Scott Marr was found unresponsive in his Nebraska home on Dec. 12, 2018. He was rushed to the nearby Methodist hospital. Doctors said he probably suffered a stroke, according to World-Herald.
It did not take long for Marr’s condition to grow worse. He had severe swelling on his brain. Marr was placed on life support.
The next day, doctors reviewed the condition of the former basketball announcer; he was not expected to survive.
Marr’s four children were left to make a difficult decision. They met in Marr’s hospital room to say goodbye. They decided to take the 61-year-old man off life support. The family prepared to plan a funeral the next day.
However, rather than passing away, as expected, Marr began to slowly respond. At a slow pace, he could smile, move his hands, and toes, according to the report.
Imaging revealed later, that Marr had posterior reverse encephalopathy syndrome (PRES).
According to a report published in the American Journal of Neuroradiology, symptoms include changes in vision, a severe headache, and nausea. Symptoms can vary widely among victims but many of them have high blood pressure in addition to PRES.
MRI scans reveal marked similarities in those with PRES, making the condition easier to diagnose.
Doctors report that severe swelling is not a common symptom. This is likely what lead doctors to a misdiagnosis.
PRES had a good prognosis and it can be managed.
After speech and physical therapy, Marr was able to recover and be released from the hospital.
His family calls him the “miracle man.”
By Jeanette Smith
Fox News: How a nearly brain dead ‘miracle man’ survived after being taken off life support
Image Courtesy of Lars Plougmann’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License