Polish man wakes up after 19 yrs

OF LOVE AND PRAYER: Grzebski attributes his survival to his wife, Gertruda's patience.

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New Delhi: In 1988, Poland was still communist when railway worker Jan Grzebski had an accident and went into a coma. Doctors gave him only two to three years to live. But 19 years later, Grzebski has finally woken up.

The 65-year-old knows that much has changed around him. But he is slowly getting used to a Poland that today calls itself a liberal democracy.

"I am interested in politics. Sometimes I listen to politicians talk for half a day,” says Grzebski.

The rehabilitation specialist who helped Grzebski is hopeful about his recovery.

"After the first few days of rehabilitation he already started to talk, to move his fingers and toes,” says Wojciech Pstragowsk.

Meanwhile, Grzebski's wife Gertruda admitted there had been moments of despair during her long years of caring for her husband.

"There were tears, there were prayers. From time to time I cried at night, biting the pillow, so that nobody could hear,” says Gertruda.

He might have missed all the action - the collapse of the Soviet Union, Poland becoming a part of the EU and of course seeing his children and grandchildren grow up. But 19 years later Grzebski is just happy that he's alive.