Update on Gifford's Condition

[Avalux]

Press conference with docs:

They are cautious but stressed her condition BEFORE the surgery is very important - she was conscious and talking. With a trauma like this, the brain swells and blood flow is compromised. During surgery, they removed her skull to accommodate the swelling and will replace once the swelling goes down and the brain is relaxed (could take several months).

She is in a medical coma to give her brain a chance to heal. They are hesitant to talk about prognosis but say she's doing well right now. The bullet entered the left side of the brain, the area that governs speech.

Recovery is going to be a very long, slow process. Two things working in her favor - the paramedics got her to the hospital very fast, and luck (where the bullet entered/exited).

Observation: reporters asking questions are dumbasses.

[dkf]

1. If it entered her left brain which governs speech, but she was conscious and talking prior to

To surgery doesn't that mean speech wasn't affected?

[Avalux]

2. That's why the docs said her condition prior to surgery is so important.

It would seem speech wasn't affected if she was talking.

[Barack_America]

5. Not sure we can trust those reports.

But language is complicated; damage one area and you can think of what you want to say, but not say it, damage another area and you can speak but it's incoherent.

[RayOfHope]

11. It is. My ex sustained a head injury. He was able to write 'sentences' but the

words were just groups of random letters (for example: Ax tjcju wcb tpkis mv.) which made no sense. His word retrieval was also very impaired. And he could read commands written on cards like 'touch your nose' but couldn't perform the command because he didn't understand it.

[Dennis Donovan]

6. They said she hasn't spoken or opened her eyes since the shooting.

[Avalux]

8. Not since surgery.

The docs stated she was conscious prior to surgery.

[CountAllVotes]

3. anyone that survives a bullet through the brain

is damn lucky to be alive. She'll likely need full-time care for the rest of her life it my thought on this. :(

Lying media rats fail to mention this I've noted. :grr:

:kick:

[Avalux]

4. That may not be the case. It's possible she'll make full recovery.

The brain is a miraculous organ and can compensate...her frontal lobe wasn't damaged so that's good. That in mind, recovery could take years.

[CountAllVotes]

9. she responded to "simple commands"

Uh huh ... she'll be back on the job next week. :grr:

[Avalux]

10. That's what the media implied yesterday. Idiots. n/t

[Avalux]

7. ...