Edzards

Shooting victim Judith Edzards' condition has improved. Doctors took her out of a drug-induced coma, and she's responding well, Edzards' sister Kathy Hanlon said Monday.

"We're very encouraged," Hanlon said.

Edzards was shot in her right temple, a shoulder and her chest during a Jan. 10 attack on Nevada County's HEW building by alleged gunman Scott Thorpe.

Edzards' condition has been upgraded from critical to serious, said hospital spokeswoman Robin Montgomery on Monday.

Doctors removed a bullet from Edzard's brain and put her in a drug-induced coma, Hanlon said.

"It's not uncommon to have a drug-induced coma ... to keep (brain) activity down and swelling down in the brain," she said.

Doctors on Friday began easing Edzards out of her coma, Hanlon said. Although Edzards is still on a respirator and unable to speak, she responds well to commands such as squeezing a person's hand or moving her leg, Hanlon said.

"Right now, it's a very hopeful situation," she said. "So far we're encouraged about results to the response to questions and commands."

The area of Edzard's brain damaged by the bullet is "just one of those areas that are least problematic," Hanlon said. "So there's a lot of hope there."

Hanlon thanked the community for an outpouring of support, including donations to a trust fund Edzard's family established to support the elderly in her name.

"We just continue to get phone calls and the contributions to the trust fund. All of that keeps coming," Hanlon said.

Hanlon said that the family watches over Edzards 24 hours a day at Sutter Roseville Medical Center, where Edzards remains in the intensive-care unit.

"Friends donated an RV to have on site, so that's where we are now," she said. "Meals are being brought to us by friends."

Edzards worked as office manager for the county's Behavioral Services Department.

-- Donations may be sent to Judith Edzards Trust; P.O. Box 273; Grass Valley, CA 95945-0273.

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