USA: Doctors say Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is doing well after weekend shooting

Record ID: 324751

  • Title: USA: Doctors say Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is doing well after weekend shooting
  • Date: 11th January 2011
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) TONY YGLECIAS, SAYING: "I think eventually some good will come out of it as long as all the people band together. We need to figure out what caused this to happen. Not necessarily why it happened but what caused this to happen. I think that once we get to the root of that problem then we'll be able to make a lot of changes for the better in this city
  • Embargoed: 26th January 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa, Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4V4JRATBBW74TXFPEFD266B28
  • Story Text: Two days after the grizzly shooting at a Tucson, Arizona grocery story left six dead and a U.S. Congresswoman severely injured, Tucson residents were still coming to terms with the tragedy.
    Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was still in critical condition at a Tucson hospital on Monday (January 10) following emergency brain surgery.
    Doctors said it was a good sign that there was no increased swelling in her brain and that she continued to respond to simple commands such as squeezing a finger and wiggling her toes.
    She will remain on ventilator for several more days, and is brought out of a medically induced coma several times a day to check her responsiveness, Dr Michael Lemole, chief neurosurgeon, said.
    "At this phase in the game, no change is good. And we have no change. That is to say she's still following those basic commands. On top of that, the CAT scans are showing that there is no progression of that swelling. We're not out of the woods yet. That swelling can sometimes take three days or five days to maximize, but every day that goes by and we don't see an increase, we're slightly more optimistic. And so, with that in mind, I think we're going to proceed over the next few days to see how she does," he said.
    Outside of the hospital, Tucson residents gathered to show their support for Giffords and the other victims of the shooting. At 9 a.m. MST (1600gmt), dozens of people bowed their head for a minute of silence outside the hospital. Hundreds of candles, posters, flowers and balloons filled up a grassy area in front of the building.
    A few miles away, flags flew at half-staff at government buildings like the Pima County Superior Court. Residents were quick to talk about their sense of loss.
    "It's a sad day for everything. I mean it's just ... it really shook us," said Tawnie Knight. "This is the biggest small town you'll ever see and it really shook the community to the core. It's horrible."
    The shooting spree on Saturday (January 8) has fueled debate about extreme political rhetoric in the United States after an acrimonious campaign for congressional elections in November.
    Some residents, like Tony Yglecias, were hopeful change might come following the shooting.
    "I think eventually some good will come out of it as long as all the people band together. We need to figure out what caused this to happen," said Yglecias. "Not necessarily why it happened but what caused this to happen. I think that once we get to the root of that problem then we'll be able to make a lot of changes for the better in this city and in the country, so to speak."
    The 22-year-old man charged with trying to assassinate congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, is due to appear in court on Monday afternoon on charges of murder and attempted murder.
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