A New Year's photo of hope

[DFW]

Two years ago, I celebrated the new Year with some friends who included Gabby Giffords of Arizona. Seven days later, a nut case with more bullets than sanity shot her in the head. I thought I would never see her again.

[IMG][/IMG]


Now, two years later, I saw the new year in with her again. She needs a LOT more treatment, but she's getting it, and Mark is rock solid, always there for her. She is still there. I can't think of a better inspiration to start the new year.

[Raster]

1. Thank you for sharing, DFW! Very much appreciated.

Happy New Year!

[onestepforward]

2. A lovely picture!

Love it! Thanks for sharing

[Cha]

3. We're so grateful that your friend, Gabby, our Gabby made it

through that horrifying tragic experience that senselessly claimed so many lives, DFW!

Here's Gabby and PBO and all those in Congress who Welcomed her..

[HiPointDem]

4. I am glad to hear she is doing well. Without meaning to throw water on this hopeful post,

however, I'd like to remind people that most brain-injury patients will never get the same level of care, and there are many who could be as functional as gifford apparently is in that picture who are instead living in nursing homes where they basically get no appropriate treatment after the initial crisis period.

[SammyWinstonJack]

5. +1. nt

[DFW]

6. It's true that Gabby's care has been the best available

However, she was one of us, and would have continued to vote for extending health care to ever more Americans, had she been able. For this reason, I wouldn't ever begrudge her the care and rehab she is being given.

Beyond that: for me, at least, this is personal, not an abstract bit of policy, and I was very glad just to get another hug from her when two years ago, I feared she would end up a vegetable. Instead, she beamed when she saw me approach her. She still has a long way to go to become fully functional, but just being able to enjoy being with her again for a short time is something you couldn't dampen if you had thrown all the water in the seven seas on us.

[niyad]

7. thank you--we need all the hope we can find

[DFW]

8. I hear you! N/T

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. What a wonderful picture, my dear DFW!

You do get around!

And what a wonderful way to bring in the New Year...when you thought you might never see her smiling at you again.

This is an inspiring story, and I thank you for it.

K&R



Happy New Year to you and yours!

[DFW]

10. Thanks, Peggy!

All the best to you as well! Here we are with Mark and a friend from the Bay Area:

[IMG][/IMG]

[CaliforniaPeggy]

11. Another great picture!

I know you had a wonderful time, being happy to see Gabby getting well.

Thanks for sharing!

[DFW]

12. She warmly greeted her former colleague, Jerry Nadler, too

Jerry was there, but flew back to DC to vote on the budget package, and, presumably, on the Sandy rescue fund package, which Bonehead's Buttheads blocked.

[Hekate]

13. I'm so happy to hear this DFW. Those are wonderful pix.

Yes, it's a long road back from a brain trauma, but she appears to be doing very well indeed all things considered.

Several years ago I read an extremely good book called My Stroke of Insight by a doctor who had a severe stroke in her 30s. I heard her interviewed on NPR and looked the book up. Some very striking things about it was the way she was able to observe herself and later describe the event and recovery, which was long. The enduring take-away for me was the tremendous healing potential of the human brain, and how much hard work it takes to do it....

Best wishes to you in the New Year, and to Gabby and her husband.

[DFW]

14. Thanks, Hekate!

Friends, true ones, are the one essential element of life that no amount of money can buy.