Family Hope Sleeping Pill Will Wake Coma Dad

Mar 23 2008 Exclusive by Raymond Hainey

DEVOTED Donna McWilliam is pinning her hopes on a pill nicknamed the Lazarus drug to rouse her fiance from a five-year coma.

Policeman John Alcock will be the first coma patient in Scotland to try zolpidem - normally used as a sleeping pill - which costs just pennies to produce.

Doctors in the US and South Africa have reported almost 200 patients being miraculously brought out of persistent vegetative state after using the Lazarus drug - named after the biblical figure who rose from the dead.

One South African patient woke from a five-year coma and started talking just 25 minutes after being given his first dose.

Donna, 44, who cares for John round the clock at their home in Garmouth, Moray, said: "We're trying this to see how it goes - we need to try everything.

"It would be unbelievable if it works. Apparently it only works for some people.

"The guy in South Africa is now fully conscious and can do a lot for himself. The regeneration of his brain has been incredible.

"With brain injury you just never know. One guy in America just woke up after 19 years."

Royal protection officer John has been unconscious since a car smash with an Italian tourist while on duty near Balmoral in August 2003.

John suffered brain injuries and spent three years in hospital before being allowed home 18 months ago.

Donna, mum of John's six-year-old son Callum, has vowed never to give up hope of a recovery.

She added: "John is such a fighter. He was a quiet guy and a gentleman but he will never give up at anything. He'll see it through to the end.

"Time stopped for me on the day of his accident but I still see him the way he was and I just keep working from there."

John and Donna were last month awarded £3.6million in damages in an out-of-court settlement after suing Grampian Police and the Italian driver's insurers.

The payout will allow John to be properly cared for at home for the rest of his life.

Donna said: "The settlement is like all my Christmases and birthdays have come at once. I will be able to keep him at home and we have the money to care for him. The nurses and carer are magnificent.

"John's health has improved dramatically since he came home. He's still in a coma but we know what he's thinking."

The couple's home has been adapted with a purpose-built extension which is part hospital and part family home.

The extension, paid for by the Police Dependants' Trust before the compensation award, houses the masses of vital equipment needed to help John stay alive.

This includes an electric bed, complete with hi-tech air mattress to help prevent bed sores, while the bathroom has a hydro-bath designed to help stimulate John's muscles.

Donna, Callum and her two children from a previous marriage - Stacey, 18, and 15-year-old David - use music, lights and noises to try to stimulate John. Donna plays his favourite bands' songs - particularly Bon Jovi, Queen and Runrig.

She said: "We went to see Phantom Of The Opera in London before the accident and absolutely loved it so I play that as well.

"And he was fond of military music so we play some of that.

"Sometimes John's foot moves. It's almost like he's keeping time with the music."