No one knows how hard that road will be to travel better than Gabrielle Giffords. And even she doesn't know because it's an unfamiliar and uncharted road with no one, including herself, knowing what pitfalls there are going to be ahead or what the real extent of her brain injury will be.
Will her personality change? The Gabby Giffords that those who know her are familiar with would no doubt plunge fearlessly into the unknown territory of this challenge and fight to get better. But is she the same Gabby? Will she still have a smile on her face and an answer for the constituents she is representing? It will take time for that to be known by her medical team as well as by Gabby and her family.
One news source said she was recuperating from her traumatic brain injury. Anyone who has been involved with or has worked with someone who has suffered from a brain injury knows that no one 'recuperates' from one. They will improve, they will adapt and adjust and they will learn to cope but they don't recuperate. And at the very least, most will be left with some deficits. It is a tough road to walk and the hard work she is facing should not be forgotten or ignored when hearing news articles that appear to negate the extreme seriousness of her situation.
No two brain injuries are the same. Those with determination and the motivation to push themselves will definitely be ahead of the game. Also, if Gabby Giffords is fortunate enough to receive cognitive therapy and treatment as soon as possible, I feel very positive about her future outcome. I have seen first-hand the positive results of early therapy.
For more information about brain injuries go to:
- Lash & Associates Publishing/Training Inc. www.lapublishing.com
- The National Resource Center for Traumatic Brain Injury www.neuro.pmr.vcu.edu
- Brain Injury News and Information Blog www.BrainInjury.blogs.com
- Northeast Center for Special Care
- Brain Injury Association of North America www.biausa.org
I wish Gabrielle Giffords success as she faces her biggest challenge yet. She has a lot of things on her side though – her relatively young age, her strong personality (as evidenced by what she has already been able to accomplish in her life), and hopefully a determined spirit. Best wishes to Gabby and her family and to everyone who has suffered a traumatic brain injury.
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