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Doctors: Giffords (AZ Rep.) Doesn't Remember Shooting, But Is 'Responding Beautifully'
National Journal ^ | March 11, 2011 | Lindsey Boerma

Posted on 03/11/2011 12:26:02 PM PST by Suz in AZ

Two months after suffering a bullet to the brain in an assassination attempt, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, R-Ariz., is “responding beautifully… already speaking in full sentences,” her doctors said in a press conference Friday at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, where Giffords is undergoing rehabilitation.

Still, they said, the congresswoman has no memory of the event in Tucson that almost took her life.

Her “memories of childhood and past years… are all normal,” the medical team said. But “she does not have memories of the event, which is normal.” Doctors said her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, told her about the shooting.

Ultimately, they said, they “do not anticipate any memory problems.”

Other improvements include walking with assistance and speech—“She can repeat anything we say to her, which is an important neurological recovery fact,” said Dr. Dong Kim, director of the hospital’s neuroscience department. “She’s already speaking full sentences when she wants something, like ‘I’m tired and want to go to bed.’”

The doctors said that unlike with many patients, they “feel like we know her very well” because “her personality is showing through—she’s very upbeat and focused on getting better.” One example, Director of Neurocritical Care Dr. Imoigele Aisiku said, was when she “gave a very favorable pump-fist response” when her breathing tube came out.

Though doctors don’t expect to reattach Giffords’ skull until May, there’s “a good possibility” Giffords will be able to achieve her goal of attending April’s space shuttle launch, which her husband will command.


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; US: Arizona
KEYWORDS: arizona; az; gabriellegiffords; giffords; prayer
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Other improvements include walking with assistance and speech—“She can repeat anything we say to her, which is an important neurological recovery fact,” said Dr. Dong Kim, director of the hospital’s neuroscience department. “She’s already speaking full sentences when she wants something, like ‘I’m tired and want to go to bed.’”

Glad to know she is recovering but April 8th will mark 3 months not in Congress. I'm wondering if Gov. Brewer will declare the seat vacant and call a special election at that time. She can't continue to serve in this shape and we need a rep.

1 posted on 03/11/2011 12:26:08 PM PST by Suz in AZ
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To: Suz in AZ

I’m getting a little aggravated at the “media” for making the Shuttle Endeavor launch all about “Gaby”. It’s really starting to **** me off! I don’t care if she’s going to be there or not! It’s a shuttle launch. It shouldn’t be all about “Gaby”.


2 posted on 03/11/2011 12:29:08 PM PST by FlingWingFlyer (Just say NO to union greed!)
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To: Suz in AZ

Glad to hear about her recovery. It’s probably best that she DOESN’T remember the shooting.


3 posted on 03/11/2011 12:32:42 PM PST by woweeitsme
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To: Suz in AZ

A Governor can’t declare a seat vacant, only the U.S. House can do that. She really should resign and focus on regaining her health. When she recovers, she can always run for the seat at a future date.


4 posted on 03/11/2011 12:33:57 PM PST by fieldmarshaldj (~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Amber Lamps !"~~)
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To: fieldmarshaldj

“A Governor can’t declare a seat vacant”

According to what I have seen, AZ state law allows the Gov. to do it if a rep is unable to do their job for over 3 months.


5 posted on 03/11/2011 12:36:25 PM PST by Suz in AZ
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To: Suz in AZ
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, R-Ariz

I thought she was a democrat?


6 posted on 03/11/2011 12:37:12 PM PST by reagan_fanatic (A communist is just a liberal in a hurry)
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To: Suz in AZ

You know it’s a really serious injury when...

“...doctors don’t expect to reattach Giffords’ skull until May...”


7 posted on 03/11/2011 12:38:55 PM PST by swain_forkbeard (Rationality may not be sufficient, but it is necessary.)
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To: reagan_fanatic

She IS a Dem! I didn’t catch that typo. Good eyes!


8 posted on 03/11/2011 12:39:37 PM PST by Suz in AZ
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To: reagan_fanatic
freudian slip. The left considered her a "traitorous" conservative democrat, that's why they were threatening her on leftist websites like DailyKos the day before she was shot, because she voted against Pelosi.
9 posted on 03/11/2011 12:40:01 PM PST by Christian Engineer Mass (25ish Cambridge MA grad student. Many younger conservative Christians out there? __ Click my name)
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To: swain_forkbeard
You know it’s a really serious injury when...

“...doctors don’t expect to reattach Giffords’ skull until May...”

*****

I thought the same thing... I read this somewhere else too, indicating she's got a long way to go...

Friends and family have described Giffords as making steady progress, showing emotion on various occasions, singing "American Pie" with her stepdaughters as part of music therapy and pushing a shopping cart down the hospital corridors as she regains her walking abilities.

Rabbi David Lyon, senior rabbi at Congregation Beth Israel in Houston, visits Giffords three times a week and says her speech has improved. "There are words that are becoming clearer and opportunities to communicate are increasing," Lyon told The Associated Press.

Giffords was shot in the left hemisphere of her brain, which controls communication. There had been concerns that she could have problems with speech, and it remains unclear what, if any, impediments remain and what could be permanent.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42018003/ns/technology_and_science-space/

10 posted on 03/11/2011 12:43:28 PM PST by Suz in AZ
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To: Christian Engineer Mass

She wasn’t even close to being conservative.


11 posted on 03/11/2011 12:44:44 PM PST by Suz in AZ
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To: Suz in AZ
already speaking in full sentences

That is better than most of the gutter trash that invaded the Wisconsin capitol last week.

12 posted on 03/11/2011 12:47:09 PM PST by Blood of Tyrants (Islam is the religion of Satan and Mohammed was his minion.)
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To: Suz in AZ
It is all about Gabrielle Giffords.... she is a Democrat. Judge Roll was a Republican....Obama would have called out the National Guard had Roll been a Democrat. Unfortunately, Giffords is now a warm body with two eye balls who can vote...that's all the Dems want...
13 posted on 03/11/2011 12:48:32 PM PST by yoe
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To: Suz in AZ
It is all about Gabrielle Giffords.... she is a Democrat. Judge Roll was a Republican....Obama would have called out the National Guard had Roll been a Democrat. Unfortunately, Giffords is now a warm body with two eye balls who can vote...that's all the Dems want...
14 posted on 03/11/2011 12:48:44 PM PST by yoe
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To: Suz in AZ

There’s pretty strong precedent for injured/ill members of Congress retaining their seats.

In addition to Tim Johnson a few years ago, I can recall as far back as Charles Sumner:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Sumner#Antebellum_career_and_attack_by_Preston_Brooks

Who stayed away from the Senate for three years after he was severely injured. Others that come to the top of my head would include Joe Biden in 1988.

It would be really bad form - and bad PR - to attempt anything of the sort.


15 posted on 03/11/2011 12:52:52 PM PST by furquhart (Would it not be easier to dissolve the people and elect another?)
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To: Suz in AZ

The left considered her conservative though. The hate against her on DailyKos was harsh.


16 posted on 03/11/2011 12:53:48 PM PST by Christian Engineer Mass (25ish Cambridge MA grad student. Many younger conservative Christians out there? __ Click my name)
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To: reagan_fanatic

She is-shocking an error in the paper


17 posted on 03/11/2011 12:59:14 PM PST by funfan
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To: Suz in AZ

Kennedy and Byrd were both absent far more than they were present the last year or so of their lives. There ought to be an amendment allowing for the removal of a gravely ill (or injured) representative or senator should they be unable to perform their duties on a daily basis for an extended period of time.

And while we are at it, make it unconstitutional for a sitting representative or senator to seek election of any seat other than they one they are currently holding. I am sick of sitting senators and representatives being paid to run for office while they ignore the people they were elected to represent.


18 posted on 03/11/2011 1:15:58 PM PST by Blood of Tyrants (Islam is the religion of Satan and Mohammed was his minion.)
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To: furquhart

And if a dead Democrat gets elected, the spouse serves.


19 posted on 03/11/2011 1:18:14 PM PST by treetopsandroofs (Had FDR been GOP, there would have been no World Wars, just "The Great War" and "Roosevelt's Wars".)
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To: woweeitsme
God bless her and I hope she recovers quickly but I wonder if her district will tolerate not having representation in congress. I don't believe she will be able to represent them effectively for some time.

She might rely on Pelosi to tell her how to vote on each bill but should she get caught at that, a big stink would follow. It also means she could NOT be interviewed by anyone on CNN or FNS or NBC etc.

20 posted on 03/11/2011 1:24:03 PM PST by chooseascreennamepat
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