It was some years back when this happened; it is a true story and a very touching one. This happened in the countryside of America. A woman who was just wedded just found out she is pregnant. Her husband thanked her while she, in turn, thanked the gods.
On this very fateful day; she needed to get some groceries from town while her husband is out for work. She went ahead and drove to town by herself. Halfway through, she met an accident. She was admitted to the hospital immediately and was announced brain dead after all the diagnosing. Fortunately, the part of the brain that handles all the autonomous functions is still intact; which means the baby still has a chance of surviving.
Days and months go by and finally the fateful day of the delivery came. As the wife is unconscious, she has to undergo a surgery to deliver the baby. The doctors and surgeons held on with cold sweat; they work hard for 30 over hours. Finally, the baby was born.
(here comes the most touching part)
Upon hearing the baby's first cry, the wife smiled.
Sadly, this story doesn't have a happy ending. The husband, with much tears, signed the papers to 'return' his wife to the heavens. Since then, much controversy has been going on that despite losing all the higher cognitive functions such as emotions and thinking; there is still some residue brain or memory that allowed her to express herself for the last time.
Once again; the power of the human brain awed me.