I think that Rap said some really good stuff here.
Have another question tooo---what exactly does she mean by "non-functional"???? Good grief, I have days where I am "non-functional"--don't do anything at all--sleep or veg or stare at a wall. So?? I need those days sometimes. Other days I accomplish much.

But that is very surface "non-functional"...or functional....

You are intelligent, you are insightful, you read, you learn, you are open and inviting to new ideas---you have a brain that works, you can see, hear, feel, smell, taste. You have an imagination. Those are FUNCTIONAL qualities.

I worked as a volunteer for a brief time in a residential home for severely disabled children. There was a little boy there that I was told had only enough brain to keep him breathing on his own. He had a shunt to keep fluid from building up. One day I was passing by his bed and smiled at him and said "hi" and he smiled back. Everyone thought he was "non functional"---but he smiled. he recognized my smile and returned it. he could follow me with his eyes. don't really know the point I'm making except maybe "non functional" really means you're physically dead.....