Lynch has trauma-related memory loss
by Chris Walz
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, May 9, 2003) -- Rescued prisoner of war Pfc. Jessica Lynch is suffering from trauma-induced memory loss, according to her physician, but said her recovery remains on schedule.
Lynch's physician Dr. Greg Argyros told the "Today Show" yesterday news reports alleging Lynch has full-blown amnesia are untrue.
"I don't want people to think I can't remember things," Lynch said.
Lynch's doctors say she suffers from "memory trace," meaning she has no recollection of any events that occurred from the time of the ambush until she awoke in an Iraqi Hospital. Based on military debriefings and mental health evaluations she has undergone, her doctors believe the probability of her remembering any events during that time period is very low.
"Pfc. Lynch can't remember from the time of the attack until she awoke in the hospital - she has no memory what so ever [of those events]," Argyros said. "The likelihood is low that she will remember any memories from her captivity."
"Amnesia is when you have a memory, then something happens - like a traumatic situation - to make you forget that memory," one Army official close to her care said. "Pfc. Lynch is experiencing what doctors call a 'memory trace.' The two are completely different. Her brain never allowed her to collect what was going on from the time she was ambushed to the time she was rescued. It's like she was sleep-walking."
When not in therapy, Lynch is taking time to read e-mails, letters and cards from well-wishers. Lynch is also spending her time listening to music and watching television.
Her medical team meets daily to review her progress. In those meetings, doctors set both long-term and short-term goals for her so she is able to recover properly. Her doctors say that her terrific attitude toward recovery is a valuable asset.
Lynch and her parents continue to make her recovery their number one priority.
"We're not worried about when she can tell her story," said Greg Lynch Sr. "She'll tell it when she's ready. We just want her to get better."
Lynch is currently undergoing occupational and physical therapy for the injuries she suffered in Iraq, according to Army spokeswoman Sgt. Maj. Kiki Bryant.
She suffered a scalp laceration, spinal injury and fractures to her right arm, both legs and her right foot and ankle, Bryant said.
Bryant said Lynch's medical team has not yet determined her release date from Walter Reed's care, but will do so once they are satisfied she is ready.
Most of Lynch's injuries were tended to by U.S. medical personnel in Germany before arriving at Walter Reed. Argyros said doctors needed to repair her broken right foot when they received her from Germany, but no other surgical procedures have been done.
"She is able to stand on her own," Argyros said. "We have put her on a walker and she can take a few steps forward and a few steps back. It's pretty remarkable considering the injuries to her lower extremities. But, her attitude is terrific. She is really pushing forward."
Lynch was traveling with the 507th Maintenance Company near Nasiriyah March 23 when Iraqi forces ambushed the group.
American troops rescued the Palestine, W. Va., native at Saddam Hospital April 1 after Iraqi lawyer Mohammed Odeh al Rehaief told them of her whereabouts.
Many reports say top ranking military officials and investigators are eagerly hoping the 19-year-old soldier regains memory of her time in captivity.
(Editor's note: Chris Walz is a staff writer for the Pentagram newspaper at Fort Myer, Va.)
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