Doctors acknowledge "miracles" in Giffords' recovery

WCSH6.com | Portland, ME | Doctors acknowledge "miracles" in Giffords' recovery

(My prayers are with the families and victims of the senseless and horrific shootings in Tucson.  Please pray as we mourn for those that have lost their lives and for the families.  Pray for Gabrielle Giffords' recovery and for all the survivors.  Additionally, please join in prayer for God's healing grace to embrace our nation and world with peace.   -Loci B. Lenar)

From the website of WCSH6.com:

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- After 5 days of urging caution, even Gabrielle Giffords' doctors are starting to call her recovery a miracle.

The Democratic congresswoman, who was shot in the head in an assassination attempt Saturday, is moving both legs and both arms, has opened both eyes and is responding to friends and family. Doctors have sat her up on the side of the bed and dangled her feet over the edge.

Her neurosurgeon, Dr. Michael Lemole, told reporters today: "We're wise to acknowledge miracles."

Few people who take a bullet to the brain -- just 10 percent -- survive such a devastating wound.

Dr. Peter Rhee says the next milestone will be removing her breathing tube, and possibly having her sit in a chair tomorrow. Doctors want to make sure Giffords doesn't backslide, and they're watching for pneumonia and blood clots.

"Miracles of Mary" Documents Miracles of the Virgin Mary

The Miracles of Mary by Bridget Curran

The video and following information is from the website of Rome Reports:

Bridget Curran is an Australian film-maker and author who embarked on a journey to tell of everyday encounters with the Virgin Mary.

In her book “The Miracles of Mary,” Curran depicts encounters with Mary by Christians and non-Christians in the form of apparitions, weeping statues, and other miracles that she notes in detail.

Bridget says, “I've had some really interesting experiences while researching and since researching the book, with people from different faiths, there's quite an interesting Muslim devotion to Our Lady because they saw Jesus as a prophet and they saw Our Lady as someone to really be respected and to look up to.”

The book takes the reader on a tour through Africa, Asia, and Europe through stories that inspire, unite, and teach about ordinary people with extraordinary experiences.

Bridget says,“There are a lot of people that have shied away from the Church but still feel connection to Our Lady which is really lovely and I think very encouraging to help people come back and explore the Church again, and to understand their faith in a different way.”

Stories about apparitions of the Virgin Mary have surfaced around the world, including one in Champion, Wisconsin which was recently approved as the first Marian apparition site in the United States.

This apparition bears resemblance to one of Curran's favorites located in England because they both served to unite people.

Bridget says, “There are a couple of stories which I really love, one of them is Our Lady Walsingham, I was really touched by how it was one of oldest apparitions and one of the first major apparitions in the UK, it was from 12th century. It was really an apparition that brought people together from all different cultures.”

The book was first released in 2008 (Miracles of Mary) and has since reached audiences as diverse those in Brazil and Indonesia, as well as the United States and Europe.

Bridget says, “It's gone into Ireland, the UK, and Europe and it's had a really good response from the readers in the US and it's been lovely to see it kind of flourishing outside of anything that I've been doing so it's really encouraging that people are interested in Our Lady and finding out more.”

“Miracles of Mary” intends to teach about the beauty and grace that people have found in her. Curran continues to be interested in stories related to the Virgin Mary, a figure that she describes as one of love and maternal guidance.