A doctor said Sunday that Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) was “able to communicate with us this morning” by following simple commands.
Doctors issued an update on the condition of Giffords on Sunday morning at the hospital in Arizona where Giffords is being held following the shooting incident at a town hall meeting Giffords was holding yesterday.
“We are very encouraged by that,” Dr. Michael Lemole, Jr., the chief of neurosurgery at the University Medical Center in Tuscon, told reporters. “I am cautiously optimistic.”
[TPM SLIDESHOW: Across the Nation, Vigils Held for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords]
Also speaking was Peter Rhee, the medical director of University Medical Center’s Trauma and Critical Care.
“Brain swelling is really the biggest threat at this point,” said one doctor.
The doctor confirmed that Giffords is now in a medical coma. When she entered the medical center yesterday, bleeding was not severe, one doctor said.
[TPM SLIDESHOW: Dem Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Shot In Arizona]
“The paramedics got her to us quickly,” one doctor said.
Watch the press conference here:
Ryan J. Reilly
Ryan J. Reilly is a D.C.-based reporter for TPM. Prior to joining TPM, he worked for a news website covering the Justice Department and was a researcher for Bloomberg News. His email address is ryan(at)talkingpointsmemo.com.
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