Rabbi: Giffords Recovering, Sung 'American Pie'

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords continues her remarkable recovery from a gunshot wound to the head and is now singing the folk-rock classic American Pie and eating chicken soup. She also recognizes friends and loved ones and has been praying regularly with a local rabbi, Houston television station KHOU reported.

Rabbi David Lyon of Houston’s Congregation Beth Israel is a friend of Giffords’ Tucson Rabbi Stephanie Aaron and has been vising the Democratic congresswoman three days a week at The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research in the Texas Medical Center.

Giffords

Giffords has been receiving treatment as the center since shortly after the January shooting at a Tucson shopping center that killed six and wounded 12 others.

Lyon said that during a recent visit to Houston, Aaron sang American Pie with Giffords. He added that “Gabby likes to reach out and hold my hand and she listens carefully and smiles easily. Prayer for her is meaningful. Gabby is a sweet, spirited person who doesn’t give up and truly wants to make a difference.

"Currently, it’s to make a difference in her own life, but ultimately to continue making a difference in the lives of others in which she was elected to serve,” the station reported.

Lyon said that Giffords also wears a wristband with the Hebrew saying, ‘Gam Zeh Ya’avor,’ which means “this too will pass” and that she has a healthy appetite. “Well, she had a little chicken soup with matzo balls. I think that’s fair to report, and as we know it is Jewish penicillin,” the station reported.