This post leads to me question why Pike didn't have a telepathic assistant/caregiver.
Telepathic species, Vulcans included, were known in TOS.
Wasn't there some kindly telepathic race that could have served as aide to Pike, contacting his mind and expressing his thoughts, helping Pike to connect to the outside world?
If medical technology wasn't able to overcome the obstacles, an empathic or telepathic species would be helpful to someone in Pike's predicament.