Doctors say Giffords recovering, but still not stable

Washington, Jan 14 (ANI): Doctors attending to Democratic Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who was critically wounded after being shot in Tucson, Arzona, have claimed she is recovering, and is able to keep her eyes open for at least 15 minutes.

They also claimed that she could also move her hands and legs, though movement of her right hand is comparatively slow.

The News York Times quoted the doctors as saying that her progress is "a major leap forward," but cautioned that she is still in critical condition.

Giffords was shot several times in the head during the Tucson Safeway massacre. Police say Jared Lee Loughner, 22, fired at her during an event before killing six and wounding several others in the chaos.

Meanwhile, Dr. Peter Rhee, head of trauma at the hospital, said that the doctors' team had planned to bring an expert neuro-ophthalmologist and oculoplastic surgeon to help assess the injuries to the bones around Giffords's eyes, as damage to the area could have damaged her vision.

"She is doing fairly specific things with her left hand. In the morning, she is yawning. She is starting to rub her eyes, and she'll spontaneously wake up. I believe one day she will be able to think. What she will be able to do physically, it is too early to say," Dr. Rhee added.

Dr. G. Michael Lemole Jr., the hospital's chief of neurosurgery, expressed hope that one day Giffords could be 'miraculously' healed.

"Miracles happen every day, and in medicine, we like to attribute them to what we do or what others do around us. A lot of medicine is outside our control. We are wise to acknowledge miracles," he added. (ANI)