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Road to recovery for two shooting victims could be up and down

January 26, 2011|By Alyssa Rossomme (arossomme@wsbt.com)

MISHAWAKA—The country continues to follow the progress of a U.S. Congresswoman's recovery since her attempted assassination. As of Wednesday morning, Gabrielle Giffords' condition was upgraded from serious to good, and she should soon be transferred to a center for rehabilitation.

A local woman is also fighting back from a gunshot wound to the head. One month before a gunman opened fire, injuring Giffords, a woman who was working in a South Bend office took a bullet to the head.  Teresa Blake, 46, was shot on December 8 through a first-floor window at Specialized Staffing Solutions. Blake is also recovering from her traumatic brain injuries. 

Dr. Paul Desmarais, of St. Joseph Rehabilitation Institute in Mishawaka, said patients recovering from a brain injury can expect ups and downs. He said at an inpatient rehab center, the patient will usually go through at least three hours of therapy a day, including physical, speech, and occupational therapies. 

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Doctors have to watch for secondary issues like swelling or increased fluid on the brain.  Other complications, like pneumonia, blood clots, and pressure sores, can also contribute to a poor outcome.

However, Dr. Desmarais said when a patient is determined to work hard, it is possible to fully recover.

“The brain has neuroplasticity, which means some parts of the brain adjacent to the damaged area or even on the other side can sometimes take over the function of the damaged cells,” Desmarais said. “We try to wake that side up or help the body use those parts of the brain to accommodate for the damaged areas.”

He said research shows the best way to improve a patient's outcome is to begin rehab as soon as possible.

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