Fish oil helped save our son

By Stephanie Smith, CNN

Updated 2142 GMT (0542 HKT) January 18, 2017

Grant Virgin, 16, after he was struck by a hit-and-run driver. Doctors advised his family to let him go, saying his odds of survival were slim.
Photos: Omega-3 recovery
A remarkable recovery – Grant Virgin, 16, after he was struck by a hit-and-run driver. Doctors advised his family to let him go, saying his odds of survival were slim.
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The Virgin family believes that fish oil ultimately altered Grant's life course, and healed his brain.
Photos: Omega-3 recovery
A remarkable recovery – The Virgin family believes that fish oil ultimately altered Grant's life course, and healed his brain.
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Grant Virgin underwent multiple surgeries and spent considerable time on a ventilator. He was in coma, and his doctors urged his family to "wait and see" while his brain healed.
Photos: Omega-3 recovery
A remarkable recovery – Grant Virgin underwent multiple surgeries and spent considerable time on a ventilator. He was in coma, and his doctors urged his family to "wait and see" while his brain healed.
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Grant with his father, John Virgin. Says Virgin, "We had been told he'd never be able to recognize anybody, he will never be able to focus his eyes, all the grim stuff."
Photos: Omega-3 recovery
A remarkable recovery – Grant with his father, John Virgin. Says Virgin, "We had been told he'd never be able to recognize anybody, he will never be able to focus his eyes, all the grim stuff."
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Grant Virgin in the hospital. The Virgin family heard about a CNN report on a teenager named <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/19/health/fish-oil-brain-injuries/">Bobby Ghassemi</a>, who nearly died in a car accident before getting a large infusion of fish oil. A few months later, Ghassemi attended his high school graduation.
Photos: Omega-3 recovery
A remarkable recovery – Grant Virgin in the hospital. The Virgin family heard about a CNN report on a teenager named Bobby Ghassemi, who nearly died in a car accident before getting a large infusion of fish oil. A few months later, Ghassemi attended his high school graduation.
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Grant Virgin and a nurse. Forty-eight hours after receiving high-dose fish oil, he called his mother in the middle of the night and had a conversation with her.
Photos: Omega-3 recovery
A remarkable recovery – Grant Virgin and a nurse. Forty-eight hours after receiving high-dose fish oil, he called his mother in the middle of the night and had a conversation with her.
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Grant with his father John Virgin. The Virgin family believes fish oil could do for others what it did for their son.
Photos: Omega-3 recovery
A remarkable recovery – Grant with his father John Virgin. The Virgin family believes fish oil could do for others what it did for their son.
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There are a lot of concerns about fish oil, such as that high doses could cause excessive bleeding, but that did not deter Grant's parents.
Photos: Omega-3 recovery
A remarkable recovery – There are a lot of concerns about fish oil, such as that high doses could cause excessive bleeding, but that did not deter Grant's parents.
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Grant with his brother Bryce Virgin. It is now 16 months after the accident, and his parents say he is even better than before.
Photos: Omega-3 recovery
A remarkable recovery – Grant with his brother Bryce Virgin. It is now 16 months after the accident, and his parents say he is even better than before.
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Grant with his brother Bryce Virgin. The Virgin family says that progress would not be happening if they had merely accepted what conventional medicine told them.
Photos: Omega-3 recovery
A remarkable recovery – Grant with his brother Bryce Virgin. The Virgin family says that progress would not be happening if they had merely accepted what conventional medicine told them.
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Story highlights

  • Bobby Ghassemi was left comatose after a 2010 car crash
  • A doctor told his desperate parents about fish oil for traumatic brain injuries