First Gabrielle Giffords Pics Since Shooting Released on Facebook

You’d never know by looking at these photos that Rep. Gabrielle Giffords had suffered a gunshot wound to the head five months ago. Two pictures of her were released on Facebook by her staff on Sunday, showing her with shorter, darker hair with a big smile in both photos, taken on May 17.
Giffords spokeswoman Pia Carusone says the Congresswoman has come a long way since she survived a gunshot to the left side of her forehead in an assassination attempt in which six people were killed and 13 wounded on January 8. While Giffords’ recovery has been called “miraculous,” Carusone told the Arizona Republic that Giffords is still dealing with speech difficulties:

“She is borrowing upon other ways of communicating. Her words are back more and more now, but she’s still using facial expressions as a way to express. Pointing. Gesturing. Add it all together, and she’s able to express the basics of what she wants or needs. But, when it comes to a bigger and more complex thought that requires words, that’s where she’s had the trouble.”

Her doctors are pleased with her progress, and are said to be optimistic about her chances of making “a tremendously good recovery.” According to Carusone, Giffords’ doctors say she’s about halfway through the most important time for recovery from an injury such as this, where most progress is made in the first 12 to 14 months.
Join us in wishing the Congresswoman all the best.