Giffords starts afresh with Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and birthday song for husband

It has been no less than a rebirth for Arizona Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords after she was near-fatally shot at a meeting with constituents outside a Tucson grocery store on the 8^th of January.

After battling with death for the greater part of the month, Giffords was finally shifted for intensive rehabilitation at a Houston hospital late last month, where she is now reportedly undergoing therapy to help her regain her speech.

A report in The New York Times describes her poignant efforts at relearning the skill of speaking; just as a child in its learning years, Giffords, too, has been reported to be mouthing the lyrics to nursery rhyme Twinkle Twinkle Little Star even as her friends and family members support her with a backup chorus. A friend also reportedly helped her prepare a surprise for husband Mark Kelly, who celebrates his birthday this month, by videotaping her lip-syncing to the words of Happy Birthday to you.

She has also been receiving regular briefings now from her aides on important political developments such as the Egypt revolution and Arizona Republican Sen. Jon Kyl's decision to abandon re-election.

Pia Carusone, Ms. Giffords's chief of staff, told The New York Times in a telephone interview, she is vocalizing and making progress every day.