Doctor: Chance of Gifford's survival 100%

[Joe the Revelator]

"Well, I would say -- you know, as a physician I am going to get in a lot of trouble for this -- but her prognosis for survival is 100 percent, as far as it being short term," Dr. Peter Rhee told Britain's Channel 4 News. "I mean, hopefully she'll live to be 95 years old. What her recovery is going to do, I really don't know. I am very optimistic that she's not going to be in a vegetative type of state, I think she's going to make a fair amount of recovery. And what kind of deficits that she'll have in the future, I really can't say at this point, but I am still very optimistic."

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/01/giffords-doctor-prognosis-for-survival-is-100-percent-video.php

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Yes she is out of the critical phase mostly

still in critical condition...

And I am betting physical therapy has started.

[bushisanidiot]

2. WONDERFUL news!!

This has made my day! :)

[TwilightGardener]

3. Brain swelling should have run its course--now it's up to good hospital care

to avoid complications--avoiding pneumonia from being intubated, blood clots, infection, etc.

[disillusioned73]

4. Great news - thanks

[Sinistrous]

5. I hope she will not be too seriously impaired.

She has suffered a grievous wound.

[Gamow]

8. If you haven't seen this yet:

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

Bob Woodruff suffered a similar injury and received similar care. As you can see in the video he is doing well.
It is possible she could quite nearly fully recover.

[kestrel91316]

10. Woodruff pointed out that she is actually WAY ahead of where

he was at this point. He was out of it for over a month, unresponsive. She has been responsive from the start, except when anesthetized.

[Jester Messiah]

6. Hooray!

Many praises to the fine medical professionals who kept her from death, and to the heroes that got her to those professionals in time.

[RainDog]

7. glad to hear some good news among all this tragedy n/t

[supernova]

9. Marvelous that she is doing so well so far

Hoping it continues.

[jwirr]

11. That is wonderful.

[Peace Patriot]

12. The human brain has incredible abilities to re-wire itself, if given half a chance.

Sounds like her doctors, and those who got her to them quickly, have created that good chance for her recovery of most functions, and possibly full recovery.

I am very happy for her and her family and friends--and for all of us. In the midst all this horror, it is very heartening that the apparent object of the attack--silencing Congresswoman Giffords forever--has been foiled.

I am also amazed at her incredible good luck. From all accounts, she was the target and she was shot at pointblank range, in the head, by a very lethal weapon. The chances of surviving that attack were near zero. If the shooter had been a fraction of an inch closer, or a small fraction of inch more accurate, she would have died instantly. It is just astonishing that she didn't.

May her good luck continue! And may we all, as a society, share in that good fortune, and see the restoration of our civil life, our "commons" and our democracy by our collective effort to make it so. As she works to regain her life functions and her life, so should we work. Neither will be easy. But, then, when was democracy ever easy?

[Mad_Dem_X]

13. Wonderful news. n/t

[Last_Stand]

14. Fantastic!

My in-laws were involved in a motorcycle accident last year that by all rights should have killed them or left them as vegetables.

Medical technology, faith, and positive thinking can do amazing things sometimes.

All the best to the Giffords family.