Congressman Shot is working to improve the approach

The Member of the U.S. Congress Gabrielle Giffords and her husband of astronaut, Mark Kelly, a photo of file. Giffords is still struggling to improve its approach as it covers a ball on the left side of his brain. (Associated Press)

Doctors say Rep. Gabrielle Giffords can walk a bit, trying to even improve its approach. But the report Sunday in the Arizona Republic adds that the Congressman itself intends to "a mountain walk".

Giffords uses his left side and began to make use of his arm and right leg, a common effect of a ball on the left side of the brain, said Dr Gerard Francisco, Chief Medical Officer at Houston TIRR Memorial Hermann who works daily with Giffords.

"His left side is perfect," said Pia Carusone, his chief legislative staff. "She can do everything you can do."

She stated that, even in his wheelchair, Giffords has rigorous posture: tall, tight, strong - as always.

' His left side is perfect. It can do everything you can doc '-Pia Carusone, legislative Chief of Gifford

The report of the Republic - containing interviews in recent days with her husband, doctors and other loved ones-give the last image of his recovery 15 weeks after a gunman opened fire in a parking lot of Tucsonkilling six people and injuring 13 others, including the Giffords.

Doctors put him in the top 5% of patients recover from his type of brain damage, said the newspaper.

"It shows now much more independence," said Francisco. "It is his own person."

If it is still unclear whether it will be unable to attend launch of Friday, the space shuttle, which will be commissioned by her husband Mark Kelly, his rehabilitation progressed steadily.

Nurse Kristy Poteet said that giffords pushing a cart through the corridors of the hospital as therapy, focusing on the use of the correct muscles.

Poteet, who worked with Giffords since she arrived in Houston on 21 January, said more than therapy comes from bowling and indoor golf games.

Close to him said Giffords spoke more often in a single word or a declarative sentence: "love you," "awesome".

She wants to leave the Rehabilitation Centre, repeating "Miss Tucson." When that day comes, Giffords said Poteet it provides "a mountain walk".

Dr. Dong Kim, the neurosurgeon who supervises the care of the Giffords, said most of the physics and recovery of speech happens within nine to twelve months, but the ability of the patient to think can improve for years.

There are signs of hope language even on the day of March Giffords learned about the people killed in the rampage Tucson on January 8.

Kelly said that he was reading a newspaper story on it aloud when she noticed that he jumped a paragraph. He said that he had not realized how she was able to read.

This paragraph says victims in the shooting of Tucson - news that define Giffords in mourning.

"So many people, so many people,"Giffords repeated."." Poteet said that she would find that giffords with heavy look on his face, not repeating "no no. - No - No."

For this reason, Kelly said he is not told that the victims were his friends and colleagues Gabe Zimmerman and Judge John Roll, or a girl of 9 years and three others, the kind of older she constituents love to help.

Kelly said that he wants that it can deal with emotions without fight so hard for words.

"The challenge is she knows what she means, and she knows what is happening around it," Carusone said, but cannot always Express. "It is frustrating for her." It you sigh of exasperation. ?

The Republic indicated that Kelly has been the morning with coffee and the newspaper, leaders of work NASA and returns to Giffords in the night to talk through their days. Sometimes, it takes a NAP with his wife in his hospital bed. It is a twin-size mattress, and so it owns its close.

When it comes in the room, Giffords breaks in an oversized, said smile Poteet, tender right arm for him are asking that at his side, give it a half-hug.

Although doctors did not yet approved the trip to Cape Canaveral for the launch of the shuttle, they said that it should be safe.

"We are very uncomfortable with his trip,"said Kim."

Kelly, who has been in space before, said his job "will be a little more difficult for the moment." "just because I want to look for it"

He wants that in Florida, but if it were not there, "would be the end of the world.".

Kelly will be phone Giffords during the mission, but he hoped that the conversations will be different from that on his last flight.

On "one of my last calls him space, she walked the Capitol back on Rayburn House Office Building)" Miles O'Brien of CNN. ""

Now, it will ask her "how things are going and how it's done and what likes his day", said.

They have a particular telephone farewell, but it is a secret, "he says.

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