Gabby, Our Thoughts Are With You.

Posted by Michael Bryan

Please share your prayers and thoughts for Gabby and her family in the comments, or you can go to Gabby's Facebook prayer page. Gabriel Zimmerman, who died in the attack, has a memorial Facebook page. Our tip line is open at BlogForArizona@gmail.com.

Updated 4:18pm: Congresswoman Giffords is in the ICU at UMC in critical condition, having survived her would-be assassin's bullet to her head. Her parents and her husband Mark are with her.

Updated 9:42pm: The names of those killed in the attack are: Judge John Roll, 63; Dorthy Murray, 76; Dorwin Stoddard, 76; Christina Greene, 9; Phyllis Scheck, 79; and Gabe Zimmerman, 30.

Updated 1/9 11:42: 20 people were wounded in the attack; the death toll remains at 6. According the FBI Director Mueller, who is currently in Tucson, Loughner will be indicted on Federal aggravated assault and murder charges this afternoon. It has not been decided whether Loughner will face terrorism charges. Gabby remains in critical condition. Information from her doctors indicate that the most dangerous aspect of the injury is the swelling of the brain along the path of the bullet. The left top of her skull has been removed to ameliorate brain tissue damage due to swelling. The 9 mm bullet passed the front left quarter of her brain from above her left ear and exiting her forehead (previous reports erroneously indicted the path of the bullet extended the full length of the left hemisphere). Gunshot brain injuries are rarely survivable, so the mere fact that she survived into and through surgery is a very good sign. Her prognosis is hopeful, but it is not certain that she will live, nor what the long-term effects of her injury will be. Please, keep her and her family in your thoughts.

Follow the latest developments throughout the Arizona and national media with The Arizona Donkey Feed for a real-time view of the unfolding story.

Update 1/10 6:54: Gabby's husband Mark has issued a statement asking those who wish to honor Gabby's struggle with a positive gesture to donate to her favorite causes: The Tucson Community Food Bank's Gabrielle Giffords Hunger Fund and the Arizona Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Update 1/10 2:30: Gabby's neurosurgeon indicates no change in status today, which is good news. CAT scans indicate no increase in swelling from the wound, which appears stable, though he indicates it could take as much as 5 days in some patients for maximum swelling to occur. She remains responsive to commands when brought out of sedation. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) experts often refer to the 'Rule of 2s': the TBI patient passes critical diagnostic windows after 2 hours, 2 days, 2 weeks, etc. Gabby has now passed the 2 day milestone, is responding well, and brain tissue swelling remains stable and well-managed. These are very good signs.

Update 1/11 6:15: Gabby's medical team has made a strong prognosis that she will survive her injury. She is able to breathe without the aid of a respirator (though they are letting her rest by keeping her on it) and the swelling of her brain tissue seems to have peaked and remains medically manageable. Dr. Rhee made the extraordinary statement that he was "100% certain" that she would live. Given Dr. Rhee's extensive experience with trauma surgery of this type, that is worth celebrating. That she will live says nothing about her recovery, however. Gabby has a long and difficult road of neurological rehabilitation ahead of her. But we can feel genuinely relived that Loughner's vile purpose of ending her life has been thwarted.

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