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Rabbi David Lyon, senior rabbi at Congregation Beth Israel in Houston, visits Giffords three times a week and says her speech has improved. "There are words that are becoming clearer and opportunities to communicate are increasing," Lyon told The Associated Press. Giffords was shot in the left hemisphere of her brain, which controls communication. There had been concerns that she could have problems with speech, and it remains unclear what, if any, impediments remain and what could be permanent. Lyon declined to share information from the conversations he has had with Giffords, but confirmed she is often surrounded by family and friends. Her room, he said, is decorated with pictures that are important to her, including images of friends and scenes from home. "She's a part of a life and that's an important part of anyone's healing," Lyon said. The suspect, 22-year-old Jared Loughner, has pleaded not guilty in federal court. Authorities described him as a mentally unstable college dropout who became obsessed with carrying out violence against Giffords. He appeared in court this week in Tucson at a hearing attended by at least three survivors of the attack.
[Associated
Press;
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