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You can say she’s a medical miracle.
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), 40, not only survived being shot point blank in the head with a 9mm bullet, but is also continuing to beat death-defying odds by responding to commands like “Squeeze my hand,” doctors said yesterday.
“This is about as good as it is going to get,” said Dr. Peter Rhee, medical director at the University Medical Center in Tucson. “When you get shot in the head and the bullet goes through your brain, the chances of your living are very small — and the chance of your waking up and following commands is even smaller.”
The fact that Giffords is responding, even moving two Fingers, shows “a very high level of functioning in the brain,” said neurosurgeon Michael Lemole.
Rhee said the bullet entered the back of the skull, went through the left side of the brain and exited above the left eye. But it missed the center of the brain, where almost all head wounds are deadly.
Surgeons temporarily removed half of the skull to ease pressure. That section will be replaced once the swelling abates, a technique the military regularly uses with war injuries.
Giffords’ husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, was by her side as she remained on a ventilator, unable to speak, while doctors at times put her in a drug-induced coma.
And last night, Kelly released a statement saying, “I want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the people of Arizona and this great nation for their unbelievable outpouring of support.”
Giffords was shot by Jared Lee Loughner, 22, Saturday during a meet-and-greet with constituents, authorities said. In his twisted bid to take out the congresswoman, Loughner killed six other people, they said.
Authorities said yesterday that they believed he acted alone, ruling out a man whom they had earlier called “a person of interest” but who turned out to be Loughner’s cabdriver.
Loughner opened fire outside a Safeway supermarket, and a flurry of witnesses frantically called 911 to report the chaos.
“I do believe Gabby Giffords was hit! . . . There were multiple people shot,” one caller said.
“Oh, my God!” the dispatcher responded.
Giffords intern Daniel Hernandez told The Arizona Republic that he cradled her bleeding head in his lap and fought to keep her upright so that she wouldn’t choke on her own blood. Someone from the supermarket gave him smocks from the meat department to apply pressure to the wound, he said.
The shooting rampage ended when several people tackled Loughner and held him down.
Records show that he bought his gun legally at Sportsman’s Warehouse in Tucson in November. A rep for the store said Loughner passed the required FBI background check “immediately and without incident.”
Giffords is a well-known figure in Arizona, having been at the forefront of the state’s heated immigration battle. She’s also a second cousin to actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who said yesterday that her prayers were with her, “Entertainment Tonight” reported.
President Obama decried the violence and called for a national moment of silence at 11 a.m. today,to mark the tragedy. as well as for flags on federal buildings to fly at half-staff.