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Five Years After Coma, Mom Reclaims Life
8 Mar
Summary
- Grace Victory awoke from a coma five years ago after battling COVID-19.
- She missed her son's first three months and faced a 5% survival chance.
- Now healthier and happier, she focuses on present joy and self-care.
Exactly five years ago, writer and YouTube star Grace Victory posted "I'm awake," signaling her emergence from a coma. She had contracted COVID-19 in December 2020, becoming so ill that her baby son, Cyprus, was delivered two months early via emergency C-section. Shortly after, Grace suffered a cardiac arrest and was placed in a medically induced coma, with doctors giving her only a 5% chance of survival.
Upon waking, Grace discovered she had died for five minutes but fought back for her son. Despite doctors' predictions, she was determined to regain full function, including driving and running. The most challenging aspect was accepting the missed milestones with Cyprus, such as his first smile and cry, as she could only see him for one hour daily in intensive care.
Grace underwent extensive therapy, starting while still in hospital, to process the trauma and grief. She continues weekly therapy, describing a period of "post-traumatic growth." She and her partner Lee later welcomed a daughter, Kamiko, making parenting with her ongoing trauma difficult.
Grace has reframed her perspective, focusing on finding happiness in small things rather than chasing future goals. She prioritizes being present, patient, and calm, viewing exercise and healthy eating as self-care rather than pursuits for thinness. Her only lasting physical issue is partial hand function, a small price for her second chance at life and motherhood.
