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President Obama’s hug cheers Colorado theater shooting victim

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AURORA, Colo. — From her bed in the intensive care unit of University of Colorado Hospital, Jacqueline Fry savored spoonfuls of oatmeal and replayed the astonishing scenes that had transpired four hours earlier.

Fry, 23, a Denver resident being treated for dozens of shrapnel wounds in both legs, a fractured finger, a sprained wrist and the loss of three front teeth, had completed her first session of physical therapy and held court with the president of the United States.

“He’s a doll!” Fry said of President Obama. “He gave me a warm hug and offered his sincerest condolences.”

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She said she never really grasped the significance and implications of the movie theater attack until “the president strolled into my room at the hospital.”

Before leaving, he left a phone number and told her to call if she needed anything.

“I think I’m going to take him up on that offer,” she said, holding up her right arm, which was covered in gauze. “I’m going to call him at 5 in the morning and ask him to open up a jar of mayonnaise for me.”

louis.sahagun@latimes.com

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