BUT FOR MICHAEL?:

Prayers answered: Woman begins speaking nearly three years after suffering severe brain injury (FOSS FARRAR, 5/11/05, Ark City Traveler)

For nearly three years, Don and Stella Gaskill had hoped that their severely injured granddaughter would talk again. Just recently, their prayers were answered.

On Sept. 3, 2002, Tracy Gaskill suffered critical internal and head injuries when her pickup overturned on its top. Doctors told her relatives that night that she probably would die by noon the next day, Don Gaskill said today.

"That accident scared us to death," said Gaskill, who lives in rural Winfield. Tracy Gaskill also is from Winfield.

But through personalized care received at Medicalodge North in Arkansas City and the daily visits and prayers of the Gaskill family -- as well as many others in the Cowley County community -- Tracy survived and gradually got better, medical personnel say.

Then, about three weeks ago, she spoke for the first time since the accident, Don Gaskill said. About the same time, she began to swallow on her own.

"It's amazing, isn't it?" Dr. David Schmeidler said today. "I have never seen this happen in my career. I've read about it happening, the severely brain damaged recovering suddenly, but never seen it, until now."

Schmeidler, the medical director at the Medicalodge, said he visited Tracy a few weeks ago and she greeted him, "Hi, Dr. Schmeidler."

"She is actually able to speak and to speak coherently," he said. "In light of all this stuff on Terri Shiavo ... it makes you pause and think. For three years or so, (Tracy) was fed through a tube, then she swallowed a little bit and now she speaks."

Of course, euthanasia enthusiasts are thinking: Should have pulled the tube quicker...

Posted by Orrin Judd at May 14, 2005 7:49 AM