Update: TIRR officially confirmed that Giffords should begin rehab in its facility on Friday. Giffords will be transferred from Tucson to Memorial Hermann’s level one trauma center, where she'll be evaluated and then transferred to TIRR.

“Like so many others across the country, we have watched Congresswoman Giffords’ progress with great interest,” Memorial Hermann president and CEO Dan Wolterman said. “We are honored that her family and medical team have entrusted her ongoing care to Memorial Hermann.”
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Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is scheduled to be transferred to a rehab hospital in Houston on Friday. A source tells CultureMap that Giffords will be headed to TIRR (The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research) Memorial Hermann, a hospital renowned for its programs in catastrophic head injuries and neurological therapy.

Houston is the home base of Giffords' husband Mark Kelly, a NASA commander, as well as the location of TIRR.

Giffords is currently recovering at Tucson's University Medical Center from being shot in the head on Jan. 8 in an attack that sent shockwaves through the country. Officials have not confirmed reports of a move, but according to CNN it obtained an e-mail from Giffords' mother that states the Houston hospital was chosen for its expertise in Giffords' type of injuries and a Friday move is expected.

"There is a team of medical specialists involved ... including military surgeons who specialize in bullet wounds to the head," CNN quotes the e-mail as reading. "They want to start aggressive rehab immediately."

TIRR has been ranked as one of the best rehabilitation centers in the country for nearly 20 years, and is ranked fifth in the country in rehabilitation by U.S. News & World Report.

The hosptial has treated many high-profile patients including Buffalo Bills receiver Kevin Everett, Jeff Bagwell, Oscar Wyatt, and the late I.W. Marks.