22-year-old Akshay Jain graduated is a graduate from IIT-Gandhinagar.
A 22-year-old Indian-American engineering student, critically injured in a road accident in the US state of Texas, has been lying in a vegetative state for four months at a rehabilitation centre in Houston.
IIT-graduate Akshay Jain, sustained a severe traumatic brain injury on November 30 when his car collided with a pick-up truck when he and his four friends were returning home after their Thanks Giving break in New Orleans.
His four friends were soon released from the hospital after being treated for their injuries, while Akshay underwent a series of surgeries and therapies, and still remains in a vegetative state, reliant on feeding and tracheotomy tubes, his family told PTI.
"It is hard to see a young high-achiever in this condition as the accident has crashed all his dreams," said his brother- in-law Gagan Parakh.
His family fears that Akshay may have lasting problems with his movement, learning, or speaking.
At the rehabilitation, where he was moved recently after a series of surgeries at Memorial Hermann Hospital, doctors are working out on various therapies - physical, speech, language, occupational and counselling. The treatment is focused both on brain as well as body.
However, the fight against unconsciousness is still on. "It is a long-term treatment and as a family we are taking it one day at a time. In the last one month we have moved back and forth between TIRR (rehabilitation centre) to Memorial Hermann three times," said Akshay's mother, who has been at his side since the accident.
Akshay will be moved to a nursing home after his treatment at the rehabilitation centre gets completed, where only 15-20 days of coverage is available. The family then plans to take him back to India if he remains unable to go back to school and finish his studies.
Akshay graduated with a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology-Gandhinagar in 2014. He moved to US to pursue a Phd in chemical engineering from Texas A&M University soon after his graduation.
His innovative engineering designs was recognised with the Director's Silver Medal and the Award for Outstanding Research.
"We have been told by University that if required, they can explore possibility to extend his visa and insurance for one more year after Aug'15 2015, but this is something not confirmed," Mr Parakh said.
Meanwhile, his family has set up an online fundraiser at YouCaring.com to help cover costs of long-term care as Akshay's medical insurance will expire in August.
The family has also thanked doctors, nurses and the Indian-American community for their assistance and help.
Consul General of India, Houston, Parvataneni Harish visits Akshay at the rehab every week to make sure everything is being taken care of and that his mother, who speaks only Hindi, does not faces any linguistic issues.