By Curtis Prendergast
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The bullet “traveled the entire length of the brain on the left side,” said Dr. Rhee, Chief Trauma Surgeon at the University Medical Center, at a press conference on Sunday. In terms of being shot in the head, this is “about as good as it’s going to get,” said Rhee.
Dr. Rhee speaks explains Rep. Giffords' condition as of Sunday morning. Photo by Curtis Prendergast.
Giffords can open her eyes, but because she is on a ventilator she can’t speak, said Rhee.
The surgery took about two hours, said Rhee.
Rhee attributed Giffords’ surviving the gunshot wound to a variety of factors, including a fast response by paramedics, proper care by the hospital staff, and luck. The bullet did not cross from one hemisphere of the brain to the other, nor did it go through the geometric center of the brain.
The other patients are recovering. Only one patient remains in critical condition, said Rhee. The rest have moved out of the Intensive Care Unit.
UPDATE: (Thursday, January 13) This post was taken down last night after President Obama’s speech in Tucson, in which he said Giffords opened her eyes on Wednesday for the first time since being shot on Saturday. Only one other news outlet reported that Giffords could open her eyes prior to the Sunday press conference, as opposed to dozens that said she was not yet able to open her eyes. After conferring with my colleagues, I decided to take the post down pending further investigation.
Phone calls to the University Medical Center were returned earlier today. Public information officers at Arizona Health Sciences Center, of which University Medical Center is a part, confirm that Rep. Gabrielle Giffords opened her eyes for the first time on Wednesday, January 12.
It appears the confusion arose out of the difference between eyes opening as a response to stimulus and opening one’s eyes as a conscious act. More news on this as the investigation continues.
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Follow this link for a report on her condition from the Tucson Sentinel.
Follow this link to read the federal complaint against Jared Lee Loughner, the suspected shooter in Saturday’s killings.
Follow this link to watch a video of the press conference from Saturday.
Follow this link to read a report on Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik’s comments on the shooting and the shooter.
Follow this link to read a report on the shooting.
Follow this link to read a report on the basic facts of Saturday’s shooting.
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Posted on January 9, 2011 by cachocurt
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