Hi Mark,

I think it is important to have compassion for each and every person that has such a terrible injury, and to depolicitize their experience as a human being who is suffering. I am not US American and am not embroiled in US politics, so have no vested interest in saying this. Outsiders do observe that the bipartisan structure is highly vitriolic at times.

I don't like most of the NHL hockey players, but feel enormous empathy for them when they get a brain injury. We share this little horrible part of the human experience.

Meeting an airline attendant last month who overheard me talking and who then said she had just returned to work after 15 months of brain injury rehab warmed my heart and brought tears to my eyes. She understood.

I think that empathy and solidarity is what makes this forum so useful to so many people.

Best wishes!