The Hill News

Doctors for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords said Wednesday the Arizona Democrat's progress was now up to her.

At a press conference at the University Medical Center in Tuscon, Ariz., where Giffords was taken after being shot point-blank in the head Saturday, UMC Critical Care and Trauma Director Dr. Peter Rhee and UMC chief of neurosurgery Dr. Michael Lamole said that Giffords's recovery was now primarily up to her.

"This is the phase of the care where it's pretty much up to her," Lamole said. "As long as we don't backslide and as along as she keeps her own, that's good. She's going to take her recovery at her own pace."

Lamole and Rhee both cautioned that despite Gabrielle's promising recovery so far, her injury was very serious, and that generally recovery for gunshot wounds to the head like Gabrielle's are rare.

"This kind of injury, the survival, let alone recovery [rate], is abysmal," Lamole said. "I do want to underscore the seri! ousness of this injury and the fact that we all have to be patient."

Even though the doctors were cautious, they also said there was room for a great deal of optimism. Lamole said that Giffords was breathing on her own and they did not have to sedate her as heavily as they had over the past few days.

The doctors stressed that Giffords's recovery going forward would be at her pace. They said that because of that, it is hard to predict a recovery timeline.

Rhee said that UMC had discharged four of the eight remaining patients in the hospital. Three remained in the hospital in serious condition, one in fair condition and one â€" Giffords â€" in critical.

All the patients are victims of the Arizona shooting last Saturday that claimed the lives of six and injured more than a dozen.