Wounded Congresswoman Moved To Rehab Hospital
By: VERTEXNews/Newsroom Solutions
Updated: January 26, 2011
HOUSTON -- The next step in the recovery of wounded Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is underway at a rehabilitation hospital in Houston.
Shot in the head almost three weeks ago in Tucson, Arizona, Giffords was moved to TIRR Memorial Hermann, which is ranked as one of the top rehab hospitals in the U.S.
She was moved there this morning after being cleared for transfer by her physicians at Memorial-Hermann Texas Medical Center.
Dr. Dong Kim, chairman of neurosurgery at Memorial-Hermann, says Giffords recovery has been coming at lightning speed.
TIRR chief medical officer Dr. Gerard Francisco added Giffords has started physical therapy and will begin speech therapy later today. He says a speech pathologist is working with the Congresswoman on various means of communication other than speaking.
Dr. Kim says the medical team was able to remove the drain that was placed in her brain to relieve a buildup of brain fluid.
The drain was removed Monday.
Dr. Kim says her communications function has been improving quite a bit but she has not spoken just yet.
Dr. Francisco says the medical team is working with Giffords to help her with standing and sitting.
Giffords was among more than a dozen people shot at a political gathering January 8th.
Six people were killed in the shooting rampage.
(Copyright 2011 by VERTEXNews/Newsroom Solutions)
Shot in the head almost three weeks ago in Tucson, Arizona, Giffords was moved to TIRR Memorial Hermann, which is ranked as one of the top rehab hospitals in the U.S.
She was moved there this morning after being cleared for transfer by her physicians at Memorial-Hermann Texas Medical Center.
Dr. Dong Kim, chairman of neurosurgery at Memorial-Hermann, says Giffords recovery has been coming at lightning speed.
TIRR chief medical officer Dr. Gerard Francisco added Giffords has started physical therapy and will begin speech therapy later today. He says a speech pathologist is working with the Congresswoman on various means of communication other than speaking.
Dr. Kim says the medical team was able to remove the drain that was placed in her brain to relieve a buildup of brain fluid.
The drain was removed Monday.
Dr. Kim says her communications function has been improving quite a bit but she has not spoken just yet.
Dr. Francisco says the medical team is working with Giffords to help her with standing and sitting.
Giffords was among more than a dozen people shot at a political gathering January 8th.
Six people were killed in the shooting rampage.
(Copyright 2011 by VERTEXNews/Newsroom Solutions)
