Against All Odds: A Medical Miracle in West Virginia

About a decade ago, Velma Thomas from West Virginia surprised the doctors after her heart stopped three times, with one instance lasting a full eight minutes.

The medical team battled to save her life for over 17 hours without visible success. "We couldn't detect any brain activity, despite numerous attempts to revive her," said the medical staff. "We also tried cooling down her body temperature to stimulate the brain, but nothing worked."

Meanwhile, her family braced for the worst. "There were about 12 of us gathered in the hospital, praying relentlessly. It was all we could do," Tim Thomas, Velma’s son, shared in an interview with the 'Daily Mail.' "We were let into the room where she was, and I could see her skin was stiffening and her fingers and toes were losing sensation. There was no sign of life. That’s when I began to accept that Mom might not make it."

"We've Disconnected Your Mom From Life Support"

At one point, doctors entered the room to inform them that she had no pulse, blood pressure, or measurable brain activity. "She showed no neurological function whatsoever," said Dr. Kevin Eggleston, an internal medicine specialist.

"We began the funeral arrangements because we understood it was only a matter of time," Tim recounted. "We all said our goodbyes."

Tim left for his mother's home to start organizing the funeral, but shortly received a call from the hospital that left him astonished. "We've disconnected your mom from life support, but astonishingly, her heart started beating, and she's moving. It's a miracle."

Upon returning to the hospital, Tim was shocked to see his mother in good condition, already asking the medical staff, 'Where is my son?'

Dr. Eggleston told the media that the chances of surviving three consecutive heart events, especially one with an eight-minute heart stoppage, were less than 10%. "It was miraculous. The odds were definitely against her," he concluded.