Politics and religion.

[Grace]

From the Arizona Republic

Doctors performed a procedure Saturday morning that helps protect U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' airway but frees her from a ventilator that she's been on since being wounded in a shooting a week ago.

Doctors removed a breathing tube from the 40-year-old Arizona congresswoman and replaced it with a tracheotomy tube in her windpipe, according to an update from University Medical Center.

Giffords has been breathing on her own for several days, but doctors kept the breathing tube in place as a precaution, Dr. Peter Rhee, University Medical Center's chief of trauma, said Friday.

Surgeons also inserted a feeding tube to provide nutrition to the wounded congresswoman.

Both procedures are not uncommon among brain-injured patients in the intensive-care unit, according to the report. Giffords is still listed in critical condition.

Another shooting victim, James Tucker, was discharged Saturday, leaving only Giffords and two other victims of the Jan. 8 rampage as patients at the medical center.

Susan Hileman and George Morris remained in the hospital Saturday. Both were listed in good condition.

A week after Giffords was shot in the head at point-blank range in a rampage that left six dead and 13 wounded, she continued to improve significantly and is able to track with her eyes and has the ability to move her arms and legs, doctors reported Friday.

Wednesday marked the first time that Giffords opened her eyes spontaneously. On Thursday, she began a physical-therapy routine after showing doctors she could lift both arms and legs when held upright by medical staff.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articl...#ixzz1B8tQyFnN

Slow, steady progress for all of the victims.

[blue]

Slow, steady progress for all of the victims.

All of the victims?

[Karen]

All of the victims?

All the surviving victims, one would think that goes without saying, blue. I am glad Rep. Gifford is making progress, but hope everyone knows it will be a long, slow road - brain injuries are tricky beasts, and no matter how many media folks claim "miracle" it is good medical care as well as her own strength that are helping her through this.

[blue]

All the surviving victims.

If only that was what she said. Unfortunately there seems to be only one victim she is concerned about. If she wants to make a "Medical Marvel" thread about Gifford's injury that would be in better taste as it is no longer political. Besides the guy was a nut and didnt commit a politically motivated crime.

Rep Giffords isnt the first person to survive a GSW to the head. People have survived much worse injuries and lived to tell about it, so I agree this isnt a miracle.

The President turned the Arizona Memorial into a Pep/Campaign Rally, including TShirts. Never let a crisis, in this case a tragedy, go to waste.

[Bonny]

The only thing that makes any common sense in all of this is the lady who lost her mother in the shooting. Jared needed help & never received any, it could of been prevented was her thought. She forgives Jared for shooting & killing her mother.

Then there is the fella that everyone is fussing about with the magical announcers voice that is getting help from the all corners of the U.S. & even going into rehab. It is like what are the priorities in this country of ours?

[Grace]

I think this is interesting - wonder what will happen when the event happens?

Momentum builds for bipartisan State of the Union seating

[Grace]

Arizona shooting victim arrested

I think this is the same guy who went to the home of the shooter's parents the day he got out of the hospital. He didn't see them though.