Josh Villa was involved in a late night car accident in 2005. He had a drink with a friend before driving home and ended up mounting the kerb and flipping over. The 26 year old went through the windscreen and was comatosed. 12 months after the crash there was little cause for optimism. “He would open his eyes but he was not responsive to any external stimuli in his environment " noted Theresa Pape of the US Department of Veterans Affairs in Chicago who assisted in his treatment. In most cases there is not much more that can be done for patients in such a condition.