I came across a video interview of US congresswoman Gabby Giffords. You might remember she was shot while campaigning in 2011. I can’t put the video on this site directly but you can watch by clicking here
As I watched I was struck by how the bullet which struck her brain had left her with very similar issues to Amanda; aphasia, right -side weakness, vision problems and mobility challenges. In the interview she even wears the same splint Amanda currently wears for 6 hours a day.
I had a look at Gabby’s Wikipedia page . Even her immediate treatment and the time line in the aftermath of the shooting bore a close resemblence to Amanda’s situation.
I’ve mentioned before that Amanda’s brain bleed was spontaneous and she had no risk factors and no underlying medical issues. She was discharged from hospital with no medication required and hasn’t had so much as an aspirin since.
In her case, the bleed has never been as a result of any ‘illness’. Like Gabby Giffords, she has been left with a brain injury. The same injury can be caused by a bullet, or car accident, or just reaching up to fix the curtains.
Today was a stunning winter’s day in Nelson. We went for a long walk on the beach. The sand was flat and perfect for enjoying the sunshine. As you can see, the beach was packed as usual…
The Blue Banana Diaries 