"Brain Dead" Woman Wakes Up From 7 Month Coma

A mother of two from Ohio survived a mysterious condition that made her "brain dead" for months. The patient was in a coma for seven months and woke up at the time when doctors decided to "pull the plug."

Kertisha Brabson fell into a coma in September 2018. Her mother said the 31-year-old patient acted funny before her she lost her consciousness.
“Something has taken over and ruining my daughter,” Kertease Williams told CBS affiliate WBNS. “I just don’t know what.”

Kertisha did strange things at the hospital like talking out of her head, reaching for things that were not there and dancing like she was at a concert. She was later diagnosed with Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, which caused her body to fight its own brain cells.

Kertisha fell into a coma after experiencing a seizure and spent seven months unconscious in bed.

"The doctors told me she was brain-dead and pull the plug and all those things,” Kertease said. "I don’t have no doctor’s background. I’ve never been to school for anything, but when it’s your child, you’re going to do everything in your power to bring your daughter back.”

Her daughter was transferred to the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus for further treatments for her condition and seizures. Kertisha woke up on Apr. 7, 2019.



Shraddha Mainali, one of the doctors who treated Kertisha, said they were surprised that the patient survived coma. Kertisha was even able to follow simple commands after opening her eyes, The Sun reported Tuesday.

She left the hospital and celebrated the past holiday season with her mother and kids at home. Mainali said she is hopeful that Kertisha will soon do well and live a normal life.

What Is Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis?

Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is a neurological disease first identified in 2007, according to the University of Pennsylvania. NMDA receptors are proteins that play an important role in controlling electrical impulses in the brain.

NMDA support judgement, perception of reality, human interaction, memory and the control of unconscious activities or autonomic functions, like breathing. Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis occurs when antibodies from the immune system attack these receptors in the brain.

The condition affects more women than men. However, scientists have yet to identify how the receptor antibodies form in the body.

Symptoms of Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis

• Paranoia, hallucinations or aggression
• Loss of Consciousness
• Memory Deficit
• Speech Disorder
• Movement Disorder
• Seizures
• Autonomic Dysfunction