Stephanie Innes
Arizona Daily Star
January 20, 2011

http://azstarnet.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_a950c286-24bb-11e0-b9b7-001cc4c03286.html

The husband of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, astronaut Mark Kelly, says his wife continues to improve and that she would be very proud of how the community is coming together following this month’s shooting rampage. (Jan. 20)

Calling his wife a fighter, astronaut Mark Kelly said today that U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords will be moved to Houston for rehab and that he anticipates a full recovery within months.

Kelly said his wife “is a fighter like nobody else that I know,” during a news conference today at University Medical Center. He said Giffords will be moved Friday.

A gunman shot Giffords in the head during her meet-and-greet with constituents on Jan. 8 outside a grocery store on Tucson northwest side.

Giffords faces a long road ahead, doctors stressed and her rehabilitation could take months.

Giffords has already begun speech and physical therapy at her bedside at Tucson’s University Medical Center, where she has been hospitalized since the shooting rampage that killed six people and injured 13 others, including Giffords, who was shot clear through the left side of her brain.

Giffords’ medical condition has steadily progressed, according to doctors, family and friends. The latest update this week noted she was able to stand with assistance.

While Giffords prognosis is unclear, doctors say she’s made a remarkable recovery thus far and there are indications that she is thinking – she’s able to scroll through her iPad, and is making gestures toward her husband, like gently patting his face. Kelly says Giffords is also able to bear her own weight and has smiled at him.

Medical staff at UMC planned on taking Giffords out on a deck to get some sunlight today, doctors said. They’ve already wheeled her to a window to look at the Santa Catalina Mountains.

The congresswoman is not speaking, but she has been moving her lips. Kelly said he believes she is attempting mouthing words. The left side of the brain controls speech.

“Every day I interact with her, there is something quite inspiring,” Kelly told reporters Thursday.

Giffords’ family plans to move her to TIRR Memorial Hermann hospital in Houston.

Kelly said he’s hopeful his wife will walk through the doors of UMC in two months’ time and thank the staff who have helped care for her.

VIDEO: Giffords’ husband: Gabrielle would be very proud
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_a950c286-24bb-11e0-b9b7-001cc4c03286.html?mode=video