weeks later she was transferred to rehabilitation. During the first month of rehabilitation she continued to improve, continuing on ascending Q-potencies of Lachesis. She had almost normal use of the left hand and leg. The last entry in my notes was based on Linda’s observations, “Walking well, still talking with difficulty.”

March 23^rd, 1995

Linda reported that the court had ruled to give the state custody over Rachel, with visitation rights for Michaela after her release from incarceration. This meant Linda could no longer visit her. Michaela was sentenced to six months in a state penitentiary plus probation. This ended Linda’s temporary custody and Rachel’s homeopathic treatment.