Rock Center
When Sally Nielsen's fiance, Sam Goddard, suffered several strokes and was left in a vegetative state, she faced a tough choice. Would she stay with Goddard and try to help him recover or would she end their relationship? Nielsen was just 23 years old when, because of the steep challenges Goddard's parents knew their son faced, his family gave her their blessing to move on with her life. Nielsen chose to stay with Goddard. Her love and commitment to Goddard helped find a surprising treatment: the sleep medication Ambien.
Watch Sara James' full report, 'I'm Here,' about Sam Goddard's surprising recovery, originally aired December 26 on Rock Center with Brian Williams.















A wonderful story, but sad that more people don't know about it. I've seen it work first hand and wish more people had the opportunity to try it.
Has Sara James tried Ambien on her daughter? Very inspiring story and would sure like to know how he does down he road. True love knows no bounds.
Good people.
A true testament to what Love really is. How many people actually Love someone like Sally Loves Sam. We all say we Love our special someone but how far would you really go for them?
I am amazed about these stories about ambien...............i wonder if it might help my husband, 66, speak. He had a catastrophic stroke two years ago. I also wonder how much ambien he would take and if it matters if he is already on coumadin.
There is a study of Zolpidem and those in a PVS or minimally conscious state in South Africa, which has been going on for about 10 years now.
In their cases, the drug lasted 4 hours.
I was given Ambien this past summer when I was hospitalized. I got hallucinations and nightmares. I totally freaked out! (Of course I needed to hear about the reaction from others). )Then I had a stroke. Not everyone has the same reactions to drugs such as sleep meds.
I've had a stroke about 2 years ago. I wonder if I'm a candidate for ambien because I can speak, but not well. Obviously, I can type, but I make mistakes. I had absolutely incredible hallucinations early in the stroke recovery. I called them 'false memories' because I could not remember the word, 'hallucination'. Has anybody out there had hallucinations after having a stroke? I'm told this can happen, but I haven't met, or spoken to anybody that has had these incredible hallucinations. The doctors said it was unusual for any body to survive this kind of stroke. So, maybe that is one reason I haven't heard from anyone. The stroke was in the distal basilar artery. I've lost a lot of my memory, but I can recall a small man that sat straddle of me, put his hand right into my head and pull at the nerves in my head. When he yanked very hard, my right eye turned way out, and I have double vision, and a cocked eye since then. Please let me know if you have had hallucinations after a stroke.
I've been taking Zolpidem [Ambiem] for 21 years after my stroke and i haven't or don't notice any difference.I think it's all a crock.
what sally did is tremendous. if i had to, and felt propelled to, id lie as well. im so glad she knew deep down he was really alive inside. i love the love both sally and sam share, gives me goosebumps.
Is there any update to this story and Sam's progress??