After more than three years in a coma, Deftones bassist Chi Cheng is beginning to show signs of improvement, Loudwire.com reports.

Cheng has been conscious or semi-conscious since November 2008, when he was involved in a car accident that left him in critical condition and necessitated life-threatening surgery. Now, he's able to respond to stimuli, lift his leg and "communicate with basic sounds," according to the site.

In the video below, Cheng can be seen responding to commands and raising his heavily tattooed left leg.

The clip was uploaded to YouTube by Gina Blackmore, the Deftones fan behind OneLoveForChi.com, a fundraising website aimed at alleviating some of the rocker's family's medical-related financial hardships. According to PunkNews.org, Cheng lost his insurance shortly after the accident, and his family has since wracked up some $250,000 in bills.

More From Noisecreep