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Donald Herbert (firefighter)

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American firefighter who awoke from a coma that lasted over 9 years (1961–2006)

Donald Herbert
BornDonald J. Herbert
(1961-05-07)May 7, 1961
Buffalo, New York, United States
Died (aged 44)
Buffalo, New York, United States
Resting placeHoly Cross Cemetery, Lackawanna, Erie County, New York, United States
OccupationFirefighter
Known forAwakening after over nine years in a minimally conscious state
SpouseLinda Blake
Children4

Donald J. Herbert (May 7, 1961 – February 21, 2006) was an American firefighter from Buffalo, New York who awoke from a minimally conscious state after more than 9 years.

Biography

Donald Herbert joined the Buffalo Fire Department in 1986. On the morning of December 29, 1995 the roof of a building in which he was fighting a fire collapsed, pinning him down and starving his brain of oxygen for over six minutes. He was rescued from the collapsed structure, but had a cardiac arrest and was taken to a hospital where he lapsed into a coma.

A year later, he regained consciousness for the first time but had speech and vision problems and could not eat or walk without help. Herbert could barely remember anything and he had no longer recognized his relatives and friends. In 1999, Herbert's wife Linda prevailed in a brief legal battle with his parents, Geraldine and Donald P. Herbert, over who would have control over decisions in the event of a medical emergency. He remained in a minimally conscious state for over nine years until, on April 30, 2005, he awoke and asked where his wife was. He was then able to speak to his friends and family for over 14 continuous hours. He had four children, who at the time of the accident were aged 14, 13, 11 and 3, and with whom he was able to speak for the first time in almost a decade. He asked how old he was, and how long he had been gone, expressing surprise when he learned that he had been unresponsive for almost ten years. His breakthrough came after he had been given a new cocktail of drugs normally used to treat Parkinson's, ADHD and depression.

Although virtually blinded by the accident and wheelchair bound due to muscular atrophy, he was able to play catch with his sons. However, he was never able to return to the level of communication as the day he woke up and spoke only sporadically from then on. He had numerous infections over the next several months and eventually died on February 21, 2006, as a result of pneumonia, surrounded by his family. Herbert is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, located at the intersection of South Park Avenue and Ridge Road in Lackawanna, New York.

During his time as a firefighter he received several medals and awards for his service, and is included on the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Of Herbert's four sons, two were firefighters and two were police officers. A relative of the Herbert family, Rich Blake, wrote a book about the event titled The Day Donny Herbert Woke Up. His son, Patrick Herbert, also followed his father's firefighting career path and was promoted to Lieutenant in 2018.

See also

References

  1. "Obituary information for Donald J. Herbert". Amigone Funeral Home. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  2. "Donald Joseph "Don" Herbert (1961-2006) - Find a Grave Memorial". Find a Grave. Archived from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  3. "Donald Herbert Obituary (2006) - Buffalo, NY - Buffalo News". Legacy.com. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  4. ^ "Donald J. Herbert". National Fallen Firefighters Memorial. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  5. Good Morning America (November 27, 2007). "Excerpt: 'The Day Donny Herbert Woke Up'". ABC News. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  6. ^ Associated Press (December 16, 2007). "Brain-injured firefighter's brief awakening". NBC News. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  7. "Brain-Damaged Firefighter Talks". CBS News. May 3, 2005. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  8. ^ "Notice of Firefighter Fatality". United States Fire Administration. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  9. Barron, James (May 5, 2005). "After Sudden Lucidity, Firefighter Is Less Animated". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 8, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  10. McFadden, Robert D. (May 3, 2005). "Buffalo Fireman Regains Long-Lost Memories". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  11. Younge, Gary (May 4, 2005). "Brain-damage patient asks for wife after 10 years". The Guardian. New York. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  12. Associated Press (February 22, 2006). "Firefighter who awoke from 10-year coma dies". The Guardian. Buffalo. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  13. "Firefighter Who Awoke From Coma Dies". NPR. February 21, 2006. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  14. ^ Associated Press (February 21, 2006). "Firefighter who spoke after lengthy coma dies". NBC News. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  15. Newberg, Rich (February 22, 2006). "Once Comatose Firefighter Dies". CBS News. Archived from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  16. "Buffalo Firefighter Who Awoke from Decade-Long Coma Succumbs To Injury". Firehouse Magazine. Endeavor Business Media. February 21, 2006. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  17. Richert, George (April 30, 2015). "Tenth anniversary of Donny Herbert waking up". WIVB-TV. Archived from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  18. "Mayor Brown, Fire Commissioner Renaldo Celebrate 16 Promotions In The Buffalo Fire Department". The City of Buffalo. August 27, 2018. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.

Further reading

External links

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