Suzie Heilman, Who Brought Christina-Taylor to Giffords Event, Screaming Out In Her Sleep

Jan. 11, 2011 — -- The woman who brought 9-year-old Christina-Taylor Green to the event where she was fatally shot has been screaming out from her hospital bed, "Christina! Christina! Let's get out of here!"

Suzie Heilman, who is recovering from multiple gunshot wounds, had been holding hands with Christina-Taylor as they waited in line to meet Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Saturday when alleged gunman Jared Loughner opened fire, husband Bill Heilman said.

"Yes, my wife Suzie was the parent who took Christina-Taylor Green to this event," Heilman said at a news conference today, adding that his wife is aware of the girl's death.

"Suzie had been looking for an event they could share together. ... Gabby's event made all kinds of sense ... it was a magnificent chance to provide a positive female role model for Little Christina."

Heilman was one of more than 20 people shot during Saturday's massacre, and Christina-Taylor one of six who died. Giffords is believed to have been the target of the shooting.

Heilman said his wife's account of what happened during the shooting is not all coherent because she is under a "morphine-induced haze" as she heals from three gunshot wounds. She is having "flashbacks of uncomfortable moments," he said

"She keeps talking about holding hands and saying that the bleeding was profuse," Heilman said.

Christina-Taylor had recently been elected a member of her elementary school's student council and, having been born on 9/11, had an intense interest in politics. Her mother, Roxanna Green, told ABC News that her daughter was excited to go to the event because she wanted to "learn more about the political process."

Heilman, who has been friends with the Green family for more than four years and considered Christina-Taylor and her brother, Dallas, to be their unofficial grandchildren, said the first thing his wife asked when she was able to talk was, "What happened to Christina?"

Heilman's wife is expected to make a full recovery.

Also at the news conference were two daughters of Mavy and Dorwan Stoddard. Dorwan, 76, was on top of his wife during the shooting, protecting her from the torrent of bullets. Mavy Stoddard thought her husband was hurting her by lying on top of her, not realizing that she'd been shot three times in the legs.

Giffords Breathing on Her Own

"We're just blessed he's walking with the Lord now," daughter Angela Robertson said. "What a way to go, as a hero.

"He heard the shots and covered my mom with his own body and protected her and saved her," Robertson said. "Mom definitely felt [like he saved her life]."

Dr. Michael Lemole, who has been treating Giffords, who sustained a gunshot wound to her head, said today that the congresswoman is able to breathe on her own, another positive sign of her improving condition.

"She has no right to look this good but she does, and we're hopeful," Lemole said.

"I'm happy to say she's holding her own, her status is the same as it was yesterday and we've been able to back off on some of the sedation," he said. "She's breathing on her own."

Lemole said they are keeping Giffords on a respirator to avoid infection.

Loughner appeared in a packed courtroom Monday shackled and in khaki prison garb, appearing to smirk as he stood before the judge. He so far faces five federal charges: one count of attempted assassination of a member of Congress, two counts of killing an employee of the United States and two counts of intent to kill employees of the United States.

Loughner's parents, Randy and Amy Loughner, did not attend the hearing. They have sealed themselves in their suburban Tucson home, blocking access to the front door with a piece of wood to presumably keep people off their property.

One neighbor who has been in contact with them, but asked not to be identified, said they are distraught and grieving.

ABC News' Devin Dwyer and Jessica Hopper contributed to this report.