Giffords close to walking on own
United Press International
Published: April 24, 2011 at 12:46 PM
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/04/24/Giffords-close-to-walking-on-own/UPI-29921303663565/HOUSTON, April 24 (UPI) -- After 15 weeks of recovery, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., is making great strides and can now stand on her own, her doctors said.
"I can't say I notice improvement every day, but I can every few days," her husband, astronaut Mark Kelley, told The Arizona Republic.
The left side of Giffords' brain was pierced during a shooting at a constituent event in Tucson Jan. 8, leaving her with limited function on the opposite side of her body and forcing her to complete many tasks with her left hand.
Doctors say it is difficult for her to string together long sentences, but Giffords clearly communicates in short bursts, the newspaper reported Sunday. Her awareness of her surroundings is keen, and she can now stand on her own and is close to walking independently.