Post date: Jan 09, 2011 7:28:21 PM
Doctors optimistic about Giffords' recovery after she is able to communicate and follow simple commands. Gifford has been placed in medical induced coma to rest from her surgery.
TUCSON, ARIZONA, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 9, 2011) NBC - Doctors were cautiously optimistic on Sunday (January 9) about the condition of U.S. congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords after a man shot her in the head and killed
six people at a public event in Arizona.Dr. Peter Rhee said despite Giffords critical condition he was encouraged that she was able to communicate and follow simple commands, such as holding up two fingers when asked.
"Everybody is going to be cautious about over calling it but I am optimistic. I was optimistic yesterday when I saw the case and the brain and the amount of injury that had gone through," Rhee said.
"Overall, this is as good as it is going to get. When you got shot in the head and the bullet goes through the brain the chances of you living is very small and the chances of you waking up and actually following commands is much smaller than that. So this so far has been a really good situation. Hopefully it will stay that way. Obviously we don't know which direction she will go. It's still very precarious at this time."
Doctors say a single bullet traveled the length of Giffords brain on the left side.
But given the devastating nature of the wound, doctors said they were uncertain about the extent of brain damage Giffords had suffered.
The bullet hit an area of the brain that controls speech functions and the wound will lead to some degeneration of brain cells, they said.
The suspect was in federal custody as investigators sought a motive and looked for a possible accomplice.