Gabrielle Giffords' staffer talks about congresswoman's health

[Ptah]

Source: Arizona Republic

<snip>

For example, how well is she able to communicate with them?

"We do a lot of inferring with her because her communication skills have been impacted the most," Carusone said. "If you think of it as someone who is able to communicate with you clearly, it is easy to test them. You can ask them a series of questions, and you can get clear answers back. Whereas with Gabby, what we've been able to infer and what we believe is that her comprehension is very good. I don't know about percentage-wise or not, but it's close to normal, if not normal."

Does her struggle to communicate mean that she's not using complete sentences?

"Exactly," Carusone said. "She is borrowing upon other ways of communicating. Her words are back more and more now, but she's still using facial expressions as a way to express. Pointing. Gesturing. Add it all together, and she's able to express the basics of what she wants or needs. But, when it comes to a bigger and more complex thought that requires words, that's where she's had the trouble."




Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/06/09/20110609gabrielle-giffords-health-issues-revealed.html

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

1. This is so goddamn sad and for what? So some fucking deranged jagoff could get his 5 minutes. nt

[dynasaw]

2. Thanks also to Sarah and the whole

"cross hairs" targeting. I for one am not letting Sarah get away with that one no matter what the arguments about
what words don't do to incite crazies to act.

[Kali]

3. it is sad, but

my sadness comes when I think of the help that did not come for that "deranged jagoff" or for others that either don't have $$ or insurance or positions of power (or even just family that will fight for them) that allow them to receive the best care available (or in the case of way too many, any care at all).

It was/is a tragedy all around and the harm to a good conscientious representative is also sad. But the deeper roots of it all are what is really heartbreaking.

[dynasaw]

4. and don't let us forget the little girl

who never had a chance to grow up and enjoy a full life.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

11. Yes and everybody involved really. I was referring ot the entire situation for all the victims. nt

[mopinko]

5. +1

[Ptah]

6. Amen. nt

[Uncle Joe]

7. That's the million dollar question,

would universal single payer coverage; which included mental health coverage have made a difference in this case?

I have no doubt that even if it wouldn't have changed the outcome in this particular incident, there are multitudes of similar situations only separated by degree and infamy which may have been altered sparing countless amounts of grief spread upon the American People.

[babydollhead]

8. jagoff? are you from Pittsburgh?

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

12. I'm from Puerto Rico but I live in CHicago and I'm a big joe Pesci fan.

:)

[Taverner]

15. Yep, I'm afraid so

As much as I hate Palin, she is not to blame.

Glenn Beckkk however...different story

[alfredo]

9. If she can't get her speech back completely, there are ways to

help her communicate. She will need it when she is on the Senate floor.

[Missy Vixen]

14. I read something completely different in that excerpt

Her staff is preparing her constituency and her supporters that unfortunately, she may never retake her seat.

It's heartbreaking. It is my every prayer that Gabby will continue to fight.

[alfredo]

16. I hope she can. So she can't speak, at least she can think and

that puts her ahead of most in the house.

[onehandle]

10. Second Amendment Remedies. nt

[avebury]

13. K&R