UPDATE: CONGRESSWOMAN SMILE

[nmbluesky]

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Doctors have successfully performed a surgery on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' eye socket to remove bone fragments as the wounded congresswoman showed more signs of improvement.

There were no complications from the surgery, and Giffords is improving so much that she was able to give her husband a back rub.

Dr. Randall Friese said Mark Kelly also told doctors he saw Giffords smile. He said sometimes people see what they want to see, but that "if he says she's smiling, I buy it."

Giffords still cannot speak because of a tracheotomy done so the breathing tube could be removed from her mouth.

Dr. Michael Lemole says the eye operation entailed making an incision above the eyebrow, removing bone chips to relieve pressure and reconstructing the roof of the socket.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/17/gabrielle-giffords-smiled_n_809981.html

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Her progress continues to astonish me.

As a retired critical care nurse, I have to say that I have never seen such a critically injured patient improve this fast.

[nmbluesky]

2. I agree with you..

She is a amazing woman..
one thing I have been waiting for her first word!!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. Her first word will take some time...

Her throat is still quite sore.

There are other ways to see just how conscious and responsive she is...

[nmbluesky]

6. The doctors said it took for a while.. till heal

[lpbk2713]

3. With all deference to medical science

and with great respect to the skills of her physicians and medical team, I find
it incredible that Gabby survived a head wound fired from a 9 mm weapon.

I hope her path to recovery continues to bring amazingly positive results.

[cascadiance]

5. Here's a NY Times article on her progress published just a minute ago or so...

She's starting to focus her eyes, and gave her husband a backrub for around 10 minutes.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/18/us/18giffords.html?_r=1&src=twt&twt=nytimes