Giffords Doing "Spectacularly Well"

Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) is doing “spectacularly well” according to her doctors at TIRR Memorial Hermann – Texas Medical Center in Houston.

In a press conference today, they said that her speech is improving and she can now string words together into sentences to let them know, for example, when she is tired. She can also understand everything they tell her, meaning that her primary language areas are intact, they said. Her memory also is OK. The doctors explained that there are two types of memory, memories of the past, such as childhood, and “memories that we make.” Both types appear to be fine. She has no memory of the attack itself, but the doctors said that is normal.

Giffords is able to walk with decreasing levels of assistance, and they do not anticipate any vision problems. They said her personality is showing through and she has shown no signs of depression or frustration as happens with some patients in her situation. Instead she is “very upbeat” and “forward looking.”

In short, they think she will make an “excellent recovery.”