Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who is recovering from surgery, was transferred back to her rehabilitation hospital Tuesday.
The 40-year-old Democratic Rep. had been recuperating at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center following a 3 1/2-hour surgery last Wednesday to implant a synthetic replacement for a portion of her skull. It was removed Jan. 8, the day she was shot through the left side of her brain.
During the same surgery, doctors also gave Giffords a permanent shunt to relieve fluid buildup in her brain.
Giffords is now back at The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR) Memorial Hermann, which is in the same complex as Texas Medical Center. She's been undergoing intensive therapy at TIRR since late January to recover speech and movement affected by her brain injury.
"Gabby is back at TIRR and looking forward to returning to her rehabilitation regimen after her successful surgery," Giffords' chief of staff, Pia Carusone, said Tuesday.
Doctors were concerned Giffords might develop a post-surgical infection, but she's doing well and that hasn't happened, Carusone said.
Giffords is now working toward a new goal -- moving to outpatient rehabilitation therapy. She expects to do that in Houston, to continue with the medical team at Memorial Hermann.
