Download 'Too Hot', an exclusive Specials track from iTunes

A Polish railway worker who fell into a coma in 1988 — a year before the fall of communism — has awoken to a world of democracy, mobile phones and abundant choice and said that he is amazed to find that people still complain.
Jan Grzebski, 65, was cared for at home by his wife, Gertruda. She turned him over several times a day to prevent him getting bed sores. He had lost consciousness after being hit by a train.
At the time of his accident, the fall of the Berlin Wall seemed a distant prospect and the world was more concerned about a nuclear war than terrorism. Poland was ruled by Wojciech Jaruzelski, its last communist leader, and Lech Walesa was organising another shipyard strike by Solidarity.
“When I went into a coma there was only tea and vinegar in the shops, meat was rationed and huge petrol queues were everywhere,” Mr Grzebski, sitting in a wheelchair while his wife held his hand, told Polish television. “There are so many goods in the shops it makes my head spin.”
Mr Grzebski regained consciousness in April but has only recently been fit enough to meet journalists. He lives in Dzialdowo, in northern Poland.
“When I went out to buy him a new shirt, he was amazed that the shops are open on Sundays,” Mrs Grzebski said.
Today blazing neon has ousted the dim lights of the communist era and Mr Grzebski, whom doctors had given only two or three years to live after the accident, is coming to terms with having missed his country joining Nato in 1999 and becoming a full member of the European Union in 2004.
He is in no doubt of his debt to his wife. “It was Gertruda who saved me, and I’ll never forget it,” he said.
“I cried a lot, and I prayed a lot,” Mrs Grzebski said.
Boguslaw Poniatowski, a doctor familiar with Mr Grzebski’s case, said that his life had been saved by his wife’s tireless attention. “For 19 years Mrs Grzebska did the job of an experienced intensive care team, changing her comatose huband’s position every hour to prevent bed-sore infections.” The case has echoes of the 2003 German film Good Bye Lenin! in which an East German woman wakes from a coma after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Her son tries desperately to shield the bed-ridden mother from the shock by pretending nothing has changed and getting a friend to record fake TV news broadcasts.
Mr Grzebski awoke to find that his four children had married and produced 11 grandchildren. He had vague memories of family gatherings that he was taken to while in a coma, and of his family trying to communicate with him.
“What amazes me today is all these people who walk around with their mobile phones and never stop moaning,” Mr Grzebski said. “I’ve got nothing to complain about.” He added: “I’m very interested in politics now. Sometimes I spend half the day listening to what politicians have to say.”
Win a luxury weekend to Newcastle and its neighbour Gateshead, find out more here
Risk, resilience and embracing new technology
Industry sectors news at a glance. Interactive heatmap, video and podcast
Discover the power of collective thinking. Submit a solution and be in with a chance to win a Media Hub Home Entertainment System
The inside track on current trends in the charity, not for profit and social enterprise sectors
Everything the Business Traveller needs to know to make a better trip
Make the most of the summer and enter our fabulous photographic competition, you could win a £5000 holiday
Corsica is an island of beauty and contrast, an ideal holiday destination
Enjoy further reading from Travel to Fashion, Business to Sport, discover more
Shortcuts to help you find sections and articles
The clever way to lease a new car is with Car leasing made simple™
2009
per month on 36-month
Personal Contract Hire (PCH)
2008
42850
Car Insurance
£24,250 - £30,346
MI5
London
£60,000
The Environment Agency
Bristol
Up to £90K
Boots
Midlands
OTE £85k
Credit Protection Association
Nationwide Opportunities
Completely London
Luxury Condo's in Manhattan with NYC views
The best new homes in Wimbledon?
Nationwide
Fabulous Cruise And Cruise & Stay Offers Including Virgin Atlantic Flights Prices Start From Only £699pp!
Last Minute Cruise And Cruise & Stay Offers. Med From £499pp, Caribbean From £699pp!
5 star quality at a 3 star price.
8 fabulous Canadian cities ...you won’t find cheaper
Contact our advertising team for advertising and sponsorship in Times Online, The Times and The Sunday Times, or place your advertisement.
Times Online Services: Dating | Jobs | Property Search | Used Cars | Holidays | Births, Marriages, Deaths | Subscriptions | E-paper
News International associated websites: Globrix Property Search | Property Finder | Milkround
Copyright 2009 Times Newspapers Ltd.
This service is provided on Times Newspapers' standard Terms and Conditions. Please read our Privacy Policy.To inquire about a licence to reproduce material from Times Online, The Times or The Sunday Times, click here.This website is published by a member of the News International Group. News International Limited, 1 Virginia St, London E98 1XY, is the holding company for the News International group and is registered in England No 81701. VAT number GB 243 8054 69.
It is a heartening story of courage and devotion. But it is just that and nothing else. This is a good example of the misrepresentation by the media of the term 'coma' which is a neurological condition. To quote the book " Tall Tales of the Mind and the Brain" edited by Sergio Della Sala,' It is usually the case that the patient although responding at a low physical and cognitive level, had infact been interacting to some minimal degree with his/her enviornment for some time, prior to what the media exuberance describes as a miraculous awakenening'. It is certaininly true of this gentleman who was aware of family gatherings and communications through out. I wish the family the very best and hope that there is ore responsible media reporting.
Dr Anita Pierce, Denbigh,
Mrs. Grzebski is a very great wife, she did not get tired of taking care of her comatose husband for 19 years till he comesback to reality. GOD Bless you always!!!!
ghie, Oxford,
Now that is love and true devotion. What an extraordinary couple.
Emma H., Ottawa, CAN
What love, to have a wife choose to care for her husband and not give up on him. Your a HERO in my book
Sue, Lapeer, Michigan
Mrs Grzebski is a truly wonderful woman, and I would love to have seen her reaction when her husband emerged from his coma. Absolutely inspiring.
David L, Leeds, UK
Through his wife's heroic efforts he survived.
Bless her.
Jerry Scroggin, Phoenix, Arizona/USA
A very fascinating story. the gentleman had been in a coma for 19 years. During that period his body must have been effectively in a state of hibernation. It makes one wonder if his life span will be extended significantly as a result of the lengthy duration in which his body metabolism ran at a extremely low rate. It would be interesting if this gentleman allow medical scientists to monitor his progress so that we can acquire more knowledge about the possibility of putting patients with incurable diseases in a state of artificial coma so that they can be revived once a cure for the disease is found. This technique would be very valuable if doctors are on the verge of a medical breakthrough such as the imminent discovery of new drugs
or revolutionary new surgical poocedures. Mankind's desire for longevity is inherent because we all have a natural fascination for new discoveries and inventions. We want to live as long as possible so that we can witness as many remarkable human achievements in the future as possibe. Such as grand unified theory, cure for all forms of cancer, nuclear fussion for energy production and 3D TV etc.,
Wing, Poole, UK
A beautiful story. And what a true observation: No matter how well people are off they still manage to find something to complain about. Let us be happy for the blessings of freedom and capitalism, and let us hope Mr and Mrs Grzebski will be able to spend many years of happiness in their latter years.
William Hagerup, London,
Well , that IS amazing! Here in France, shops are closed on Sunday!!
elizabeth schumann, Paris, France
When I was a young boy I asked my mother whether there iwas a >heaven> and whether GOD really lives. Her answer was very simple: Heaven is where you are loved and GOD lives in the heart of someone who loves you more than his life.
Mrs Grzebski gave a proof that my mother was right. Thank you and I will tell this story to my grandchildren to keep it alive.
Dirk R Bode, Hamburg, Germany,
The media persist in referring to those who are paralyzed and unable to speak as "in a come". This is not the case in many instances. The patient is "locked in", fully cogniznant but unable to communicate in conventional ways. This error is most often observed after a diagnosis of PVS persistent vegetative state after anoxia - oxygen deprivation. I know. My wife has been in this state for nine and a half years and she is able to spell out words using eyeblinks, So stop using the term "Coma" so loosely. He didn't regain "consicousness" in April. He regained the ability to communicate normally. He was consicous throughout. That is why he remembered family gatherings.and various other events. Those in a true coma cannot.. But because those around them ignore them and do not speak directly with them, they sink into an apathetic stupor for lack of stimulus. This is not a coma.
Mrs. Grzebski is the heroine of the story. May she and her husband be blessed with endless happiness.
Dr. Yacov Tabak, Jerusalem, Israel