Texas 16-Year-Old Regains Consciousness After Doctors Pronounce Him Dead Of Cardiac Arrest: ‘Medical Miracle

NEW YORK (VINnews) — In what can only be described as a medical miracle, a Texas teenager who was declared dead by doctors has come back to life. 16-year-old Sammy Berko had suffered a cardiac arrest while rock climbing at a local gym in Missouri City and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.

His parents Jennifer and Craig Berko watched as Sammy rang a bell to signal his distress, but they initially believed he was just fooling around.

Despite the tireless efforts of the gym staff, first responders, and medical personnel at the hospital, Sammy was pronounced clinically dead after two hours of unsuccessful attempts to revive him.

However, just moments after the tragic news was delivered to his family, Sammy regained vital signs, leaving doctors and staff at the hospital completely baffled. Sammy’s mother, Jennifer Berko, described the surreal moment of seeing her son’s heartbeat as indescribable, and said that the medical staff who witnessed the event had never seen anything like it before.

Despite going without oxygen to the brain for at least five minutes, Sammy has only experienced short-term memory loss and is recovering from an ischemic spine injury. His doctor called him a “literal miracle,” as prolonged CPR typically leads to severe global anoxic brain injury which occurs when the brain is without adequate oxygen for long periods.

Sammy’s episode was likely caused by a rare genetic condition known as catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, which had also claimed the life of his younger brother, Frankie, in 2020. Sammy and his mother have since been tested for the genetic mutation and are receiving treatment for it.

The experience has been a “crazy” one for Sammy, who is now focusing on his physical health and pursuing his passion for playing the drums and keyboard. He is expected to be discharged soon to begin outpatient therapy.

The Berko family’s story is a testament to the power of hope and the resilience of the human spirit. Even in the face of unimaginable tragedy, they have come together and supported each other, and now they have been given a second chance with Sammy’s miraculous recovery. As Sammy himself said, “It has just been an amazing experience here actually, like I’ve noticed that I’m better every day! I’m doing something new every single day.”