Snow day, violence in America, and brain injury

We are just beginning with this leg of the storm.

At this point, the snow is still coming down too heavily to even move the car. The sidewalk and the space next to me was clean from another car two hours before.  Right now the snow is blowing and we are on the cusp of up to 24 inches, but I imagine it might be more like 16. Never can tell. But for Bill and I shoveling and driving today are out of the question.  Between the two of us, this will be a hard task. I have called a neighbor and friend who will bring his long handled brush down later today when we have to move our cars.  

I am seriously struggling what has happened to Rep. Giffords. It is deeply and personally moving to me to see the photos of her husband holding her hand on the news this morning.  Bill was on a respirator for days or weeks, and he knew I was there even though he was not conscious.  He tells me about it sometimes and it makes those days of sitting there in ICU with him. holding his hand, fretting, and worrying feel more productive.  He also tells me that it meant that we were still in touch.

Bill's injury is on the left side, in the language processing area of the brain, the same general area as the Congresswoman's, from the stories I have heard. Last night Bill's neuropsychologist Dr. Maria Lifrak spoke on our local NBC news, describing the type of injury and what the long range repercussions might be.  After five years we see slow progress and healing, but also chronic health issues have followed. Dr. Lifrak and her teamed worked steadily with Bill four hours a week to help him regain some of his ability to read and write.

I offer the Giffords' my deepest sympathy and empathy, as a full time caregiver to a husband surviving from brain trauma.  The Giffords' have a long road ahead of them, but I am encourage at the news that she is breathing on her own.  She is blessed to have a family and many friends to guide them through this.  Bless them all. And may they receive the best possible outcome from this tragedy.