Rep. Gabrielle Giffords continues to amaze her doctors with her recovery from the brain injury she sustained in Saturday’s shooting. On Thursday, the word “miracle” was once again invoked as her medical team reported her progress, announcing that she had opened her eyes and was communicating through gestures. –KA

Update: CNN reported some moving details from two of Giffords’ close friends in Congress.

Los Angeles Times via Google News:

Lemole said he was there when Giffords first opened her eyes Wednesday evening in the presence of family members and some of her colleagues from Congress. “It was probably a combination of the unexpected but familiar that prompted her to open her eyes and caused her to look around. That implies that the part of the brain that lets us awake from sleeping, the arousal center,” is functioning.

[…] Lemole said it is the job of doctors to do their best for severely damaged patients, but sometimes, as in Giffords’ case, “we are wise to acknowledge miracles.”

Read more

WAIT BEFORE YOU GO...

This year, the ground feels uncertain — facts are buried and those in power are working to keep them hidden. Now more than ever, independent journalism must go beneath the surface.

At Truthdig, we don’t just report what's happening — we investigate how and why. We follow the threads others leave behind and uncover the forces shaping our future.

Your tax-deductible donation fuels journalism that asks harder questions and digs where others won’t.

Don’t settle for surface-level coverage.

Unearth what matters. Help dig deeper.

Donate now.

SUPPORT TRUTHDIG