Update: ‘A magic moment on top of a major miracle’

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

We learned from President Obama during his speech last night that:

"Gabby opened her eyes. I can tell you this: She knows we're here, and she knows we love her, and she knows that we will be rooting for her through what is undoubtedly a difficult journey."

The Arizona Republic has more on this magic moment. At Gabrielle Giffords' bedside, an 'incredible experience':

Gabrielle Giffords opened her eyes for the first time since a weekend shooting rampage left her struggling for life. She rubbed her husband's arm.

* * *

[I]t was a magic moment on top of a major miracle. Shortly after a bedside visit from President Barack Obama, with friends from Congress, staff members and family present, Giffords' moves brought fresh hope.

"It's a major milestone," said Pia Carusone, Giffords' congressional chief of staff, who was in the room at University Medical Center at the time. "We have to remember what we are dealing with here. She's in very critical condition, and she has a long road ahead of her, but this is certainly a big moment."

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., also was in the room and provided details to CNN. She said Giffords started "struggling to open her eyes" after she good-naturedly urged her "to get better as soon as possible" so that she could come visit at her family's house in New Hampshire this summer.

That's when Giffords began to open her eyes, Schultz said.

"The doctors couldn't believe it," she said. "They said this is such a good sign."

Then her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, asked Giffords to touch his wedding ring.

"She started doing that. She just started rubbing his arm," Schultz said. "She went from opening her eyes really just in slits to opening them almost fully. It wasn't for very long. Then, they'd close again.

"It was the most incredible experience that I've ever had."

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York also told CNN she was in the room. When Kelly asked for a thumbs-up, Giffords raised her entire hand, Gillibrand said.

P. David Adelson, a neurosurgeon with Phoenix Children's Hospital, said that Giffords' ability to follow commands is positive indicator for her recovery.

Giffords' opening her eyes and responding to her husband's voice is "a great sign," Adelson said.

* * *

Pia Carusone tempered the excitement over the development with a dose of caution.

"Some people are saying that her eyes are open. That's not accurate," Carusone said. "She opened her eyes. That's very different."

Still, a very hopefull sign for recovery.

UPDATE: From the CBS Early Show: