"Gabby, Open Your Eyes"; Friends Recount Scene

One of the most encouraging - and unexpected - moments of President Barack Obama's address to the nation Wednesday night, was the revelation that critically injured congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords had opened her eyes and that she "knows we are here, she knows we love her, and she knows that we are rooting for her."

Two of Giffords' congressional colleagues - Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida - were also present in Giffords' hospital room when she opened her eyes. They described the moment to CBS' "The Early Show" Thursday.

(Scroll down to see video of Gillibrand and Wasserman Schultz, along with clips from Mr. Obama's speech.)

"We were talking about all the things we wanted to do as soon as she got better and all the things we hope to do with her. And we knew she was responding - she was holding our hands, and caressing our hands and squeezing them and moving her arms, moving her legs," Gillibrand recalled. "She started to open her eyes. And when her husband saw her making this effort, he urged her, said, 'Gabby, open your eyes, open your eyes.' And sure enough, she did."

Special Section: Tragedy in Tucson

Giffords' husband asked her to give a "thumbs up" if she could see the friends in the room.

"And a few moments later, she not only gave a thumbs up, she raised her whole arm. And it was just unbelievable and indescribable," Gillibrand said.

"This is a woman with the most remarkable determination," Wasserman Schultz said. "We were so excited when the doctors said, 'This is incredible progress.' [Giffords' neurosurgeon] Dr. Lemole outside the hospital room … he said, 'You know I don't really make much of emotion and friendship,' he said, 'but we saw the power of friendship in there.'"

Six people were killed and 14 were injured when a young man opened fire at a meet-and-greet event Giffords was holding at a busy Tucson, Ariz., supermarket.

Police say the man accused of the shootings, 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner, shot Giffords as well as many in the line of people waiting to talk with her. The attack ended when bystanders tackled the man. He is in jail on federal charges as police continue to investigate.

Mr. Obama flew to Tucson Wednesday to meet with the injured and families of the slain and to try to soothe the nation in an address at the University of Arizona entitled "Together We Thrive: Tucson and America."

Obama: Rep. Giffords "Opened Her Eyes" Today
Text: President Obama's Tucson Memorial Speech
Loughner Stopped by Police Hours before Shooting

Gillibrand said that everyone present in Giffords' hospital room, but especially her husband Mark Kelly, were "just crying with joy" when Giffords opened her eyes.

"We know that she will overcome this. If anyone in the world can overcome an injury, of a severe nature, it's her," Gillibrand said. "Mark was telling us just a couple days ago how he was telling the doctors, she will be walking in a few weeks, you'll see."

"Shows you what a little bit of girl power can do," Wasserman Schultz said.

[Ralphinphnx]

So,the only reason Democrat Congresswoman Giffords opened her eyes was
to make sure Comrade Leader & Messiah Barack Hussein Obama and Democrat House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi had left so she could go back to sleep. Did Obama & Pelosi take her a free T-shirt as well?

[noloyalisti]

You forgot to say Muslim, Hawaiian, American, Fascist, Communist, Marxist, Christian Obama and other such ridiculous, idiot and ignorant right wing bullet points.

[noloyalisti]

I can't wait until she gets up in front of the cameras and reminds Caribou Barbi that it was not a good idea to put a gunsight on her. That something bad could happen. Like the Palin Massacre.

[msmsucks]

Wow, considering the FACT that this guy did not listen to Talk Radio, or watch Fox that is a pretty stupid thing to post.

[obboy2037]

So this one old friend was with Loughner every day and every minute of every day?

Again you use overstatement to make a point because you have a need to be right, even when your point is as illogical as I have pointed out!

If you really just want to be angry or against something, why not admit it.

[hamsterattack]

I would LOVE it if she fully recovers, comes back stronger than ever and RUNS FOR PRESIDENT in 2016. her opponent: Sarah Palin...

PRICELESS!!!

[AlanW3225]

Really???? How's this idea: you bet me a dollar, and I'll give you 1000:1 odds that doesn't happen! Just send me your EM address and we will arrange it. Are we on?

[thanksgreed]

been a while since I've been this impressed with Obama. It was a perfect speech for a very difficult time.... He chose the high road and it helped.

[AlanW3225]

Yes, it is impressive what you get when you combine an imaginative speechwriter with a professional fraud.

[thanksgreed]

poor Alan, I hope you feel less angry and better soon...

[aubfmet]

And now Loughner can be sure that he will not be tortured or abused and will be given 3 meals a day while his case plays out.

[bobkat258]

Who are the 6 people who were killed? All I ever hear about is the little girl and the judge. Who are the others????

[msmsucks]

Did you not watch Obama's speech before the pep rally?

[R_G_H]

Some of you people commenting here should be ashamed of yourselves.
Right wing/Left wing bashing, personal attacks and so forth.

This is someone's mother/daugher, wife, and if if happined to a member of your own, you would be not be concentrating on such nonsence.

The fact she is a public figure I guess gives all the right to praise or condem her record and views.

What ever happined to human compassion and some decency? Show some respect and a little class, and leave your BS somewhere else.

[msmsucks]

That is my point. This should have been a funeral, not a campaign stop.

[Bisk1]

msmsk, what is with the Political rhetoric ??? it's SAD when that is how everything you see and understand is defined.

[msmsucks]

by Bisk1 January 13, 2011 1:32 PM EST
by msmsucks January 13, 2011 12:35 PM EST
creeps me out, kinda like when a funeral turns into a pep rally.

************

This dumb repug seems to have wanted the funeral to be all about 'Taking our Country back' or 'Don't Retreat, Reload' or better yet spend half the time talking about the media's BLOOD LIBEL. The message from the POTUS yesterday was not about politics or blaming any group or person aside from the killer and also it was a message of HOPE and UNITY but leave it to the many Repugs to HATE that. Dumb Dumb repugs !


The message from the POTUS yesterday was not about politics or blaming any group or person aside from the killer and also it was a message of HOPE and UNITY but leave it to the many Repugs to HATE that. Dumb Dumb repugs !

This dumb repug seems to have wanted the funeral to be all about 'Taking our Country back' or 'Don't Retreat, Reload' or better yet spend half the time talking about the media's BLOOD LIBEL.

Does anyone else see the hypocrisy here. Oh my God, you are such a fool.

[msmsucks]

Hope and Unity you dumb repug.

[Bisk1]

msmsk, if this is how your brain or mind takes in information or something you read, then these must be very trying times for you and i hope this is not adding to your obvious delinquence ..... how do you put different postings that go with different questions, all together into ONE and then look for just TWO words to critique. You really should be ashamed of yourself. Dumb Dumb repugs !!

[Bisk1]

by msmsucks January 13, 2011 12:35 PM EST
creeps me out, kinda like when a funeral turns into a pep rally.

************

This dumb repug seems to have wanted the funeral to be all about 'Taking our Country back' or 'Don't Retreat, Reload' or better yet spend half the time talking about the media's BLOOD LIBEL. The message from the POTUS yesterday was not about politics or blaming any group or person aside from the killer and also it was a message of HOPE and UNITY but leave it to the many Repugs to HATE that. Dumb Dumb repugs !

[msmsucks]

Bisk, there is a 9 year old girl that died and 5 others. This is about dignity, not about cat calls and cheering.

You are exactly what is wrong with society. You put your god above God.

[Bisk1]

And what has the MESSAGE got to do with the REACTION of the audience ?? Are you ANGRY at the many thousands of people there or at the POTUS for delievring such a wonderful speech at this very trying and emotional time for the residents in THAT AREA ........ now WHO ARE YOU to decide how these people choose to react to a message of HOPE and UNITY delivered by the POTUS ?? ? Dumb Dumb repugs !!

[tryhonesty]

Gabby you are AWESOME! We are ALL pulling for you! This was a very good night!