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Marijuana Oil Gives Family Hope For Teen In Coma With Mystery Illness

MORGAN HILL (KPIX 5) -- A Morgan Hill teen who has been in a coma for four months caused by a mysterious illness has been given one week to live, but his family is holding on to one last hope that might save his life.

19-year-old Tola Mov is on life support. Four months ago, he was a healthy, college-bound young adult working as a coach.

"[He's an] amazing kid," his brother Sokthea Mov told KPIX. "We cannot believe he's in this kind of situation"

Sokthea last spoke to his brother the day he went to the hospital.

On Wednesday, doctors told the family they may talk Tola off of life support in a week if his condition doesn't improve.

Sokthea told KPIX Tola's life changed suddenly four months ago when he came down with a fever. The fever was followed by seizures before the teen slipped into a coma.

After a battery of tests and examinations by multiple doctors, no one can tell Tola's family what is wrong with him.

When asked if he thought his brother would still be at the hospital four months later, Sokthea just shook his head.

"No. I didn't believe that it was this critical," he said.

His friend Luis Gutierrez has set up a GoFundMe page to help his family with medical expenses.

"In a perfect world he would fully recover from this situation," said Gutierrez. "We're not doctors, so we found that this was the only way we could help."

The last option the family may turn to in order to stop Tola's seizures is marijuana oil.

If that doesn't help, Tola's family and friends know they must prepare for the worst.

"It's really hard. It's really frustrating, because we want to know what kind of virus [Tola has]," Sokthea said. "Without the answer it's really hard."

Tola turned 19 this past October while still in the coma.

Doctors or nurses cannot give Tola the marijuana oil. His family must give it to him twice a day through his feeding tube.

Tola's family is meeting with doctors this Sunday to discuss their options.

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