Illustrative case studies
| “M” | • Native American woman injured in an automobile accident. |
| • Did not respond to environmental stimulation; appeared comatose. | |
| • Family performed a water ceremony to facilitate recovery. | |
| • Caregivers learned she viewed non-Native Americans as her enemies, thus she used an altered state of consciousness to prevent response to caregivers. | |
| “J” | • Mexican migrant farm worker injured at work. |
| • Family lived in Mexico, and he only spoke and understood a rural Spanish dialect. | |
| • He had no visitors; recovery was not progressing. | |
| • When his father was able to visit, caregivers learned that “J” believed in traditional Mexican healing practices and was certain he would not recover without them. |