Giffords Released from Houston Hospital

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was discharged on Wednesday from the Houston hospital where she was recovering after a gunman shot her in Tucson earlier this year.

(RELATED: Timeline of Giffords's Recovery)

“Congresswoman Giffords has shown clear, continuous improvement from the moment she arrived at TIRR [Memorial Hermann Hospital] five months ago,” said Dr. Gerard Francisco, the hospital’s chief medical officer, according to a hospital news release.

Giffords will move in with her husband, astronaut and Navy Capt. Mark Kelly in League City, Texas, the release said.

“Anyone who knows Gabby knows that she loves being outside,” Kelly said, according to the release. “Living and working in a rehab facility for five months straight has been especially challenging for her. She will still go to TIRR each day but from now on, when she finishes rehab, she will be with her family.”

Giffords, a Democrat from Arizona, underwent a procedure to remove a piece of her skull to relieve the pressure of swelling on her brain in May. Two weeks ago, doctors inserted a permanent shunt to drain fluids into her abdominal cavity.

“Gabby has recovered well from the surgery,” said Dr. Dong Kim, director of Mischer Neuroscience Institute at Memorial Hermann, according to the release. “Her wounds have healed, she has resumed full physical therapy without a helmet, and I am comfortable that she can be discharged.”

Giffords was shot in the head on January 8 at a constituent event at a Tucson Safeway. Six people, including U.S. District Judge John M. Roll, were killed when a gunman went on a shooting spree. Jared Lee Loughner has since been arrested and is charged with the shootings.

(RELATED: New Photos Give Public First Good Look At Giffords Since Shooting)

Earlier this week, photos of Giffords were released; they were only the latest indication that the congresswoman was making a speedy recovery.

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