# Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords shot in the head? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 8, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904 "2011-01-08T18:36:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/381 "2011-01-14T19:24:50Z")
How the heck can you fit that whole line inside a ring and still be able to read it? ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/382 "2011-01-14T19:32:34Z")
If Sarah Palin can fit “One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.” on her ring, Giffords can fit “You’re the closest to heaven that I’ve ever been.” on hers. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/383 "2011-01-14T20:05:13Z")
you would have difficulty reading it. perhaps a magnification devise? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/384 "2011-01-14T20:55:09Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > If Sarah Palin can fit “One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.” on her ring Now I’m imagining that annoying nasal twang talking about “my precious”. I wonder if she found it while gutting a fish? ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/385 "2011-01-15T05:55:02Z")
Maybe while gutting a møøse? > [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Nice story about her wedding from 2007 > > [The congresswoman and the astronaut: A love story - CNN.com](http://www.cnn.com/2011/LIVING/01/14/gabrielle.giffords.marriage/index.html?hpt=C1) Dang. Some ash from the fireplace must’a got in my eye . . . ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/386 "2011-01-15T14:20:11Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Now I’m imagining that annoying nasal twang talking about “my precious”. I wonder if[this video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9kfcEga0lk&feature=player_embedded) reveals Palin trying to decide if she’s Gollum or Smeagol with each breath. (It’s a YouTube video of Sarah Palin’s speech from Wednesday, edited so that it only shows the breaths before each sentence. That’s some pretty shallow, tense, disconected-from-her-body breathing, says this voice teacher.) ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/387 "2011-01-16T18:43:06Z")
Does anyone know if it is bad or good news (or neutral) that Giffords has a tracheotomy now? I heard that she was taken off the ventilator, which seems like really great news, but then saw that she was given a tracheotomy, which doesn’t seem quite so good. But I’m not a medical expert, so I thought I’d ask. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/388 "2011-01-16T18:51:37Z")
good news. they will be able to check her speech. the trach. (and feeding tube) will keep her airways clear until they test her swallowing function. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/389 "2011-01-16T19:06:45Z")
They’ve been giving a lot of positive reports about Giffords. Considering that she was shot in the head, she’s lucky to be alive. Reality sunk in yesterday when the said a feeding tube and trach was put in. The feeding tube was a jolt to me. Realizing she won’t even be able to eat was a surprise. She may be opening an eye or moving a hand. But, she’s really not awake or conscious. ☹ Speaking with a trach isn’t easy. A friend of mine had one for years after a bad car wreck. It had a stopper in it. With the stopper out, she got air from the trach and couldn’t speak. Stopper in, she breathed normal and spoke. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/390 "2011-01-16T19:20:19Z")
I may have got the trach stopper/cap backwards. One way allows speech. I can’t recall for sure which way it worked. But, a trach does impair speech. They also have to be cleaned with a suction device. I always felt bad for my friend that had one. She was used to it and didn’t complain. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/391 "2011-01-16T20:49:41Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > They’ve been giving a lot of positive reports about Giffords. Considering that she was shot in the head, she’s lucky to be alive. > > Reality sunk in yesterday when the said a feeding tube and trach was put in. The feeding tube was a jolt to me. Realizing she won’t even be able to eat was a surprise. She may be opening an eye or moving a hand. But, she’s really not awake or conscious. ☹ Question: was the tracheotomy done shortly after she was initially admitted, like as part of her initial surgery? Sticking a breathing tube long-term through your vocal cords can cause permanent damage, so it may be they anticipated she’d be worse off than she is, on a respirator longer than she was, and did the trach earlier. But I don’t know. Cutting a breathing hole in your throat may sound awful (and it is on a certain level) but it can be less harmful in the long run than not doing so. As for the feeding tube - it sounds alarming, but if she’s not entirely conscious or she might have swallowing problems it’s a LOT better than her inhaling food and getting pneumonia, or not taking in sufficient quantities. Again, it sounds alarming, but this way they’ll be able to keep her properly nourished. When injured that’s important. Her body doesn’t need the stress of inadequate nutrition or calories right now. Maybe I’m less surprised because I come from a medical family. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/392 "2011-01-16T20:57:05Z")
**Broomstick** , my understanding from the news reports is that when she was first admitted, she was placed on a ventilator. Then when the ventilator was removed, they did the tracheotomy. This was yesterday, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/393 "2011-01-16T21:16:54Z")
You can be “placed on a ventilator” with or without a tracheotomy. The respirator doesn’t care if the tube goes down your throat or into your neck. So “placed on a ventilator” doesn’t tell you when the tracheotomy was done. And I’m not sure I trust the news media to get it right - after all, the day of the shooting she was reported as dead, then alive, then dead again, then alive… at least one go-round of that that I recall. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/394 "2011-01-16T23:29:47Z")
MsNBC is reporting now that Giffords was upgraded from Critical to Serious condition. I’ve heard the hard part begins in a few weeks. The therapy will be very frustrating for someone like Giffords who led such an active life. She’s got a long and tough year ahead of her. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/395 "2011-01-17T19:03:12Z")
this morning’s press conference stated that she went from a breathing tube in her mouth, to the trach. also they repaired damage to the roof of her eye socket. they said that there was bone damage there when she was shot, due to her condition on the day of the shooting, they decided to put off extensive repair until after she stablized. so while the trach. was being installed they were working on the eye socket. all went well, and she is doing all that she did before the operations. with the trach. she should be able to move around better and being able to see all of her face, they can see if she is able to move her mouth, swallow, etc. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/396 "2011-01-17T19:24:21Z")
I’m amazed they are already talking about a move to a rehab center in the next couple weeks or so. I get the impression the Univ of Arizona UMC is one of the top teaching hospitals in the country. Giffords and the other victims were lucky they were only a short distance away. G. Michael Lemole Jr., MD the brain surgeon only had a few minutes to plan his operation. Even Sanjay Gupta seemed impressed with this doctor. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/397 "2011-01-17T20:10:23Z")
UMC wasn’t the closest hospital to where they were shot. It’s probably a 15-20 minute drive and there was another hospital closer. It is a good hospital, though. I was born there and so was my son. It sounds like it was definitely the right hospital to go to in this situation, though. Sounds like they did the best job that could have been expected. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/398 "2011-01-17T20:34:38Z")
> [@OpalCat](#): > > UMC wasn’t the closest hospital to where they were shot. It’s probably a 15-20 minute drive and there was another hospital closer. It is a good hospital, though. I was born there and so was my son. I wonder if the closest hospital had a helicopter. I think I remember reading that she was airlifted. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2011, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/399 "2011-01-17T23:16:54Z")
It’s the only local trauma center. When you are shot like she was they take you to a trauma center even if it’s not the closest hospital. Most cities only have a few trauma centers (or in some cases only 1) so that is where you go if you are badly injured. Usually they are at university hospitals. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/400 "2011-01-18T00:36:21Z")
In an interview her husband said she keeps trying to give him shoulder rubs. Sounds like good progress. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904.md?page=21)