Doctors Call Giffords’s Progress Remarkable (Thursday Update)

[brooklynite]

Source: New York Times

TUCSON — Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head at close range Saturday, is able to keep her eyes open for up to 15 minutes at a time and can move her legs and one of her hands, doctors at University Medical Center said Thursday morning.

“She is doing some fairly specific things with her left hand,” Dr. Peter Rhee, the hospital’s chief of trauma told a news conference. “She is yawning. She is starting to rub her eyes.”

Dr. G. Michael Lemole Jr., the hospital’s chief of neurosurgery, said Ms. Giffords can also “move both of her legs to command.”

Her turnaround was deemed remarkable by doctors.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/14/us/14giffords.html?hp

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One day at a time...

[The Wielding Truth]

1. Stay strong Gabby!

:hug:

[Jamastiene]

2. Wouldn't it be great if she could make a full recovery?

It certainly never hurts to wish for the best.

[DRex]

13. I agree... I'm afraid I'm setting myself up for sadness...

when the consequences of her injuries really become apparent.

But at this moment, every new update is so filled with hope that tears of joy well up. Last night when Barack said she opened her eyes I just couldn't contain the happiness at all. I was shouting in my living room like a nutcase!

[CLANG]

14. I agree it would be great.

The fact that she is only using her left had may indicate her right side will take much longer to come back from this. I hope she proves me 100% wrong!

[Uncle Joe]

3. Keep up the good fight, Gabby

Thanks for the thread, brooklynite.:thumbsup:

[IDemo]

4. Gabrielle Giffords communicating with family, doctors say

Source: Los Angeles Times

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, wounded in the Arizona shooting rampage, has 'used her hand to communicate' and is yawning and rubbing her eyes. A neurosurgeon says sometimes doctors 'are wise to acknowledge miracles.'

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has not only opened her eyes, but she also is communicating with her family, physicians said at a Thursday morning news conference.

"Her family has asked her very specific things, and she has used her hand to communicate with them," said Dr. Michael Lemole, a neurosurgeon at Tucson's University Medical Center and one of the surgeons who operated on Giffords after she was shot in the head Saturday morning. That implies that she has a good amount of cognitive functioning.

Lemole said he was there when Giffords first opened her eyes Wednesday evening in the presence of family members and some of her colleagues from Congress. "It was probably a combination of the unexpected but familiar that prompted her to open her eyes and caused her to look around. That implies that the part of the brain that let lets us awake from sleeping, the arousal center," is functioning.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-arizona-shooting-medical-20110114,0,1910870.story

[woodsprite]

5. Is she not attempting to speak because she's still intubated?

I haven't heard anyone say anything about that.

[alsame]

6. Yes, that's what the Dr said this morning at the presser. After the

tube comes out they will be able to evaluate her speaking ability.

[IDemo]

7. Yes

The article says that doctors will remove the tube after a few more days and will assess her speaking ability at that time.

[Kingofalldems]

8. Great news!

[elleng]

9. doctors 'are wise to acknowledge miracles.'

:fistbump:

[skoalyman]

16. I figure the shooter will commit suicide hearing the good news

:evilgrin: Don't think anyone would miss the sob:thumbsup:

[Lefta Dissenter]

10. Before last Saturday,

I couldn't have told you one thing about Gabby Giffords. Now I'm in tears every time I read an update. Everything that anyone says about this woman makes me feel that part of our country's future is invested in her recovery. We desperately need people like Gabby, who can inspire every life she touches.

My heart continues to go out to those who love her, as well as the friends and families and all of the other victims of this horrible crime. May they all gain strength from each other, and may we, as a country, help to provide comfort and healing, as well.

[Kolesar]

11. I cried when I saw her husband on camera last night

What they are going through is hell

[iandhr]

12. wow this is amazing.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

15. It really is amazing.

But then again, we sometimes hear of those amazing stories about people who have spikes or other implements impale their heads/brains and recover relatively unscathed. I've been hoping she is one of those cases. Maybe she is really lucky (including getting excellent care).