Gabby Giffords says music therapy has helped her recover.
Since Gabby Giffords belted out “Maybe” from Broadway’s Annie in a Facebook video that went viral last week, the former congresswoman wants fellow brain-injury patients to know that music has helped her to recover.
The video of Giffords and her former music therapist at a Houston hospital wasn’t her first stroll through the classic show’s songbook – she’s sung in public performances too.
Giffords told PEOPLE she shared the video hoping it will help others who have experienced brain injuries or setbacks during their recovery.
She’s also proud of another milestone – getting back on her bicycle. In November, she and her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, completed an 11-mile ride in the annual El Tour de Tucson.
It was four years ago – in January 2011 – that Giffords was shot in the head while meeting with constituents. Critically injured, she had to relearn how to walk and talk – speaking is still difficult.
She told People, “Music has always been really important to me. While my speech is getting better every day, throughout my recovery, I have been able to sing to some extent.”
Giffords was injured on the left side of her brain – the hemisphere that controls speech. It’s the right side that processes music.
She said, “Music therapy was so important in the early stages of my recovery because it can help retrain different parts of your brain to form language centers in areas where they weren’t before you were injured.