Woman Wakes After Heart Stopped, Rigor Mortis Set In

Friday , May 23, 2008

Val Thomas�?doctors honestly can’t explain how she is alive today.

Thomas, who lives in West Virginia, is being called a medical miracle after she suffered two heart attacks and had no brain waves for more than 17 hours; reports NewsNet5.com.

Thomas�?heart stopped around 1:30 a.m. Saturday and doctors said she had no pulse. Rigor mortis started to set in, and she was placed on a respiratory machine.

“Her skin had already started to harden and her fingers curled,�?Thomas�?son, Jim, told NewsNet5.com. “Death had set in.�?/P>

Thomas, 59, was rushed to a West Virginia hospital, where she was put on a special machine to induce hypothermia. This would allow her body to cool down for 24 hours before they would warm her up again, doctors explained.

However, Thomas�?heart stopped again after the procedure.

Her family said their goodbyes and Thomas�?tubes were removed, but she remained hooked on a ventilator as the possibility of organ donation was discussed.

However, Thomas woke up 10 minutes later and started talking.

“The nurse said, ‘I’m so sorry, Mrs. Thomas,�?and mom said, ‘That’s OK, honey, that’s OK,’�?Jim Thomas said.

Val Thomas was transferred to the Cleveland Clinic so that specialists could check her out, but doctors said they could find nothing wrong with her.

“I know God has something in store for me, another purpose,�?Val Thomas said. “I don’t know what it is, but I’m sure he’ll tell me.�?/P>