Giffords leaves Tucson for next phase of recovery

TUCSON, Ariz. — Two weeks after she was shot and severely wounded, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords left Tucson aboard an air ambulance Friday in a carefully planned transfer to a rehabilitation hospital in Houston.

The dramatic move marks further progress for
Giffords, who has shown what doctors consider remarkable signs of
recovery since she was shot through the head at a public gathering.

An ambulance carrying the Arizona Democrat left University Medical Center at 9:22 a.m. MST. Led by a dozen police on motorcycles, and tailed by more motorcycles ridden by military veterans, the convoy drove slowly to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, where she was put aboard the emergency flight to Houston.

Giffords’ aides said the flight would take 2 hours, 15 minutes.

Throngs of well-wishers cheered, waved flags, held
up hand-scrawled signs of support, and offered prayers for Giffords’
continued recovery as the ambulance passed.

“It’s a miracle,” said Al Garcia,
47, a Harley-riding Marine veteran outside the hospital, said of her
recuperation so far. “It just gives us hope. … Everyone is down
nowadays, and it’s great to be part of something that’s positive.”

“Everyone in the hospital is very emotional,” said Rick Morey-Wolfe, a hospital contractor, who held his 3-year-old nephew, Weston. “This is her town.”

“I just wanted to give my love and support,” said Cindy Harrelson, a grandmother of three, as she leaned on her walker.

Once she lands in Houston,
Giffords will be flown by helicopter to the Institute for
Rehabilitation and Research at Memorial Hermann hospital. Doctors said
she may need several months of intense speech and physical therapy
there.

The move marks another sign of progress for
Giffords. Doctors said Thursday that she is starting to stand with
assistance, can distinguish colors, and is scrolling with an iPad.

“These are all fantastic advances for her,” Dr. Michael Lemole,
chief of neurology at University Medical Center, told reporters. “But I
do want to caution everyone that she has a long road ahead of her.”

Giffords’ husband, astronaut Capt. Mark Kelly; her mother, Gloria Giffords; her trauma surgeon, Dr. Peter Rhee; and two congressional aides will accompany her to Texas.

Giffords, 40, was shot through the head on Jan. 8 when a gunman opened fire on a crowd that had gathered to meet her at a Tucson supermarket. Six people, including a federal judge and a 9-year-old girl, were killed, and 13 were wounded.

A federal grand jury has charged Jared Loughner, 22, with the shooting. He will be arraigned in Phoenix on Monday.

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