U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' trip to a Houston rehab center to continue her recovery started Friday morning with a police-led motorcade that made its way across Tucson, passing hundreds of supporters who waved, cheered and prayed for her.
Giffords has been making significant progress nearly every day in her recovery from being shot in the head Jan. 8 during a meet-and-greet with constituents. The attempted assassination left six people dead and 13 wounded.
People started gathering outside Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and at University Medical Center before 8 a.m.
About 9:30 a motorcade led by Tucson police motorcycle officers departed the hospital.
Her departure from Tucson was carried live on TV and hundreds of people gathered at various points along the motorcade's route to wish Giffords well on her journey.
Ray Davies, 82, a retired educator, was one of more than 100 people who had gathered outside of UMC - some carried flowers, signs and cameras - to watch the motorcade pass. He said the demonstration of support Friday was more evidence of how the community has come together following the shooting rampage.
"I think it represents the very best of what America is all about, the compassion and understanding that we tolerate all beliefs," said Davies, who has volunteered for Giffords' congressional campaigns.
Clapping and cheers rose from the group gathered outside the hospital when the procession passed.
A Sahuaro High School special education class was among those there to wish Giffords a safe trip. The class planned to drop off a poster of handwritten well wishes for the congresswoman at the makeshift memorial outside the hospital. When their teacher, Carol Holly, heard Giffords was leaving, she adjusted her students' schedule in order to watch the motorcade.
"We wanted to come here because we brought a card for Gabby Giffords and we wanted to wish her a fast recovery," said Sofia Kerr, 22, one of Holly's students.
The motorcade was on the base about 9:40 a.m. She was on the medical jet about 10 a.m. The jet lifted off for Houston at 10:20 a.m. She landed in Houston shortly after noon, Tucson time.
Doris Morris, 62, a bookkeeper, said a prayer on the corner of Swan and Golf Links roads before the start of the motorcade.
"I came to have a moment of prayer for her recovery and for all of us to find a way to have more civil dialogue," she said after her morning jog nearby.
Then 57-year-old Army veteran Yemaya Shimek arrived early for a spot outside the gate at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
"I'm here in support of Gabby and for her recovery. I pray for her safe flight to Houston," she said. "I'm a veteran and I respect all the work she has done and hopefully she will be able to do more."
Retired editor Alan Sorkowitz, 58, stood outside D-M, awaiting a glimpse of Giffords' ambulance.
"Gabby Giffords is everything anyone could want from a representative," he said. "Even when I didn't agree with her, she always listened. She is a decent, caring human being."
Sorkowitz held up a sign that read: "Take care of her Houston - Come home to us soon Gabby"
Another well-wisher, Evangelina Rios, 63, a retired school teacher, said she has followed Giffords political career and is impressed because she "is so good about doing what is best for the people. I visited the memorials at Safeway and at UMC, and I left a giant red heart at both. I came to say goodbye to Gabby, and I hope she will be back," said Rios, wiping a tear.
Giffords' husband Mark Kelly; Dr. Peter Rhee; Giffords' mother, Gloria; an intensive care unit nurse and Giffords' chief of staff were among those on the medical flight to William P. Hobby Airport in Houston.
From there,Β she was moved by helicopter to TIRR Memorial Hermann hospital. U.S. Capitol police arrived Thursday afternoon to set up extra security measures at the 119-bed facility that is part of the massive Texas Medical Center complex.
Dr. Gerard Francisco, the hospital's chief medical officer, will coordinate her care.
"It's going to be a very big team that will address different impairments, but they will have to work together," he said.
First, they'll check her vital signs - make sure her blood pressure and heart rate are good. Then specialists ranging from physical and occupational therapists to speech therapists and psychologists will give a slew of tests to see what she can and cannot do.
They'll determine the strength of her legs and her ability to stand and walk; the strength of her arms, and whether she can brush her teeth or comb her hair; whether she can safely swallow on her own; how well she thinks and communicates - not just her ability to speak but also to understand and comprehend.
While she is moving both arms and legs, it's uncertain how much strength she has on her right side; the bullet passed through the left side of her brain, which controls the right side of the body.
Giffords will stay at Memorial Hermann until she no longer needs 24-hour medical care - the average is one to two months. Then she can get up to five hours a day of physical and other rehab therapies on an outpatient basis, Josehart said.
"It's hard to speculate on the trajectory or course that any one patient will have," he said.
As the ambulance disappeared behind the gates at D-M, a group of more than 100 people cheered, whistled and shouted out to the congresswoman. "Come back, Gabby!"
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
