Tucson, Arizona
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords to travel to Texas on Friday to continue his recovery from gunshot wound to the brain, his office said.
Although previous reports had indicated that it would go directly to a rehabilitation center affiliated with Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, instead it leads to the trauma center hospital for evaluation and treatment, said Dr. Kim Dong a neurosurgeon at the hospital.
"It is not yet ready for rehabilitation, he said, citing concerns about ongoing medical matters. He refused to elaborate.
The hospital said in a statement it will be transferred to the rehabilitation center, TIRR Memorial Hermann, as his health permits.
An ambulance is expected to pick Giffords of Tucson University Medical Center about 9:15 MT around Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. She will be accompanied by a group of motorcyclists from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, according to his office.
U.S. A Air Force crew then fly Giffords in Houston, where he arrives at 1:15 pm CST. Dr. Peter Rhee, one of the surgeons who attended Giffords in the University Medical Center in Tucson, will join the congresswoman, a critical care nurse.
Even the long flight to be husband Giffords', U.S. Navy Capt. Mark Kelly, mother and two agents of Congress.
It will be transported by helicopter to hospital.
Removal is the latest in a series of milestones for Giffords because 40-year-old MP was shot in the forehead, January 9 in an assassination attempt during a meeting with voters outside of Tucson, hosted a grocery store.
Six people were killed and 13 wounded.
On Thursday, he could go out for the first time since the shooting.
"Today we were really happy to say that we were able to take him out and he was able to do his physical therapy," Rhee told CNN, John King.
"We gave him a little fresh air and also gave him a little sun," said Rhee, who spoke outside University Medical Center. "She could see the mountains of Arizona."
Giffords husband describes his wife's progress as "remarkable" Thursday, saying he hoped that the member of Arizona will make a full recovery.
"I said," Kelly said in the University Medical Center. She recognizes ... she is a fighter as anyone I know. "
Gifford is able to stand with assistance but are not yet able to take action or move, "said Rhee, adding Gifford therapists help with ways to express his thoughts and eventually speech.
"[We] support her so she can train yourself to keep your head up," said Rhee. "She is learning to balance and learn all the little things we take for granted."
Last Wednesday, the public knows that Giffords was able to stay in his hospital bed and stand-by for help.
Kelly said he believes that she tried to speak, but is prevented from doing so by a breathing tube in his neck and believes he is aware of their environment, saying that he can see the eyes and say. She smiles and slaps on the face - something he did before the shooting, he said.
"Whenever I am in contact with her, something very inspiring," he said.
"We saw his lips move," said Dr. Michael Lemole head of neurosurgery at the hospital. But he said it's difficult to say whether the Giffords really try to speak.
Lemole but warned that a long journey that will take months at least.
Kelly discussed the shooting incident with Gifford, said Rhee. "She can probably put some of this information and on its own."
Kelly said he believed his wife would be proud of how the Tucson community has responded to the shooting. "It's going to have to remain strong," he said. "It's really appreciate the support of this community."
Giffords said the family looked at several different rehabilitation facilities, and I liked the Memorial Hermann, for several reasons. medical team there will be specialized in penetrating head injuries that Giffords has suffered, and its proximity to Tucson is also helpful.
Giffords has made other "minor procedure" this week, Lemole said, calling it a "housekeeping. It 'really do it in a position where you can go to this hospital."
Investigators have accused Jared Lee Loughna in the attack. A federal grand jury indicted on Wednesday in Loughna three counts of attempted murder. The indictment Loughna, 22, of Giffords and attempting to murder two of his assistants, Ron Barber and Pamela Simon.
Legal experts said that more federal charges against Loughner is likely.
Loughna then set to appear in court on Monday in Phoenix.
"I do not think we are ever to understand why and how, you know, the reason for what happened on 8 January," said Kelly. "It's a waste of innocent lives The wounded a dozen people, the death of a 9-year-old federal judge and severe traumatic injury to my wife Gabrielle -. never understand."