Health: New Treatment Could Prevent Severe Disabilities In Trauma Patients

By Stephanie Stahl

PHILaDELPHIA (CBS) Traumatic brain injuries are often fatal or leave people with severe disabilities. Now a breakthrough treatment is being tested here in Philadelphia that could change everything. 3 On Your Side Health Reporter speaks with a patient who wasnt expect to survive.

It was the worst kind of accident, a motorcycle crash. He wasnt wearing a helmet, and suffered a catastrophic brain injury.

It was heart breaking. It was tough, said Anna Huffman, whos husband Roger was in the accident this past October. Doctors said he was close to death. If he survived he could be severely disabled.

If it was paralyzed or death, Id take the death, said Roger.

There were weeks of uncertainty, and desperation for the Pottsgrove couple whove been married 46 years.

When I was in the hospital I had a love hate relationship with her. I love seeing her coming to the hospital to see me. Oh God did I hate to see her leave, said Roger.

There are no more painful goodbyes. 65-year-old Roger beat the odds and is fine now, except for being a little more emotional than usual.

His remarkable recovery might be because of a new experimental treatment.

Hes doing amazingly well considering the extent of his injuries, said Dr. Mark Saks, at Hahnemann University Hospital. He is testing the pregnancy hormone progesterone on brain injured patients.

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Health: New Treatment Could Prevent Severe Disabilities In Trauma Patients