Recovering Gabrielle Giffords 'may attend space launch'

UNITED States congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords stands a "good possibility" of attending her astronaut husband's shuttle launch after recovering in "leaps and bounds" from an attempted assassination, doctors said last night.

Ms Giffords, 40, was left fighting for her life after being shot in the head during a gun rampage earlier this year. But two months into her painstaking rehabilitation, she continues to make strong progress, specialists said.

The speed of her recovery may allow her to watch as her husband, Mark Kelly, blasts off into orbit next month.

At a press conference at her hospital in Houston, Texas, brain specialist Dr Dong Kim said Ms Giffords had spoken in full sentences and was displaying emotional responses.

He continued: "I'm very happy to report that she is making leaps and bounds in neurological recovery. Her memory is good, her personality … she is doing spectacularly well.

"Her speech is getting very good and she has started walking with assistance."

Ms Giffords required life- saving surgery after being shot in the head at a political event outside a grocery store in Tuscon, Arizona.

Six people were killed in the attack of 8 January, with a further 12 wounded.

Last month, Ms Giffords' husband said his wife's progress has led him to decide to continue with a planned space mission, scheduled for 19 April.

Mr Kelly, 46, told reporters at the time: "I know her very well and she would be comfortable with the decision that I made."

Asked yesterday if Ms Giffords would be able to attend the space shuttle launch, Dr Kim said: "I think there is a good possibility that she will be there."

Earlier this week, Jared Loughner, 22, pleaded not guilty to charges relating to the Tucson shootings.