Giffords making more progress, singing ‘American Pie’

Source: msnbc

Gabrielle Giffords has been singing "American Pie," eating chicken soup and "is making the kind of progress that all of us would anticipate" after being shot in the head in January, according to a rabbi who has been visiting the congresswoman regularly.

Rabbi David Lyon, of Congregation Beth Israel in southwest Houston, has been visiting Giffords about three times a week as she recovers in the TIRR Memorial Hermann hospital, Houston TV station KHOU, a CBS affiliate, reported.

Read more at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41886753/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts?GT1=43001

just reading the subject line about Gabby singing "American Pie" made me choke up.

Go, Gabby!

Especially seeing you choke up. :hug:

Go Gabby!

Gabby has been singing it instantaneously created a lump in my throat. I remember those awful hours when it was falsely reported that she had died. Her tenacity inspires me and I know that I will be absent-mindedly humming her "theme song" all day long.

I first heard this tune driving around town with my dad... in his '57 Chevy. It was such a long song we went from the Lomita Lumber Co. to Smith's Cycle and on to Chandler's Quarry and it was still playing! I was a very impressionable 14-year-old... and I was bound and determined to learn all of the lyrics, and to learn to play it on guitar. I'm sure I must still have the sheet music somewhere. It has a special place in my heart.

I first heard it driving from Ft McNair in Washington, DC over to Ft Myer in Arlington. Was in the US Army back then. Those were somewhat tough times for me being forced to spend two years in the military, but they were incredible times for music.

No, we would have to drive to Long Beach to see a levee:) May have to drive over there if the levee breaks though... I sang that song during the Katrina disaster. There truly is a song for all things.

DU vibes, Ms Giffords. :thumbsup::hug:

A liddle chicken soup, it could'nt hoit.... (So says my Mom, a stalwart Yankee!)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-03-03-giffords03_ST_N.htm

Some details released so far may appear more encouraging than they are, says William Weiner, chairman of neurology at the University of Maryland. Consider recent news accounts that Giffords, as part of her therapy, has been singing songs, including Don McLean's nine-minute rock classic American Pie.

Weiner says he and other professors use song to teach medical students about the quirkiness and complexity of the brain in stroke patients who've lost the power of speech.

"We'll say, 'Let's sing Happy Birthday together,' " he says, adding that the students end up with "amazed looks on their faces ... but it has nothing to do with speaking. It's a different part of the brain."

That she can speak at all doubles that, and that she can remember a tune or a lyric doubles down yet again... regardless. That there is any function at all is blessed and bizarre... and no amount of parade pissing is going to dampen the joy.

Sorry.

I hate using new-fangled internet things, but thanks for your post.

My daughter refuses to use any of the new-fangled words, half words, and such. Even her texts from her phone are complete with capitalization and punctuation. No LOL's from her! LOL! Hahaha!

And I'm glad to hear that she is doing well.

Thanks

Rec

I'm glad she is eating chicken soup and can sing :). I wish the best for her and her family.