.c The Associated Press

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Ark. (July 9) - The words began tumbling out - at first just a few nouns and eventually a torrent of phrases.

Terry Wallis, who had been in a coma since a 1984 car accident, regained consciousness last month to the surprise of doctors and the delight of his family, including his mother, who heard his first word in 19 years.

``He started out with 'Mom' and surprised her and then it was 'Pepsi' and then it was 'milk.' And now it's anything he wants to say,'' Stone County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center social director Alesha Badgley said Tuesday.

His mother, Angilee Wallis, called her son's return to consciousness a miracle: ``I couldn't tell you my first thought, I just fell over on the floor,'' she said.

Terry Wallis, now 39, was riding with a friend in July 1984 when their car left the road and plunged into a creek. Wallis and his friend were found the next day underneath a bridge. The friend was dead and Wallis was comatose.

Wallis' daughter, Amber, was born shortly before the accident, and the coma dragged on for almost two decades. She is now 19 and her dad has said he wants to walk again, for her. He is a quadriplegic as a result of the crash.

``It's been hard dealing with it, it's been hard realizing the man I married can't be there,'' said Wallis' wife, Sandi. ``We all, the whole family, missed out on his company.''

The silence ended June 12 when Wallis uttered his first word. He was able to talk a little more a day later and has improved ever since.

Terry's father, Jerry Wallis, said his son talks almost nonstop now, but it seems as though time stopped for him after the wreck. Terry still believes Ronald Reagan is the president.

Terry has asked to speak to his grandmother, who died several years ago, and even recited her phone number - something everyone else in the family had forgotten.

``You see, he's still back in 1984,'' said Jerry Wallis.

For the Wallis family, Terry's return to consciousness has been a blessing.

Perry Wallis, Terry' brother, said ``just to put it bluntly, it was pure hell to see your brother laying there, not knowing if you'll ever talk to him again.''

The timing of the recovery also has raised eyebrows.

``It's kind of peculiar. He wrecked on Friday the 13th and 19 years later he started talking on Friday the 13th,'' Jerry Wallis said.

I wonder what he thinks of what Prince has done since PR...LOL

This is amazing...I hope he adjusts well.

wow, i cant even imagine...
its a trip that he is out of a coma!

It reminds me of the Stephen King novel/ David Cronenberg movie The Dead Zone

MinneapolisFunk said:

You mean Prince has new music out?

Sweeny79 said:

oh, the power of the billion-dollar marketing industry! just amazing! i'm certainly happy for the family, but i can't help but wonder what the folks at Coke would have paid that family to tell the press that his second word was "Coke"...

I heard the third thing he asked is whether his welcome pack had come through from The New Breed Fan Club yet...

jn2 said:

That's what it reminded me of too! Way scary!

On a local radio station as the dj was telling this story he said, "Well this guy is the only person in America who still thinks that Prince and Michael Jackson are cool."

Wow that is truly a miracle, usually only about five percent of the people in a deep coma actually wake-up.

Hate to be negative, but don't believe everything you read. I'd like to hear or read an interview from a physician involved in this case. Interesting that he's quadriplegic with additional plans to walk. After 19 years, THAT would be reportable! I'd recommend this journal for reporting of extraordinary events:

TheMax said:

naaan, if extraordinary events is what you want, i'd go for this little number:

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I stand corrected...

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

if really want to be informed, you have to get a subscription to this paper.

magnificentsynthesizer667 said: