Gabrielle Giffords' Husband Keeps Agonizing Vigil By Her Side
A most unusual couple is thrust into national spotlight.
Jan. 11, 2011— -- Critically wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is making a remarkably strong recovery, her doctors said today, but despite the good news a photo of her husband holding her hand while keeping an exhausted vigil by her side clearly showed the agony of the ordeal for her family.
Giffords' doctors were upbeat today on her chance of surviving the shot to her head on Saturday.
"She has a 101 percent chance of surviving," said trauma chief Dr. Peter Rhee said today. "She will not die. She does not have that permission from me."
While Giffords' breathing tube remained in place, her neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Lemole said she is breathing on her own for the first time since the shooting.
Doctors added that Giffords is moving both arms. Two days ago they were delighted that she could raise two fingers and squeeze a hand.
The doctors corrected themselves on one aspect of the wound. They now believe she was shot in the forehead, with the bullet traveling the length of the left side of the brain and exiting the back. They originally believed she was shot in the back of the head and bullet exited her forehead.
Giffords' husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, has been by her side since shortly after she was shot on Saturday, allegedly by 22-year-old Jared Loughner, on Saturday.