Miner Remembering

Surviving Sago miner Randal McCloy, who had been told only that he was injured in a mining explosion, is now aware of the scope of the tragedy:

[Neurosurgeon Dr. Julian] Bailes says McCloy is able to remember parts of his ordeal in the mine, and is reacting appropriately to the tragedy.

"He certainly has a lot of emotions and feelings for losing his friends,” said Dr. Bailes.
"If he weren't discussing it or dealing with it, that would be a bad sign for his brain recovery, and a bad psychological sign. So we're glad he's going through that and processing it."

What an awful thing to "process."

The doctors still don't how on earth he survived, much less to be walking and talking, and suspect there may be something in his genetic make-up that allowed him to tolerate the carbon monoxide.

He had his first visit home last week. He stayed for a few hours and ate barbecue ribs. Not bad for a guy who, according to the medical books, should be on the other side of the grass right now.