Giffords speaks, asking for toast with breakfast

Source: msnbc

Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has recovered enough from a bullet to the brain to ask for toast with breakfast.

Few details are available, but Pia Carusone, Giffords' chief of staff, confirmed that the congresswoman made the verbal request on Monday when hospital workers at TIRR Memorial Hermann brought her a meal.

"Yes, that's accurate," Carusone said in an e-mail.
Though small, the request first reported by Politico marks a milestone for the congresswoman, who was shot in the head in a Jan. 8 shooting spree in Tucson that killed six and injured 13.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41492254/ns/us_news/from/toolbar

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Wonderful news! :bounce:

And, I wish to point out, not only did she speak, she used the right word.

Wonderful news!

:toast: toast!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJmKStqugMc

Yep, that's Paul YOung's first appearance in the UK charts (got to no. 18)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BILAFuSi-i0

And go, Cong. Giffords! Next time ask for a mimosa with that breakfast!

damn it I have something caught in my eye

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

short story:
My wife came within seconds of dying when she had a brain hemorrhage after child #2 was born. The doctor told me he had no idea what we could expect if she lived - he had never had a person live through such a thing before. His best guess was that she would be paralyzed from the neck down for life.

two nights later I was in her room and tickled her foot. she twitched her toe in response which meant she had nerve signals below the neck.
I forgot where I was and jumped up and punched my arm in the air and popped some ceiling tiles. A nurse came in, almost started crying and said "I can get that fixed, don't worry."

ETA - that was 30 years ago. She lives on. She has some effects but she lives and walks and is a contributing member of society.

Now you would have received a bill for $10,000 per ceiling tile.

Seriously though, great to here she had such a wonderful recovery.

to you about that story....except...... :bounce: :bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce:

I am so tired of negative news so I am always pleased with positive news but this is beyond positive, this is AWESOME news. She and her husband have been in my prayers and thoughts since the tragic events of January.

and doctors. That must mean the swelling is abating..YAY!!

I went in as a comatose patient in a semi-vegetative state and walked out of there after only two years.

This is wonderful news.

Sonoman

What a strong woman.

I'm so glad she's making so much progress.

Fantastic!!!

:woohoo:

Big Kick and Rec!

I have googled several times for articles on her condition, but never found an article that said anything other than her condition was improving.

I had visions of a person whose vitals were stabilizing, but really wasn't able to do much more than lay in bed and exist.

This news indicates she is talking, taking solid foods, is able to chew and swallow, and discriminate between the food she is being served.

Though her recovery will be in small steps, and could take years, at least this indicates her chance for a semi normal life might be reached some day.

Hope the best for her that is possible.

Any doctors around to weigh in on this?

Toast!!! :woohoo:

:grouphug:

To see someone with not only the will to survive, but the will to THRIVE. This news just made my day! :)

Such a small request, but what a huge positive sign this is.

Brain injuries make one stop and realize just how much we take for granted. I can only imagine what the request had to do for her family, her care providers and anyone with a heart.

Nothing to add except another FANTASTIC!!!!

:woohoo:

Go Gabby!

:kick:

This has to be kicked and gotten to the top of DU's home page.

Source: CNN.com

(CNN) -- U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords, recovering from a gunshot wound to the head sustained January 8, is regaining part of her ability to speak, her spokesman said Wednesday.

C.J. Karamargin would not divulge what Giffords has said, other than saying she asked for toast.

"It's very good news," he told CNN.

Giffords is at TIRR Memorial Hermann rehabilitation hospital in Houston. She was moved there late last month from University Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona, where she was taken after the shooting at a "Congress on Your Corner" event at a Tucson supermarket.

Six people were killed in the incident; Giffords was among 13 injured. Authorities have said they believe Giffords was targeted in the shooting. A 22-year-old suspect, Jared Lee Loughner, is facing federal charges.

Giffords' office said she actually spoke her first words before Wednesday morning, but has been speaking more since then.
<snip>



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/02/09/giffords.recovery/index.html?hpt=T2

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Amazing news!!!

and I mean that in the most surprised, elated, relieved, and excited sense of that word.
Way to go congresswoman! Keep up the progress!

...and barely a month later, she can speak? Wow is an undertstatement!

loss of , in some combination , nouns, verbs , pronouns , adjectives etc - some ok some not. While she recovers she'll probably express herself in different ways , maybe use adjectives instead of nouns etc , but those close to her will soon learn to understand.

Hope she recovers fully soon.