Shot Rep. Giffords 'miraculously' smiles, rubs hubby's neck

Washington, Jan 18 (ANI): The husband of shot Democratic Representative Gabrielle Giffords has claimed that she is 'miraculously' recovering, and added that she even smiled and raised up her hands to touch his face and rub his neck.

"She's in the ICU. You know, gone through this traumatic injury, and she spent 10 minutes giving me a neck massage. I'm like, 'Gabby, you're in the ICU. You know, you don't need-you know, you don't need to be doing this.' But it's so typical of her that no matter how bad the situation might be for her, you know, she's looking out for other people," the CBS News quoted Kelly, as saying.

Earlier, Giffords' condition was upgraded from critical to serious after she was removed from a ventilator. She is now being able to breathe on her own, but is unable to speak because of a tube in her throat that is helping her breathe as a precautionary measure.

Doctors have also reportedly fixed her shattered eye socket.

Dr. Michael Lemole today assured that her recovery is an indication that she could be out of the hospital and into a rehab within next week.

"I think she could make a functional recovery...to reintegrate back into society and be an independent individual," Lemole said.

Giffords, an Arizona Democrat, and 18 others were shot last Saturday by a gunman outside a supermarket where Giffords was meeting with her constituents.

Twenty two-year-old Jared Loughner, the gunman, has been charged with several offences and could face the death penalty if found guilty. (ANI)