Political Quotes

“October 2--9 days from today--is an important date in the life of one of the bravest people I have ever met. On October 2, 2005, Army SGT Eric Edmundson was on patrol near the Iraq-Syria border when a roadside bomb exploded beneath his armored vehicle. He survived the blast, but went into cardiac arrest while awaiting transport to an American military hospital in Germany. Doctors worked for 30 minutes to restore his pulse. They did, but Sergeant Edmundson had already suffered severe brain damage from lack of oxygen. Doctors told his parents that Eric would spend the rest of his life in a vegetative state and that the best thing they could do for him was choose a good nursing home. But Eric's family refused to accept that fate for him. They searched for the best rehabilitation hospital in America, somewhere where Eric could receive the very best medical care and make the fullest possible recovery. The hospital they chose was the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago, then known by its original name: the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. I visited him there several times. His family was always there, right by his side. I will never forget the time Eric's dad told me, ``Eric has a present for you.'' I couldn't imagine what it was. Then I watched as that brave soldier stood up from his wheelchair and took several halting steps. There wasn't a dry eye in the room.…”