Giffords' Political Future Uncertain

The Washington Post reports:

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords struggles to find words and put together sentences as it remains unclear five months after she was shot in the head in Tucson whether she will eventually be able to resume work in Congress, an aide said in an interview published Thursday.

The interview with Chief of Staff Pia Carusone published in the Arizona Republic provides the most up-to-date information about the congresswoman’s condition since she was shot and injured in a rampage that killed six people and wounded a dozen others on Jan. 8.

A decision on whether Giffords will return to work in Washington does not have to be made until May 2012, Carusone said, adding that if the progress the congresswoman has made so far were to slow down or stop she would be unable to fulfill her legislative responsibilities.

Carusone said Giffords’ limited speaking ability has led her to rely primarily on facial expressions and hand gestures to communicate.

“She is borrowing upon other ways of communicating. Her words are back more and more now, but she’s still using facial expressions as a way to express. Pointing. Gesturing,” Carusone told the Arizona Republic. “Add it all together and she’s able to express the basics of what she wants or needs. But, when it comes to a bigger and more complex thought that requires words, that’s where she’s had the trouble.”