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Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords Heads to Houston; Poll: Confidence in Economy Up; Tough Love, Simple Living; Living With Arthritis
Aired January 21, 2011 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Carol Costello. Live from Studio 7, CNN's big stories for Friday, January 21st.
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords leaves the Tucson hospital just minutes from now. Live pictures.
She'll travel by ambulance to a nearby Air Force base for an air ambulance flight to Houston. That's to start the next phase of her remarkable recovery.
Yesterday, her medical team was able to take Giffords outside the hospital for the first time. Her husband Mark Kelly at her side. This all coming less than two weeks after the congresswoman suffered a gunshot to the head.
Optimism about the economy is creeping up ever so slightly. In a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll, 24 percent of Americans say the economy is in good shape, 75 percent say it's not. That's actually a six-point jump since November, when just 18 percent thought the economy was in good shape and 81 percent said it was poor.
President Obama has big plans to create jobs. He's forming a new presidential council to be led by General Electric chief executive Jeffrey Immelt. Mr. Obama leaves for New York later this hour to make the announcement at GE headquarters.
Chinese President Hu Jintao is in President Obama's hometown today. He's wrapping up his U.S. trip in Chicago. He'll visit Chinese-owned companies and a Chinese language and cultural center. President Hu spent three days meeting with President Obama and congressional leaders in Washington.
Police are staying tight-lipped about the investigation into who kidnapped Carlina White 23 years ago. She was snatched from a New York hospital and raised by a family who she says she felt she didn't belong to. That prompted her to search for and find her mother.
Authorities have not named a suspect in the kidnapping, but they are searching for Anne Pettway, the woman who raised Carlina White.
Now to our lead story.
A major step this hour on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' road to recovery. Just minutes from now, Giffords will leave the hospital in Tucson, headed to Houston.
Giffords' husband, Mark Kelly, sent a message on Twitter this morning. It reads, "GG going to next phase of her recovery today. Very grateful to the docs and nurses at UMC, Tucson PD, Sheriff's Department. Back in Tucson ASAP!"
CNN's Thelma Gutierrez is outside the hospital in Tucson.
And Thelma, sort of set the scene for us.
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, if you take a look right behind me, Carol, you can see quite a few folks gathering right now, hoping to catch a glimpse of the congresswoman as she leaves the medical center. But we're told by a spokesperson here that, actually, right now, they're planning on moving the congresswoman in her bed to an ambulance.
The ambulance will leave off the side of this building, far away from these people. It will make its way 10 miles to Davis-Monthan, through Tucson, to that Air Force Base where she will catch that flight aboard a Challenger aircraft and then head to Houston. It will be about a two hour, 15 minute flight.
And Carol, I can tell you that, all along, they talked about her progress in terms of milestones. First, it was surviving this terrible, terrible bullet to her brain. And then, secondly, it was being able to breathe on her own, without a ventilator, with the use of a tracheostomy to help her breathe. And now the third major milestone, Carol, her ability to now leave this medical center and then head off to Houston, where she will start this very arduous rehabilitation.
COSTELLO: One of the amazing things, Thelma, is the number of people calling Congresswoman Giffords' office, asking where they can stand along the route that her ambulance will take, so they can just stand there and pray for her and send her well wishes somehow.
GUTIERREZ: Yes, absolutely, Carol. You know, we're talking about a 10-mile route. And it's been a route that's been fairly well publicized, at least here in the local media.
And so we can expect people who will line that route. And we also understand that the Veterans of Foreign Wars motorcycle riders will also accompany that ambulance as she makes her way toward Davis- Monthan.
Now, you had mentioned, Carol, earlier that yesterday, she was able to go outside for a last time and take a look at the Catalina Mountains. And she was able to go through her therapy outside on that helipad. And she was out there with her husband, also with Dr. Rhee. And he said that she really hit a huge milestone, and she is a fighter.
COSTELLO: She certainly is. We want to talk a little bit more about her condition.
Thelma, thanks. You're standing by. And when the transport begins we'll get back to you.
Doctors do caution that Giffords faces a long, difficult road ahead.
Want to go live now to Houston, where she'll go through rehabilitation. CNN Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is there.
Elizabeth, how risky is this kind of transport for a patient like Mrs. Giffords?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): You know, Carol, my colleague Sanjay Gupta was talking about this last night, and he said, look, they transport a lot of people who are considerably sicker and more fragile than Representative Giffords. So they do this all the time with people who are sicker than her, and as Sanjay put it, they'll have an ICU in the sky.
They'll have breathing machines, they'll have nurses. They'll have pretty much everything that she would have in an ICU they can have that up there with her.
COSTELLO: And then when she arrives, Elizabeth, what will happen?
COHEN: All right. What first is going to happen is that she's not going to go directly into the rehab hospital. That's the brown hospital behind me.
Her doctors were very clear that she is not ready for that. They say that she still has a little ways to go before she can start her rehab.
I spoke to the man who is going to be her neurosurgeon when she gets here to Houston, Carol. I spoke with him yesterday. Let's listen to what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COHEN: Now, why isn't she going right to the rehabilitation hospital?
DR. DONG H. KIM, CHIEF OF NEUROSURGERY: Well, there are concerns about ongoing medical issues. And again, I don't want to be more specific about that. But she's not quite ready for rehabilitation yet. So we're going to be coming here, doing a thorough assessment. And once we've been able to do that, we'll be able to tell you more.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COHEN: Carol, we just heard Dr. Kim say he does not want to be specific about what medical issues need to be addressed before Giffords starts her rehab. But I asked him in general, at this stage in a recovery from an injury like this, what's going on here? And he said they worry about infection in the brain, and they also worry about swelling in the brain -- Carol.
COSTELLO: And I know that traveling with Congresswoman Giffords will be her mother and her husband. Will they stay there in Houston while she goes through rehabilitation?
COHEN: You know, that's a great question. I don't know about her mom. But I do know and we all know that her husband lives and works right here in the Houston area. So I think that's one of the major reasons why they chose this particular hospital campus, is that he can be close to his daughters, he can be close to his work, and close to his wife.
COSTELLO: Elizabeth Cohen, thanks for standing by, too. And when all of this gets under way, we'll get back to you.
Elizabeth Cohen, live in Houston.
The outpouring of support since the tragedy in Tucson has been overwhelming. But one child's generosity almost brought Congresswoman Giffords' husband to tears. Mark Kelly says he opened an envelope to find a gift from a 9-year-old boy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK KELLY, CONGRESSWOMAN GIFFORDS' HUSBAND: It was like $2.85. So we're going to -- I sealed it back up. We're going to get his lunch money back to him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's not easy, to make an astronaut cry. What do you think about that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Surprised. Really, really surprised.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So cute. It turns out it wasn't Isaac Seldada's (ph) lunch money he donated. He raised the money by taking some of his own toys to school and selling them.
Police say when you're being robbed, especially by someone with a gun, you should cooperate. This convenience store clerk says that's what she tried to do until he took it to another level.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Taking a live look at Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, D.C. President Obama on board that plane, also the mayor of Schenectady, New York. That's where both are headed.
And later, President Obama will be telling the nation via television about a big announcement at GE headquarters. And he's going to talk about this new presidential council to be led by General Electric chief executive Jeffrey Immelt. That new presidential council is formed to create new jobs.
So we'll find out more about that later this afternoon, but as you can see, Air Force One taking off, headed for New York State.
(NEWSBREAK)
COSTELLO: How do you think the economy is doing? It's a question we put to more than 1,000 Americans, and the answer, we're all feeling a bit more confident these days.
Alison Kosik is on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange with more details.
Hi, Alison.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol.
You know, it's interesting to see how attitudes are changing. So, in the survey, it shows that 24 percent of Americans actually feel the economy is in good shape. Now, I know the number isn't terrific, but the fact is, it's up from 18 percent in November.
Also, the number of people who have a negative outlook on the economy, that number is falling. We are feeling better about the economy because things are looking better.
The jobs picture is getting brighter. Corporate profits are getting better. And our portfolios are getting even fatter.
Look at the S&P 500. It's up 20 percent over the past six months.
That creates, Carol, a wealth effect, so it makes everybody feel richer -- Carol.
COSTELLO: So, even though those percentages are rather though, tell us why the numbers are so important.
KOSIK: Well, think about it. If we feel good, it's really going to dictate what we do and how we spend our money. So, if we feel good, we may be willing to take more risks. We go ahead and eat out more, we may travel more, we'll go shopping a little more. Maybe we'll even relocate and buy a house, or keep on renting an apartment.
These are things that, in addition, help the economy. It's kind of like a self-fulfilling prophecy at this point. You know, if you think it, it will happen, right?
And besides, we're not the only ones who track consumer confidence. There are actually two groups that put out reports every month tracking consumer confidence. Consumer confidence has a huge impact on how the economy does overall -- Carol.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT) COSTELLO: Alison Kosik, many thanks.
Are we raising a generation of lazy texters who don't know how to work hard? That's what these parents think. And reality show producers put their parenting skills to the test.
Internet security company AVG polled 2,200 moms in several developed countries with some eye-opening results. Small kids -- and we're talking ages 2 to 5 -- seem to be mastering technical skills before life skills. Nineteen percent can play with a smartphone application, but only nine percent can tie their shoelaces.
Now, wait until you hear about what seems to be replacing exercise these days.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: And you're looking at live pictures from that hospital in Tucson where Congresswoman Giffords is getting ready to leave the hospital. She'll travel via ambulance and then via helicopter to a rehab facility in Houston.
The ambulance is getting ready for her right now, and when it starts moving, we'll take you back there, live. Hundreds of well- wishers are already lining the streets, ready to pray for Gabrielle Giffords as this ambulance goes by. And again, when this thing gets rolling we'll, of course, show you.
More numbers for you on that study by Internet security company AVG suggesting small children are picking up technical skills faster than life skills. Fifty-eight percent can play a basic computer game, while 43 percent can ride a bike. Twenty-five percent can open a Web browser, but only 20 percent can swim unaided.
Interesting to note, there is no gender divide here. As many boys as girls can play a computer game or make a mobile phone call at the age of 2.
Some students at a private Tennessee school are getting even more high-tech exposure. Starting next year, students at the Webb School of Knoxville will be required to have an iPad. The kids will eventually replace all of their books. Parents will be able to set up payment plans for the iPads.
We put together a series for this week called "Extreme Parenting." What exactly is an extreme parent? Well, you know you're an extreme parent if -- blank.
We found some great stories and parenting experts to help fill in that blank. A couple from Georgia whose belief in tough love and a return to the simple life caught the eye of reality show producers on Country Music Television.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SCOTT ALLEN, RUNS FARM AND PETTING ZOO: Tick-tock, tick-tock. Let's go.
COSTELLO (voice-over): Disciplined teamwork and respect, they are the keys to raising a decent child, says tough dad Scott Allen.
ALLEN: The silliest thing I think I ever heard is, "I just want my kids to have it easier than I had." It's making a generation of Nintendo babies. They don't know how to do anything.
COSTELLO: Scott and his wife June run this farm and petting zoo outside of Atlanta. They have two teenage daughters who learned structure and teamwork doing farm chores. Now the girls and their parents are reality TV stars on Country Music Television's "World's Strictest Parents."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "WORLD'S STRICTEST PARENTS")
ANNOUNCER: On this episode of "The World's Strictest Parents" --
ALLEN: Put a little pep in your step, girls. Let's move it.
ANNOUNCER: -- meet the Allens from Cartersville, Georgia.
ALLEN: The next time somebody asks you to do something, just move.
(END VIDEO CLIP, "WORLD STRICTEST PARENTS")
COSTELLO: On the show, the Allens take in two rebellious and angry teens for one week and try to turn their attitudes around.
JUNE ALLEN, PARENT: We had no idea who we were meeting, and neither did they.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When I was looking out the window, I saw a bunch of, like, scummy-looking people. So I thought I was going to kind of a hillbilly house.
S. ALLEN: You don't have any cigarettes, no drugs.
Here's your twig. Drag it over there, both hands, hands on hip. Now grunt and pull. Good job.
COSTELLO: The Allens were a natural fit for the show. Besides raising two daughters, parents in the community have been asking for their help for 20 years.
J. ALLEN: We do get offers of children, usually on a daily basis.
S. ALLEN: All the time.
J. ALLEN: Yes. "Please, can they come work here? Can they work here with you, do volunteer?"
COSTELLO: Besides hard work, the Allens forbid cell phones or any electronics. They don't even have a working TV in their home. Scott Allen says America has raised a generation of lazy texters.
S. ALLEN: And they don't know how to work. They don't have responsibility. They can work the phones really, really well.
COSTELLO: He says getting kids outside of the house and giving them responsibility is key.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: So, does tough love work? The rebellious teens that spent a week with the Allens say it does. They say Scott Allen taught them boundaries and discipline, and June taught them to let go of their anger and practice forgiveness.
See, it does work.
Oh, let's go head out to Tucson again, where we've been watching and waiting for Congresswoman Giffords to be put on an ambulance, put inside of an ambulance to be taken to Houston, where she'll be taken to a rehab center to continue her recovery.
As you can see -- look at that memorial. It's just growing and growing at that Tucson hospital.
Hundreds of well-wishers have been calling the congresswoman's office saying, "Where can we stand so we can watch this ambulance go by?" This looks like the ambulance. And we believe that Congresswoman Giffords is inside, along with her husband, Mark Kelly, also her doctor, Dr. Peter Rhee -- you know him by now, of course.
Tracey Colbert (ph), her nurse, also with here inside of that ambulance. Gloria Giffords, her mom -- I know I'd want my mom with me -- she is with her daughter inside the ambulance. Pia Carusone, her chief of staff, is in there, as well as her communications director.
All will be traveling with Congresswoman Giffords to that helicopter, which she will be placed on at a nearby Air Force base. And then she will be flown to Houston to that rehab center.
Elizabeth Cohen has been standing by giving us fine information from that rehab center.
We understand she'll be taken to an acute care facility first, before she is admitted to that rehab center. They just want to make sure that everything is OK before she goes on with rehabilitation.
We don't know how long she'll be in that acute care center. I guess it depends on what doctors see.
But the interesting thing about this is the people from the VFW volunteered to escort the ambulance. And I'm sure once it hits the busy roadways, we'll see the motorcycles surrounding it.
Thelma Gutierrez is standing by live at the hospital.
Set the scene for us there, Thelma. GUTIERREZ: Well, I can tell you, Carol, that many people have come to the hospital. We've been here all morning long. Many folks asking us where they can go to actually see this ambulance leave so that they can give the congresswoman a sendoff.
We were told that for security reasons, they will not bring the ambulance to this area where the memorial is in front of the medical center. Instead, they're going to leave through another ambulance ramp on the back end of the hospital. They say, again, for security reasons, and then they will make that 10-mile trip through the streets of Tucson, all the way to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
As you have mentioned, Carol, her mother, Gloria Giffords, will accompany her, as well as her physician, her trauma surgeon, Dr. Peter Rhee. Her husband and also a couple of members of her staff who will fly with her to Houston.
And, you know, all along we've been talking about how incredible this story is, the fact that just two weeks ago, we weren't sure if she was going to make it. And then later that day, Dr. Rhee comes out and says, 100 percent certainty, she will make it.
And then after that she starts to breathe on her own. And now they say this is the next major milestone for the congresswoman, the fact that she's going to be able to leave ICU, where she has spent the past two weeks fighting for her life, and now will make her way to Houston, where she can begin to put her life together again. And as Elizabeth Cohen had mentioned, it's going to be a very, very long battle.
COSTELLO: Thelma, you mentioned security. There will be heavy security as this ambulance makes its way to the air force base. And there will also be heavy security once Congresswoman Giffords gets to Houston.
Why are they taking such great precautions with security?
GUTIERREZ: Well, because of the reason that we're here in this situation right now, Carol. She's a public figure. They don't want to take any chances.
And, you know, the entire time, this area had been full of well- wishers. And I can't show it to you right now, but it's a very narrow street and it's very congested. And so to bring the ambulance into this area, they felt would be a security concern that they were not willing to take. And so they've decided that they're going to move her through another main thoroughfare, out of this area, all the way to Davis-Monthan.
COSTELLO: When the ambulance initially left the hospital, we saw a group of people lining the sidewalk cheering. I suspect those were hospital workers and staffers wishing her well, maybe doctors and nurses. But the people lining the street who have called into Congresswoman Giffords, I mean, Congresswoman Giffords' office says it's been astounded by the outpouring of love for this woman. GUTIERREZ: Yes, absolutely, Carol. I mean, all you have to do is stand here where I am, where we have been for the past week or so. And to see all of these people, they've come day and night.
I mean, I've been here way early in the morning, then very late at night. And you have this constant flow of people who are coming here to pray for her, they say, to leave flowers and cards, and just to show their support to not only the congresswoman, but also the other victims of this terrible tragedy.
And, you know, Carol, they have talked about security being very tight, but they have also publicized what that route is going to be through Tucson so that people could line that route if they wanted to, to be able to say good-bye.
COSTELLO: Even the VFW members who are riding motorcycles, they called to volunteer their time because, you know, they've dealt with Congresswoman Giffords before. Right?
GUTIERREZ: Yes, absolutely. In fact, those Veterans of Foreign Wars motorcyclists had been with her back in 2009. She actually rode with them as they were going from Tucson to Sierra Vista, and they were taking back remains of Civil War era veterans. And so the congresswoman rode with them, and now they are paying their respects by riding with her and escorting her to Davis-Monthan.
COSTELLO: I can see some of the people lining the streets right now.
Tell me about the memorial at the hospital, because it started small, and it's grown to be humongous.
GUTIERREZ: Yes, that is what is so striking about being out here, Carol. Those of us who have watched this thing grow, it's been absolutely incredible.
It started with just a few flowers and a couple of candles and cards. And then it has grown to this.
It covers nearly the entire lawn here in front of the University Medical Center. They created a pathway through the memorial.
People have shown up every single day, families. Some of the patients before they have left the hospital have come out. They've been wheeled through this area.
We mentioned Suzie Heilman, who was one of the gunshot victims. She came out here the other night. She wanted to see it, she said, before it went away.
There were Mariachis here, Carol, who serenaded the patients as they made their way through. So it has been a spot where people have come to remember those who lost their lives, to pray for the congresswoman and the other survivors, and also to find closure, they told me.
COSTELLO: We also have Elizabeth Cohen live in Houston.
Do we have her signal up right now?
We do not have Elizabeth Cohen. We'll try to get that right there.
This is a 10-mile trip, Thelma Gutierrez. And once it arrives at the Air Force base -- I don't know how close we can get. And I don't know if we want to get that close as the congresswoman is taken out of the ambulance and placed on that helicopter. But it's a specially- equipped helicopter, I would assume.
GUTIERREZ: Well, the way that it's actually going to work, Carol, is that she is going to ride in that ambulance, she'll go to Davis-Monthan. From Davis-Monthan, she's actually going to board a Challenger aircraft, and from what we understand, it has a very large, comfortable cabin, and one of the largest cabins of its class.
This aircraft will seat comfortably 14 people. So we had mentioned to you that the congresswoman's mother was going to be there, her husband, two members of her staff, her chief of staff, and also her communications director. Dr. Rhee is going to be there, her trauma surgeon, as well as her ICU nurse. So many people accompanying the Congresswoman on this trip.
So she'll board that aircraft and then they'll make that 2 hour and 15 minute flight all the way to Houston. Once they arrive in Houston, then they'll go by helicopter to another medical center where she'll be checked out to make sure that she is in good shape to be able to start rehabilitation.
COSTELLO: It's just touching to me, I don't know why, that her mother is with her and, of course, her husband, too. I'm sure her mother has been in that hospital room nonstop since this event happened, since the terrible thing happened last Saturday.
GUTIERREZ: Yes, you're absolutely correct, Carol. Her mother has been by her side the entire time as well as her husband, Mark Kelly.
And you know, one of the things that was interesting, we went to one of the press briefings and the doctors said that the congresswoman actually -- that Mark Kelly said the congresswoman smiled at him, said his wife smiled at him. He also said that at one point she gave him a back and shoulder rub for 20 minutes.
And you know, we asked the doctors, is this possible with someone who sustained this kind of an injury? And he said, you know, he goes, if Mark Kelly says he saw his wife smile and that she gave him a backrub to show her affection, he says I have no reason to question it. That's the way it is.
And they say that it's because her husband has been there, her mother, her family, that she's made such an amazing recovery. COSTELLO: Oh, and her girlfriends, too. I mean, I found that touching, too, that her friends from Congress and from the Senate were in her hotel room when she first opened her eyes. There's nothing like having everyone you love around you to make you fight even harder.
The other thing that continues to touch me is, you know, Mark Kelly, her husband said that she would reach up and pat his face, just like she's always done or she would reach out to touch his wedding ring. All signs, again, that she is aware of what's going on around her and who's sitting beside her.
GUTIERREZ: That's exactly right. In fact, her doctor -- her neurosurgeon, Dr. Lemole, had said this is a sign that she's operating at a higher cognitive level, that she understands who's around her, that perhaps she's able to see what is going on around her.
And now we have evidence of that, Carol, because yesterday right before the congresswoman was ready to say goodbye to all the folks here in Tucson, she was actually able to go outside and have some of her physical therapy out on the helipad.
So Dr. Rhee took her out there, Mark Kelly was with her. And they say they took her out on her bed, and they pointed her toward the Catalina Mountains. Anybody who is from Tucson knows just how majestic those mountains are, and she was able to see the mountains and feel that sunshine right before leaving.
This will be the last time that she'll be in Tucson for the next few months until she completes rehabilitation. And also, it's the first time in two weeks that she's been able to go outside.
COSTELLO: I know Arizona is her home state, you know, Tucson is her home. That last glimpse of the mountains before she leaves home for two months really must have meant a lot to her.
There are some --
GUTIERREZ: Yes, absolutely.
COSTELLO: Go on, Thelma, I'm sorry.
GUTIERREZ: You know, one thing, Carol, that her chief of staff did tell us today is that this is actually very bittersweet to her, the fact that she is leaving now to Houston, very bittersweet because she does love Tucson so much. Of course, she represents District 8 out here, and she'll be leaving the job that she loves, the people that she loves, all of her friends, her family. But at the same time, you know, it's the first step, very first critical step towards her recovery.
COSTELLO: The best part is her mom's there, her husband's there, her husband lives in Houston.
Elizabeth Cohen is standing by at the rehab center in Houston where Congresswoman Giffords will eventually make her way. And Elizabeth, tell us what will happen on your end.
COHEN: What we've been told will happen is she will land and she will go into the Memorial Hermann University of Texas Hospital. She will not go right into rehab, she'll go to a regular hospital where they'll assess her and see what medical conditions need to be addressed.
We were told yesterday there are some medical issues they need to be looking into. You know, there are different things they worry about, they worry about infection, they worry about swelling on the brain. Not that they said she has these things, but those are the two big things they'll they're going to be looking for.
COSTELLO: A couple of other things doctors seem to be concerned about, Elizabeth, is whether the congresswoman can see with both eyes. I guess that a very difficult thing to determine since she isn't speaking yet.
COHEN: Right, exactly. So that's -- they're going to do a full neurological assessment. They're going to be looking at whether she can see with both eyes, whether she has full movement on both sides of her body, whether she has full strength on both sides of her body and at what level her cognizant skills are, you know, at what level us her -- is she thinking right now. As she had had surgery on one of her eyes last weekend to take out bone fragments that were putting problem on one of her eyes, so they'll certainly look at how that surgery is -- how she's recovering from that procedure.
COSTELLO: I know her husband, Mark Kelly, says that he has witnessed her trying to speak. She's moved her lips.
COHEN: Right.
COSTELLO: Is that a good sign? Does that mean anything?
COHEN: Oh, sure. That's a great sign for two reasons. One it shows that she has the ability to have that thought process to speak, cause that's huge. We don't think about it because we do it every day, but to have the cognitive ability to even try to speak is a big deal.
Also, it shows that her spirits are up. It shows that she wants to move on, she wants to do things, she wants to improve. Sometimes at this point in the recovery from a brain injury, people can get depressed and people can really -- their spirits can sag and they don't even really want to try to do anything.
So that fact that she can try to speak and the fact that she wants to speak, both of those are huge.
COSTELLO: I was just thinking how frustrating it would be to want to talk but not be able to talk, and how angry that would make you at some point.
COHEN: Right, and that anger can actually hurt someone's recovery process. So one of the things that they'll be looking for here is to do a psychological evaluation to make sure, again, she keeps her spirits up.
Now she can't talk right now. There could be a multitude of reasons, but certainly one of them is that she has a tracheostomy. So she's got this sort of basically like a hole in her windpipe which makes it impossible to get spoken words out.
Now what they can do is they can change the valve on that tracheostomy, which will make it easier for her to speak. Now they haven't said they're definitely going to do that, but that's certainly something we're going to be looking for.
COSTELLO: Dr. Peter Rhee, her trauma surgeon, is traveling with her. Why might that be?
COHEN: Well, I think you'll always are going to have medical personnel traveling with people being transferred from hospital to hospital. So whether -- I don't know if it would always be the trauma surgeon, but certainly you would have nurses.
I don't think it means she's in any particular danger, I think it means that, you know, he wants to make sure that everything goes the way he wants it to go.
COSTELLO: And I would assume -- I know you talked to the doctors in Houston who will be treating Congresswoman Giffords, I'm sure they're going to meet once Dr. Rhee gets to Houston.
COHEN: Right, exactly. They've already been talking, they're already been e-mailing, they're already been sharing a lot of information. But certainly, having Dr. Rhee there makes for a much smoother transition.
COSTELLO: And talk a little bit about the pressure on the doctors, because this is all so public for them. And I know they're great doctors and they deal with pressure every day, but this is different.
COHEN: It is different. And as we can see, the doctors in Arizona really rose to the occasion and used it as an opportunity to educate the public about brain injury, and they really did a terrific job of communicating with the public about what was going on and hopefully that will happen also here in Houston.
You know, I think there is pressure on these doctors. They obviously have a very high profile patient. But you know what? They do this every day. They see injuries like this every day. So for them, this is, you know, this is another case where they get to apply their skills.
COSTELLO: Elizabeth, stay with us. I want to go back to Thelma Gutierrez who is in Tucson.
And can you see what's going on, Thelma? Do you have a monitor with you? GUTIERREZ: Yes, I can, Carol. I'm looking right now, and really some amazing shots of the well-wishers who are ling that route that goes towards Davis-Monthan from the medical center. You can see a man there standing with an American flag. There have been many people who have been carrying not only flags but signs, just basically, you know, wanting to say goodbye to Congresswoman Giffords as she leaves Tucson.
COSTELLO: Yes, I saw many people praying there along the routes, too.
GUTIERREZ: There you can see the motorcade. You can see the motorcade there, Carol, as well as the motorcycle riders from the VFW.
COSTELLO: Yes, I can't tell where in Tucson they are in relation to the air force base. Maybe you can do a better job than me, Thelma, since you're more familiar with the area.
GUTIERREZ: I asked a photographer right now. He says they're getting awfully close. After all, it's about a ten-mile ride.
There you can see the officers who are lining that route. And then right up in front is the -- are the motorcycle riders. And we saw probably a group of maybe two or three dozen well-wishers holding signs up. There you can see the "Giffords for Congress" signs that many people have out here as her ambulance passes by.
COSTELLO: Elizabeth, I'm just curious, you've been in Houston for a couple days. What is the public reaction been like there?
COHEN: You know, I think people are proud that she's come here. I think it was unexpected. You know, she's from Arizona and so I think it was unexpected she was going to come here.
But there has been a lot of other patients and the families in the hospital that have come up to me, why are all these cameras here. And when we tell them, you know, I think they feel very proud that she's coming to her hospital.
COSTELLO: And of course, Mark Kelly, her husband, has a connection to Houston, and that perhaps one of the reasons they chose this particular rehab center. Besides, it's one of the finest in the world.
COHEN: Sure, and I think he made a point of saying -- in fact, Carol, yesterday he said there are great centers where he could have taken her in Washington, New Jersey, he named a couple other cities. But he said, you know what, I live in Houston. My job is there and my daughters are there.
I think you find this happening quite a lot. People transfer -- when you have a long-term issue, because her recovery is going to be long term, there's no question about that, when you have a long-term issue, you want that the patient near her family, both for her sake and for the family's sake.
COSTELLO: I think we have a new tweet from Mark Kelly and we're going to put it up on the screen right now. I have not seen it yet, so I don't know what it says, but there it is. Oh, it's not new. This is the one he sent earlier. What did he do, sent earlier -- was it last night or this morning? It was sent this morning.
He says, this is from Mark Kelly, "GG going to next phase of her recovery today. Very grateful to the docs and nurses at UMC, Tucson PD, Sheriff's Department...Back in Tucson ASAP!"
And I remember, Elizabeth, that Mark Kelly said a few days ago at one of the hospital briefings that he expected his wife in two months to back in Houston and walking around.
COHEN: Right, and certainly, that's what everyone hopes. You know, it may not happen that quickly. I mean, neurosurgeons I've been talking to and rehab doctors I've been talking to today say this can take many months. This is not a quick process. They describe it as a marathon, not a sprint. And some patients with these injuries don't walk again.
But the point is to get her in and assess her and get her to the best possible place that she can be, the fullest recovery she can make.
COSTELLO: We have a shot of the plane where Congresswoman Giffords will be on that plane. We don't know that that's the plane. OK, so we're not going to show you that quite yet; not certain.
But let's go to Thelma Gutierrez, because she knows precisely what's going to happen.
Thelma, tell is about the plane or the helicopter that will transport Congresswoman Giffords to Houston.
GUTIERREZ: All right. So what's going to happen right now, you can see a shot of the plane, Carol. Just a couple of minutes ago, it looks like the doors were open and waiting for the congresswoman's arrival.
So it's going to be a Challenger aircraft from what we understand. It's a very large, luxury kind of a jet. It holds 14 people.
And from what we understand, they're going to move her bed. She'll be attached to whatever kinds of medical equipment that she'll need, maybe an IV, that kind of thing. And then she'll be put on to that aircraft and from there, they will depart Tucson and make that 2 hour 15 minute ride -- or flight to Houston.
COSTELLO: And if you're just joining us, I just want to explain to you exactly what is happening.
Congresswoman Giffords now in an ambulance, she's on her way to an air force base where that plane is awaiting to take her to Houston to that rehab center.
We've been following her ambulance down the streets of Tucson. Well-wishers have been lining the streets. Hundreds of people calling Congresswoman Giffords saying where can I stand to watch the ambulance go by, just so that I can show my support for Congresswoman Giffords. You saw people carrying American flags, "Giffords for Congress" signs, and you saw many people praying along the way.
Can we take this live? Is that possible? OK, let's listen.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Gabby returning to Tucson, ready to return to her position, representing southern Arizona and I think it's important they know how much we love and care for them and we're here to support them.
QUESTION: So you're basically trying to send a message. If somehow we could put you in contact with her directly, what do you think you'd say to her?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Best wishes to a speedy recovery, we miss you. We'll keep the fort here until you return. We're looking forward to seeing you and your family back in Tucson soon.
QUESTION: What message would you like to pass on?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'd like to personally thank her because she assisted my parents in getting their Korean War medals that they were unable to get themselves. It's just very personal because she fulfilled a dream of my parents.
QUESTION: What did you all think when you heard what had happened? But you also heard how she seems to be bouncing back so strong.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My heart just sank when I heard. My sister and I were in contact all day cause she was out of town. Her recovery is amazing, absolutely amazing. I'm just thrilled to death. I'm just thrilled to death. She's a very strong, strong woman.
QUESTION: What's your take on that?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Her recovery is just incredible, but that's Gabby. She's a fighter. She's always been a fighter. And I expect that we'll be seeing her in a few months back here in Tucson.
QUESTION: If we could look in and this is certainly something we hope to do at some point watching her work through the rehabilitation process, do you think she has the personality that will push through that sometimes pretty tough process?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is. Physical therapy, having been through a couple of sessions myself, it's a lot of work. But with good spirits and support --
COSTELLO: We're going to jump away now. We have to take a break. But again, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords out of the hospital in Tucson, on her way to a rehabilitation center in Houston. We're following it every step of the way. We're going to take a quick break, we'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: And as we've been talking about, Congresswoman Giffords now in an ambulance, headed to an air force base. She's left that Tucson hospital, she's on her way to Houston to a rehabilitation center there.
We've been following that ambulance every step of the way. It may have hit the air force base right now, we just don't know, but we're going to leave this live picture up for you. You're actually looking at the big memorial that's been set up at the Tucson hospital. But we're going to leave the live shot up out of Tucson so you can monitor things as we go on with news of the day. So let's go that right now.
Each week in our "Human Factor" series, we introduce you someone who has overcome major obstacles. This week it's a concert pianist who battles a disease that threatens his joints and almost derailed his career.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta has his story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Byron Janis has a rare gift. He's played the classics from Chopin to Rachmaninoff to crowds at Carnegie Hall and for U.S. presidents. Yet for most of his career, he's been tormented by wrenching pain.
BYRON JANIS, CONCERT PIANIST: It started with a little patch of red on this finger inside, but it was very painful.
GUPTA: It was 1973, the height of his career, Janis was diagnosed with crippling arthritis.
JANIS: At first, I just ignored it. I mean, I couldn't ignore it, but I ignored the idea that I was -- have an impediment.
GUPTA: Simply not thinking about the pain is what Janis says enabled him to continue playing, to overcome his pain.
JANIS: I learned then about the power of the mind. And I said, no, I'm going to keep playing the piano.
GUPTA: But continuing had consequences.
JANIS: And this thumb was operated and shortened, and then I had five more operations on my hand.
GUPTA: Janis hid his condition, but eventually it became too much to bear. At a White House event in 1984, Janis finally revealed everything.
JANIS: The disease is still with me. I have it, but it does not have me.
GUPTA: The moment was at first cathartic, but then Janis became was depressed. For a year, he refused to play.
Janis' wife, whose father is the actor Gary Cooper, asked him to compose a piece for a documentary about her father. It was that piece that brought him back.
JANIS: Then, I went back to playing. I can still play and this is what I want to show people. I have been playing with this all my life.
GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: OK. We wanted to dump out of the break, because you can see, Congresswoman Giffords in an ambulance, it's now approached that aircraft and she'll soon be taken out of the ambulance as she left that Tucson hospital, and she'll be taken aboard that plane along with family and friends. Mark Kelly, her husband, will be aboard the plane with her; Dr. Peter Rhee, the trauma surgeon there at the Tucson hospital; Tracy Colbert, her nurse; Gloria Giffords, her mom; and of course, a couple of staffers.
Thelma Gutierrez is there in Tucson. She's been following the journey as the ambulance made its' way from the hospital to the air force base here.
Thelma, tell us what's going to happen now.
GUTIERREZ: Well, she will board that aircraft, as we had been saying. And you know, this is a Challenger aircraft. It is a luxury aircraft that has a very large cabin that we understand is very comfortable, holds 14 people very comfortably to make the two hour and 15 minute ride all of the way out to Houston.
Once she arrives in Houston, Carol, then she will be moved to another hospital there to be checked out. That will happen via helicopter.
So she has still a few hours ahead of her, very long journey. One that she has described as bittersweet, that her chief of staff has said is bittersweet. He says, you know, she is leaving Tucson, her town, her constituents, her family, and she doesn't know when she will be back. She has a very, very long road of recovery ahead of her.
COSTELLO: Elizabeth Cohen is also covering this for us, she is in Houston at the rehab center where Congresswoman Giffords will make her way.
Elizabeth -- oh, we don't have Elizabeth Cohen yet.
Maybe you know the answer to this, Thelma. I was just wondering, you know, inside of the plane, what has been set up special to transport Congresswoman Giffords to this rehab center?
GUTIERREZ: Well, you know, they have described it as an air ambulance, so I don't know if it has been retrofitted. I do know it's a Challenger aircraft, but her people also described it as an air ambulance. I'm not too familiar, but I have been told that her trauma surgeon, as you well know, will be onboard as well as her ICU nurse. And so, she is going to be in very good hands.
You know, I was also talking to some of the people who are standing out here at the memorial and I asked them why are you here, why did you go to the route to say goodbye as the ambulance drove by. And one of the woman told me and she's wearing a Giffords T-shirt, and she said, I just wanted to honor her. I wanted her to know that Tucson supported her and that we were very eager to have her back.
COSTELLO: Yes, a lot of wonderful people lining the route, showing their support for congresswoman's recovery.
We're going to take a short break, Thelma. You stick around and we'll hopefully get back in time to see the plane take off.
We will be back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: You are looking at live pictures from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson. Congresswoman Giffords, we believe, is in that ambulance. She will be put aboard that plane. That plane will then head to Houston to a rehab center where the congresswoman will continue her treatment. When that plane takes off, we're going to bring that to you live.
We're going to -- we're going to throw to a short break. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
