Bob Woodruff, his recovery from brain injury

[shireen]

There's a very interesting article and interview with Bob Woodruff; if you recall, he was injured in Iraq in January 2006.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/bob-woodruff-gabrielle-giffords-recover-brain-injury/story?id=12578057

Excerpt:
I didn't know Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords but my assumption is she never imagined that a gunshot would put her where she is either.

But there is hope.

Like the doctors who saved me almost five years ago, her surgeons knew exactly what to do. Her brain was swelling just like mine. They removed part of her skull on the left side of her head almost exactly like mine, and she is now in a drug-induced coma so that her brain can recover. For me it was 36 days before I woke up.

But in one way her case is more hopeful. She responded to verbal commands by the doctors and reacted by squeezing their finger, indicating she understood, although she could not speak. I never heard the words and never squeezed my doctors' fingers when they tried to get me to respond.

Also watch the interview at this link, very interesting: http://abcnews.go.com/US/video/bob-woodruff-dr-richard-besser-recovering-from-brain-injury-12578378

[malaise]

1. He was on ABC news earlier

Touching indeed.

[stray cat]

2. I hope he is right - he surely speaks from experience....

[DemReadingDU]

3. very interesting interview

I had not heard that part of Giffords skull had been removed to reduce swelling, similar to Woodruff.

[jbnow]

4. Not to reduce swelling but to make room for swelling and reduce

the impact of existing or potential swelling.
Swelling of brain can cause immense damage, including death, since the skull doesn't expand. It can shut down vital brain functions (like breathing). They'll just replace the skull part when it is clear the threat of swelling is over.

No big deal to doctors. I know someone who had brain surgery... but I didn't ask then how they reattach the skull. (I envision mortar but I bet that isn't the case.)

It is really, really good that she never lost that ability to respond to orders. May her rapid recovery astound us.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. They actually use a type of surgical mortar

to hold it in place, and then the bone heals like it does with any other fracture.

The good news there is no pain.

[DemReadingDU]

6. ah yes, that makes more sense. thanks. n/t