NEWSUpdate: Rep. Giffords' Condition After Arizona Shooting
Jan. 11 2011, Published 6:55 a.m. ET
The world is watching as the country's top doctors and nurses tend to those injured in the tragic mass shooting outside a Safeway grocery store in Tucson, Ariz. that killed six innocent bystanders this weekend. One of the 20 victims, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords — who was shot in the head — still remains in critical condition, but her doctor's remain hopeful for a complete recovery.
"No, there is no change, and as frustrating as that may sound, that's a good thing," Dr. Michael Lemole, the chief of neurosurgery at the University Medical Center in Tucson, told Matt Lauer this morning on NBC's Today.
Another surgeon treating Giffords, Dr. Peter Rhee, said Gabrielle's "prognosis for survival is 100 percent."
The recovery process will be long, but Dr. Lemole said a "full range" of options are available.
"Without speculating, I think she has the full range ahead of her," he said. "I've seen people in this area make very little improvement and require constant care and I have seen other people ... who have made remarkable recoveries, functional recoveries and have gone back to work."
A CAT scan of Giffords' brain this morning showed no increase in swelling, a very positive sign.
Jared Lee Loughner has been charged in the fatal shooting and appeared in court Monday, where he was formally charged with one count of attempting the assassination of a congress member, among other counts of murder and attempted murder.
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The shooting has given rise to national concern about the growing disdain between political parties and the rhetoric and tactics used to gain control. Some criticize Sarah Palin for her Republican campaign tactics including a target map indicating political districts as adding fuel to Loughner’s fire; while others point to his YouTube videos about mind control and government conspiracies as motivation.
Learn more about Gabrielle's condition in the TODAY clip below.
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