A Fear

 Tucson cares and the proof is found in these photos of two different memorial sites started when Gabby was hospitalized.    (Borrowed from Move On).   They just keep growing and growing.  When the ambulance took Gabby from the hospital to the plane that carried her to Houston the streets were lined with well wishers and, as the ambulance went by, they applauded. They say she heard the applause and smiled and tears came to her eyes.  Both were wonderful signs of awareness.

Gabby Giffords is now in Houston and beginning her arduous rehabilitation program.  Her recovery has been near miraculous thanks to the A-1 care she has received from the beginning.  We all hope she has a full recovery and can resume her career representing Arizona.  However, I have one concern and it frightens me. To my knowledge, Gabby has not uttered a single word.  This may be due to the feeding tube and I sincerely hope that's the case.  If not, her ability to speak might be impaired as the bullet entered the part of her brain that controls speech.

I have first hand knowledge of what can happen when that part of the brain is damaged.  It may be time to tell the story of my husbands last months.

It all began on a sunny Sunday morning.  I was just getting dressed when my daughter came rushing into the room saying, "There's something wrong with Dad."  She was followed by my husband saying  "There's nothing wrong; my legs won't work right, but it will be all right."  I took one look at him and knew immediately that he had suffered a stroke.  I told him that, no, it wouldn't be all right and that we were going to the hospital.

We rushed him to the ER where he was admitted to the hospital.  I won't go into the months when the doctors falsely diagnosed the problem as an AV (Artery-Venous)  malformation.  After being released from the hospital he was getting physical therapy for the stroke and was trying very hard to do what was asked of him, but it wasn't helping.  He did not improve and was getting steadily worse.  

The doctors finally decided to do a tissue biopsy to find out what was wrong.  When they examined his brain they touched the part of the brain that controls speech.   He had multiple inoperable malignant brain tumors.  After the biopsy he only spoke twice; both times were when he was very emotional.  The first time was after the doctor told him he was terminal and the other time was when he was admitted to a nursing home. He was never able to speak again.

The doctor told me  the reason he had been able to speak those two times.  It seems that if a stroke or brain damaged person becomes very agitated it stimulates that  part of the brain so the patient is able to talk.  

The poor man was trapped in his body without being able to express his thoughts or fears or to make his needs known except by miming them.  As one side was paralyzed his ability to mime was limited also.  It had to be a living hell.

I pray that this is not the case with Gabby and that her wonderful voice is not stilled by this tragic event.   It has been 26 years since my husband was felled by cancer.  I know that they have learned much about the brain in the intervening years.   I am sure that they have more ways to stimulate the brain now.  Yet, I still have fear.

 Please keep sending good thoughts to this courageous woman as she fights to get well.