Senator Gabrielle Giffords Still Fighting, Opening Eyes After Arizona Shooting

Move over 50 Center, there's a woman who might be even more teflon than you! Despite being in critical condition after a near-fatal gunshot wound to the head less than a week ago, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was reported to have opened her eyes for the first time yesterday, while surrounded by her husband, parents, and other members of Congress.

Sen. Kristen Gillibrand said that that shortly after President Obama visited the Congresswoman in her hospital room, she sat down and held her hand, to which Giffords responded by squeezing back.

She explains: “It was extraordinary. It was a miracle to witness. She absolutely could hear everything we were saying. And Debbie (Wasserman Schultz, D-Florida) and I were telling her how much she was inspiring the nation with her courage, her strength, and we were talking about the things we wanted to do as soon as she was better.”

Gillibrand continued: “She took a moment to focus, you could see she was focusing. And then Mark said … 'Gabby, if you can see me, if you can see me, give us a thumbs-up … She didn't only give a thumbs-up, she literally raised her entire hand. We were just — we couldn't stop crying … It was just one of those moments that life brings you so rarely."

Dr. Michael Lemole, chief of neurosurgery, revealed that she's been opening her eyes with more frequency since that first time, and concluding, “This is all very encouraging…It is a significant move forward. This is the part that doctors, I think, have the hardest time with — those intangibles in medicine. Miracles happen every day…A lot of medicine is outside our control."

Surviving a gunshot wound to the head is the sign of a true fighter (and a miracle). Hopefully Giffords continues to pull through. [Perez Hilton]