Friday, April 8, 2011

GIFFORDS (A-Z Challenge)

As someone who has worked for 30 years in radio and print news, I understand the "life span" of a story.

Basically something can be very big, and then virtually disappear overnight when the next big thing comes along. If you stop and reflect, you'll recognize that's true.

But some of us are not prepared to let sleeping dogs lie, because the story is a good one. 

Consider. . . .

Doctors: Giffords' Recovery Going 'Spectacularly Well'
Nancy A. Melville


In the first public update since US Rep. Gabrielle Giffords started intensive rehabilitation after a gunshot wound to the head in a mass shooting in Tucson, Arizona, on January 8, doctors at Houston's TIRR Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center said today that the congresswoman was making "leaps and bounds" in her neurologic recovery.

Giffords recently had her tracheostomy tube removed, has been able to walk with assistance, and put words together into sentences, such as "I'm tired and I want to go to bed," her doctors reported.

"On a cognitive level, her memory is good and she is doing spectacularly well," said Dong Kim, MD, director of Mischer Neuroscience Institute at Memorial Hermann and professor and chair, Department of Neurosurgery, UT Health Medical School.

"Her speech is very good, she is beginning to walk with assistance, and if you remember where we were just 6 weeks ago, this is tremendous progress," he said at the press briefing.

"Given that she's already standing and walking shows how much strength she has regained. We can't initiate walking therapy if the legs aren't strong enough, and given that she's already walking after just a few months is a very favorable sign that she'll be even stronger over the next few months."

To quote Edith Ann (Lilly Tomlin), "And that's the truth."

6 comments:

Karen Jones Gowen said...

It's always curious to see which stories just hang on and on in the public interest. Sometimes it is surprising.

Lydia said...

She is such a hero in my eyes. Giffords' horrific life change perpetrated at the hands of a stranger should have been a unifying force for this Congress. Instead, many paid lip service to the event- while avoiding the cause(s)- and in wishes for her recovery, but it didn't do much to change the political tone of Washington D.C.

Rob-bear said...

® KarenG: Yes. Which is why it is important for journalists to carefully follow them for updates.

Lydia: Giffords is an amazing woman. Many of her colleagues in Congress aren't, and don't "get it." Sadly. We're rapidly developing the same problem up here.

Rob-bear said...

® BiP: Gabby is a special, gutsy lady. Glad to share the news. Things are getting better.

The Blog Fodder said...

Thanks. She is a brave woman.

Rob-bear said...

® Blog Fodder: Brave, indeed, she is. And a model for all those facing significant adversity.
But, of course, she has the resources to get the kind of superb treatment she is receiving. Others in America are not so fortunate.