Terry Wallis: Weekend trips away kept his brain working

Terry Wallis, 39, had been at the centre of an accident in July 1984 when a car he was travelling in plunged into a creek.

The driver of the vehicle, Mr Wallis' friend, died.

Mr Wallis was discovered by rescuers a day later, but was comatose.

He has many historic events to catch up with, including the election of his state governor, Bill Clinton, to the presidency of the United States, his time in office and his handover to George W Bush.

He startled his family by speaking suddenly almost a month ago.

"He started out with 'Mom' and surprised her and then it was 'Pepsi' and then it was 'milk,'" Alesha Badgley, Stone County Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre social director, said.

I couldn't tell you my first thought, I just fell over on the floor Angilee Wallis

"And now it's anything he wants to say."

Mr Wallis' father, Jerry Wallis, said his son uttered his first word. "He has improved every day since," he said.

Terry Wallis' wife, Sandi, said the whole family had missed his company.

"It's been hard dealing with it. It's been hard realising the man I married can't be there," she said.

Mr Wallis also has a daughter, Amber, who was born shortly before the accident took place.

She is now 19 and Mr Wallis - who was left a quadriplegic as a result of the crash - has said he wants to walk again, for her.

Terry Wallis was at the centre of a car accident

His mother, Angilee Wallis, called her son's return to consciousness "a miracle".

"I couldn't tell you my first thought, I just fell over on the floor," she said.

Doctors at the rehabilitation centre said Mr Wallis' recovery might be due in part to his family taking him out at weekends and special occasions.