BRAIN INJURY SUFFERER HAS NEW LEASE ON LIFE

After Jeff Harms' car accident in 1986, he spent 19 days in a coma and several years recovering.

Now, nearly 10 years later, he has worked out a system that allows him to drive, deliver speeches and volunteer at a local hospital. He spends his free time trying to educate people about brain trauma.

Harms was one of hundreds of people Denise Hutchison contacted about her husband, Richard "Hutch" Hutchison, looking for answers to complicated questions about brain injuries.

Although his short-term memory was affected by the accident, Harms remembers well the frustration he experienced during recovery. He spent day after day watching television, rising from the couch only to eat or use the bathroom.

Help from his parents and eventually therapy made the difference, but it wasn't easy.

"There has to be a regimen," he said. "For example, if Hutch doesn't like Denise leaving, she may have to go outside three or four times a day, using some excuse, and say she will be back in three minutes. Then she should gradually increase the time.

"By gradual, I mean in a month she may be able to stay outside 10 minutes."

Harms noted that Hutch's accident was only six months ago. Just the fact that he isn't having as many violent episodes is encouraging, Harms said.

He encouraged people to get more education about brain injuries and try to understand victims.

"You have never experienced frustration like that," he said. "You come to, and it's just like you've been dropped onto the Earth."