Michigan Mom Spends First Mother’s Day at Home with Her Kids Since Waking Up from a 5-Year Coma

A Michigan mom is celebrating her first Mother’s Day at home with her three children since waking up from a five-year coma.

Jennifer Flewellen — who was in a coma at the Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital after a car accident in 2017 — suddenly woke up in 2022 and left the hospital in 2024, just months before Mother’s Day.

Just before the 2017 car accident, Flewellen had just dropped her three sons off at school. The youngest son, Julian, was 11 years old at the time. Now that her son is 17 and her other sons have graduated from high school, Flewellen is trying to make up for lost time this Mother’s Day.

Jennifer Flewellen and her family in October 2023.

Peggy means

Speaking to CBS News on May 10, Flewellen’s mom, Peggy Means, said she never wanted to take her daughter off life support — despite doctors telling her she “won’t wake up.”

Asked if she was questioning her decision to keep Flewellen on life support, Means told the newspaper that even after her daughter had been in a coma for years, she still hadn’t given up hope that she would recover. “Never,” Means insisted.

Then in August 2022, Flewellen woke up from his coma.

In December 2023, Means and Flewellen’s son Julian told PEOPLE about the moment she woke up. Means was visiting her at the rehab hospital, talking to her as usual, when she suddenly realized that Flewellen was laughing at a joke she told.

Jennifer Flewellen and her mom Peggy Means.

Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation

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“When she woke up, I was scared at first because she was laughing, which she never does,” Means told PEOPLE at the time. “Every dream has come true. Today is the day I said, ‘That door that was closed, that separated us, just opened. We’re back.’ ”

“She woke up, but not completely. She couldn’t speak, but she was nodding her head,” Means added. “In the beginning, she would still sleep a lot, but as the months went by, she would become stronger and more alert.”

Means filmed Flewellen shortly after she woke up and sent the video to family and friends — including her youngest son, Julian, who went to see his mom the very next day.

Jennifer Flewellen and one of her sons.

Peggy means

“I told her I was Juju and her eyes lit up like, ‘Wow, that’s my Juju bean,'” Julian told PEOPLE, referencing his mother’s nickname for him. “But when she actually found out our ages and stuff like that, broke her heart. She started crying.”

Although Flewellen went home about a year after waking up in the hospital, she still has very limited speech and mobility and is using the funds from a GoFundMe campaign to help her get a wheelchair-accessible car and more.

Despite her struggles, her mind is still getting sharper, her family said.

In October 2023, Flewellen reached another major milestone in her recovery journey when she attended her son’s high school senior football night.

“She was my biggest supporter,” Julian told PEOPLE. “Having my biggest fan come back from the sideline and cheer me on, it was an unreal moment.”

Jennifer Flewellen with the cat.

Peggy means

Reflecting on her recovery journey with CBS so far, Flewellen had a simple but powerful answer to the question, “What’s the best part about being back between us?”

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“Everything,” she replied.

Despite her still limited speech, the mum-of-three added that she was ready to celebrate Mother’s Day with four simple words.

“I love my mom,” Flewellen said.

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Source: HIS Education