SACRAMENTO, March 23 (UPI) -- Doctors are hopeful the California teen who devised the "Note to God" iPhone app will recover now that he has come out of a weeklong coma.
Allen Wright, 18, of Fair Oaks, was struck by a hit-and-run driver near his home March 13 and had a seizure. He opened his eyes Monday and, by Tuesday, was able to respond to questions, although only by sticking out his tongue, The Sacramento Bee reported.
He was 16 when he came up with the iPhone app, telling the Bee in 2009 he believed others felt like he sometimes did -- lonely and in need of communication with God. He submitted it to MEDL Mobile, a Los Angeles app developer, which picked it from 20,000 others.
Dr. Kavian Shahi, a neurosurgeon at Mercy San Juan Medical Center, said doctors, who believed a few days ago Allen might never regain consciousness, are now optimistic, while recognizing he faces a long recovery.
"One of the most important things we like to see from patients is whether they follow commands," Shahi said. "It indicates they can understand language and react to language. It takes a lot of brain power to do that."
About 9,200 people downloaded the "Note to God" app after news of Allen's condition spread.
Tod Wright asked for prayers while his son was unconscious. Now he said the family is "rejoicing."
