<p>This lady is amazing!
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<p>And from June 12, 2011, heres another thread with her latest pictures, at that time:
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<p>I read that- pretty cool!</p>
<p>Yes, that was so neat to see.</p>
<p>OK: celebrate/discuss the Congresswoman’s return to health</p>
<p>Will be removed: political comment, discussion of moderation, revived closed threads from closed fora.</p>
<p>I hate to be awful here, because it’s wonderful and inspirational that Congresswoman Giffords is recovered enough to go to the House to cast the vote. And what a sweet surprise for her colleagues on both sides of the aisle. But I wonder how her recovery really is, cognitively. Is she actually capable of being a US Congresswoman?</p>
<p>At the risk of crossing the “political” line, I can’t imagine that Gabby Giffords is even close to the standards of cognitive disfunction that we have seen over the years from Congress Critters on both sides of the aisle. 
Case in point, I doubt, even now with grievous brain injuries, that she believes the island of Guam might tip over if we increased the number of military personnel stationed there.</p>
<p>Cardinal Fang - as much as it was an incredibly inspirational moment, I, too, wonder how cognitively capable she is. I think there’s a difference between being able to be briefed on one deal, where her staff may have spent weeks and weeks explaining everything to her (just my speculation), and actually being able to manage the rigors of day-to-day congressional work. </p>
<p>Several years ago, there was another congressman, I think from South Dakota who had a massive stroke I believe. I could probably google it and find out what happened to him, but I know he initially did not resign, and I think eventually returned to Congress. But I’m not sure how he was able to handle the grueling schedule and/if he was re-elected or chose to run again.</p>
<p>It’s a very bittersweet moment for people with brain injuries and their loved ones. It illustrates the advances medical science has made, but it will be years before doctors can likely replicate this kind of recovery, leaving many people feeling frustrated that their recovery is not as remarkable as Giffords.</p>
<p>Reminds me of Ted Kennedy arriving for the medicare bill vote. I am inspired. Yet agree- people in positions of power/prestige get a different level of medical care for such injuries (eg Bob Woodruff). But that is a discussion for another thread.</p>
<p>This woman’s recovery has already been exceptional, against all odds and expectations. Though I understand why some may wonder about the extent of cognitive changes, and I think it’s a fair question, it does seem possible to me that she could still fulfill her duties as a US Representative. Has she announced whether she wishes to continue? She is certainly an inspiration, and I am in awe of her.</p>
<p>There are many senators in their 80s and some in their 90’s. It might be reasonable to have some concern about the cognitive capacities in many respects. IMO a personis competent until declared incompetent, but that is a reasonable thing to call into question.</p>
<p>I’m going to celebrate Ms. Giffords’ ability to even make the trip to DC for this vote. Every thing she does that is part of her life will help her improve…and reach her highest potential. Kudos for her for making the trip. I think it’s wonderful.</p>
<p>Agreed with Thumper. I just watched the morning news and was tearing up. She is an inspiration to others with brain injury.</p>
<p>It was wonderful to see Congresswoman Giffords return to the House to cast a vote. There is certainly a question about how much she has recovered cognitively. I did notice that her chief of staff was close by her side the whole time, and she seemed to be guiding her. I’m sure that a decision will be made by next year, when it is time for re-election, about whether she has recovered enough to serve another term. I certainly hope the news will be positive.</p>
<p>Given that the current Congress thinks that …</p>
<p>… I would say that she is as competent as the rest of them to serve.</p>
<p>But it is great to see her back.</p>
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<p>We’ll find out soon enough, because they said on the news this morning that she is hoping/planning to run for re-election. Final decision has not been made but if the rehab continues to go well enough, she wants to run. We’ll see in the campaign whether she still has her wits or whether her injuries were just too severe.</p>
<p>I was watching Gabby closely (as closely as I could by watching video clips) and it looked like she was recognizing people, greeting them, and having short conversations with various members on the House Floor. Now, how detailed or prolonged some of those conversations were, I have no idea. And, unless someone comes out and tells us, we aren’t going to know just what was said between Gabby and her colleagues. However, it is reported that she was watching the entire debt debate from home and expressed a very sincere desire to come to D.C. to cast her Yes vote. That, to me, indicates that she is following current events and she is well enough to make the long flight from AZ to D.C. Those have got to be hopeful signs (I think!) </p>
<p>As for Sen. Tim Johnson (the Senator from South Dakota whom suffered a stroke) I wish when people post things and say “I could google this” that they would do so. ( sorry, my pet peeve is people who post, whilst admitting that they don’t know what they are posting about! lol)</p>
<p>Senator Timothy Johnson suffered bleeding in his brain in 2006 (during an interview nonetheless.) He was treated at George Washington U Hospital and, after some difficult months, has made a full recovery. </p>
<p>He ran for re-election in 2008 and defeated his Republican challenger by a wide margin. He is an active part of the U.S. Senate at this very moment, as they consider passage of the debt bill. </p>
<p>However, while he did suffer bleeding in his brain, and a stroke, he did not get shot in the head. Comparing his situation to that of Rep. Giffords is not ~exactly~ on point. ( in my opinion.)</p>
<p>I welled up a bit seeing her husband Mark Kelly hold her hand tightly. What a love story. I had flashback to his greetings from space in a recent U2 concert. After displaying the words It’s a Beautiful Day (the song she chose for him to wake up to), he quoted a David Bowie song “Tell my wife I love her very much… she knows”. </p>
<p>It’s a nice moment to see in such a discordant dysfunctional political atmosphere…</p>
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Agreed. Politics is in many ways about relationships, and this helped put things in perspective. If Gaby Giffords has the capacity to reason, problem solve, etc, she can use her staff to help organize the the information she needs to process. I look forward to hearing how her cognitive rehab is progressing, if that is disclosed.</p>
<p>I’m so glad to read that she is planning to run for re-election. Her recovery is clearly going much better than I’d realized. I remember the really guarded comments of her doctors in the weeks after the tragedy. I imagine that being able to participate again in Congress is, in itself, therapeutic. If anyone deserves a miraculous recovery, she does.</p>
<p>I just listened to a newscast five minutes ago that said she was unsure as to her plans for re-election. That her current plan was to focus on her recovery in Houston.</p>
<p>I give her lots of credit for returning for the vote. She has a great deal of courage.</p>