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Intern Says He’s Had Phone Talks With Giffords

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) has communicated by telephone with the intern who is credited with helping to save her life, the Arizona Republic reported on Saturday.

Daniel Hernandez told the newspaper that he has talked to the Congresswoman several times on the phone, including “short interactions and long interactions.” Their most recent conversation was Wednesday while Hernandez was at work in Giffords’ Tucson district office.

“She’s just doing extremely well and recovering very quickly,” the 21-year-old told the newspaper. He later added, “It’s great hearing her voice.”

Giffords was the intended target and shot at close range in the head on Jan. 8 at a constituent outreach event in Tucson. She is currently undergoing rehabilitation at a hospital in Houston, although there have only been generalized updates given about the status of her recovery. In mid-March her doctors said that her speech had improved, she was able to carry on conversations and she was “starting to string words together.” They also said she was gaining more movement and was able to walk with assistance.

On Capitol Hill, Giffords’ friends, staff and colleagues have carried on as they wait for her eventual return. Some of her colleagues held a fundraiser for her re-election campaign last month. The event raised $125,000.

Meanwhile, her Congressional office is fulfilling day-to-day duties and keeping up with constituent work in her stead.

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