All About Gabby
Thank you for your great article on our hometown girl Gabby Giffords (“Aphasia Won’t Stop Gabby Giffords from Speaking Out,” October/November 2022). She has been a mainstay in Tucson for as long as my husband and I have lived here (since 1979), and I greatly admire her. I, too, have aphasia, as a result of undiagnosed shingles in my ear, so I can empathize with some of her challenges. We met Gabby and Mark Kelly a few years ago. They are an awesome team and an inspiration. —Valerie Golembiewski, Tucson, AZ
I was so upset when Gabby Giffords was shot and have wondered about her ever since. She looks great, and the information about her treatment and therapy is fabulous. The article shows how intelligent and focused she is on what's important. I found her story inspiring. —A. Ann Alexander, Houston
I'm so glad Gabby Giffords spoke up about aphasia. I, too, have had trouble speaking since undergoing deep brain stimulation for essential tremor. Now when I struggle to find just the right word, I will stop and think of Gabby and all that she has overcome. —Charles Matheson, Elgin, TX
I value the information you provide on neurologic disorders, but your cover story on Gabby Giffords was disappointing. I appreciated the details about aphasia, but I did not like the inherent political bias. It's hard to believe it was a coincidence that the article and the seven pictures of her husband, Mark Kelly, who was running in a hotly contested U.S. Senate race in Arizona, were published just prior to the election. It's also surprising that in the only full-page image of Giffords, she's wearing a T-shirt with the slogan “Gun Laws Save Lives.” Gun reform is another controversial issue. —John Peters, Scottsdale, AZ
If political advocacy is one of the goals of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), then I worry about the direction in which such advocacy leads. The story on Gabby Giffords, while inspiring, was a blatant nod to gun control. It also pictures her husband, Mark Kelly, who was recently in a close race for a U.S. Senate seat. I strongly recommend that the AAN and Brain & Life refrain from such political “advertisements.” Instead of being a resource for helping individuals with neurologic problems, the publication and the AAN may be seen as part of the medical-industrial complex with political ties to those in power. —Paul J. Perrone, Springfield, VA
THE EDITOR RESPONDS: We shared Gabby Giffords story as an example of resilience and perseverance in the face of daunting challenges. As she said in the feature, her husband, Mark Kelly, has played and continues to play an integral part in her recovery and is very much a part of that story.
Time Change Reactions
The article on daylight saving time (“How Does Daylight Saving Time Affect Health?” October/November 2022) was an interesting read. Changing our clocks twice a year is certainly an inconvenience, but one that most of us deal with easily enough. There are four time zones in the continental U.S. Folks living on the eastern edge of each time zone are effectively one hour in front of people on the western edge of their time zone. Is there any difference in health between these easterners and westerners? I think not. If we want to solve this dilemma, we should change the time by 30 minutes once and then stick with it permanently. —Alan E. Senior, PhD, DSC, Land O' Lakes, FL
I live in Tennessee, where state legislators have not declared their official stance on whether to make daylight saving time permanent. In doing my part to let politicians know that permanent daylight saving time is not the healthy way to go, I plan to send copies of “Clock Shock” to my state and national senators and representatives. —Frances Watson, Lenoir City, TN
With permanent daylight saving time, it would be darker longer in the morning but lighter in the evening, allowing us time to play with our children or walk outside. With permanent standard time, it's dark in the morning and evening. I don't know which schedule Arizona is on, but when I lived there, we had daylight time in the evening. —Terry Fisher, Springfield, MO
THE EDITOR RESPONDS: We appreciate your passion and ideas about the topic of permanent standard time versus permanent daylight saving time. We hope our article was informative. As mentioned in the piece, Arizona and Hawaii are the two states that have permanent standard time.
Flying Solo
I have been dining alone at home since my husband died in October 2021, so your article about eating alone was timely (“Ways to Make Eating Healthy and Easy When You Live Alone,” August/September 2022). I had already made some of the adjustments suggested in the piece, but I really appreciated the resources for recipes and cookbooks. However, the greatest benefit was seeing myself reflected in the stories of the people in the article. As someone living with multiple sclerosis and a recent widow, knowing I'm not the only one living with these challenges gave me comfort. —Susan Zimmerman, Wimberley, TX
Fan Favorite
As someone who experiences migraine attacks, I want to commend the entire Brain & Life team for producing such a dynamic publication year after year. From very thoughtfully written editorial content and shared resources to beautiful photography and crisp imagery, the magazine offers much that makes it a pleasure to engage with and recommend. —Kathleen R. Rak, Cleveland
