Dimitris Kokotas: Latest on his health – What his wife says

Dimitris Kokotas: His wife stands by his side during this very difficult time as his health is not good.

Dimitris Kokotas' wife provides news about his health: "I tell him every day that I love him very much"

Dimitris Kokotas, son of the great folk singer Stamatis Kokotas, continues to fight the most critical battle of his life, as he remains hospitalized after suffering a heart attack on March 28th. It all happened unexpectedly when the 55-year-old collapsed in front of his colleagues during rehearsals for the show "J2US!"

After the unfortunate incident, the singer was initially hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the "Georgios Gennimatas" hospital, while he has recently been moved to a High Dependency Unit (HDU).

His wife, Katerina Kokota, spoke to star.gr about Dimitris Kokotas' health condition.

"There is very little progress. He's making very small steps. Nothing has changed significantly. From the beginning, we knew that this is a case that would take time. The doctors told us that we would gradually see some small signs. For example, he makes very small movements from time to time. A squeeze of the hand for the doctor is progress. Sometimes he may react more strongly. For example, if he hears a song. But it's very general," the wife of the well-known artist initially told star.gr

Since being transferred to the HDU, his family has been able to spend more time by his side. His wife talks to him, plays him songs, and they tell him how much they love him.

"I tell him a lot every day, I hope that contact with us helps him. I talk to him every day. I tell him the news of the day, that I love him very much. Everything we're going through is very difficult. The doctors told us that it takes time. At least six months. I'm optimistic that everything will be alright and I hope for that. Dimitris is constantly undergoing tests. I hope for the best," added Katerina Kokota.

"Many people are supporting me in this struggle," concluded the wife of the singer who has been hospitalized for six months.

Kokotas: What is the "unresponsive wakefulness syndrome," the condition he is in

Five months have passed since popular singer Dimitris Kokotas suffered a heart attack and cardiac arrest.

He has since been hospitalized at Gennimatas Hospital. His wife, Katerina, spoke yesterday about his health condition, noting that the singer is in an "unresponsive wakefulness syndrome."

"My husband is not exactly sedated, he is in an unresponsive wakefulness syndrome. He has a tracheostomy so that his heart and other organs are not burdened, but he can breathe on his own. He's just been in the hospital for many months and naturally his body has weakened. Sometimes they take him off support and he breathes normally, but we're still waiting. We are all by his side and I thank the world for the support and love they show Dimitris. He's a fighter and he'll make it. We hope he makes it…" she characteristically said on Mega's "Live news" show.

What is unresponsive wakefulness syndrome?

Dimitris Kokotas has been discharged from the ICU and his hospitalization continues in a High Dependency Unit (HDU). As his wife noted, the singer still has no contact with his surroundings and there has been no significant change in his movements.

The "unresponsive wakefulness syndrome" he is in is the first of four stages into which a coma is classified according to its depth. In this stage, the coma is distinguished by simple clouding of consciousness (slowness of responses, dreamlike delirium).

The second stage (light coma) is characterized by the persistence of protective reactions to painful stimuli.

The third stage (deep coma or carus) is distinguished by the absence of reaction to painful stimuli, complete muscle relaxation, disturbance of vegetative life (hyperthermia, abnormalities in heart and respiratory rate) and abolition of osteotendinous reflexes, as well as those of the cornea.

The fourth stage is characterized by total loss of vegetative life and the person's relationship with the environment. At this point, the electroencephalogram is flat and the patient survives only with mechanical support (ventilator) and the use of vasoconstrictors. In the fourth stage, the coma can be reversible (as in cases of toxic coma, which are characterized by paralysis of vegetative functions and transient electrocerebral silence) or irreversible.

It is noted that the classification of coma into stages does not cover all cases, but allows for better and easier monitoring of patients. However, it does not in any way allow for the drawing of prognostic conclusions.