THE CONGRESSWOMAN who had a bullet enter and exit her brain just two weeks ago has been discharged from hospital, and is likely to retain all of her mental abilities, doctors believe.

Thousands applauded and cheered as Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot as she conducted an open-air meeting with constituents two weeks ago, left hospital to be transferred to a rehabilitation clinic in Houston, near the workplace of her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly.

The Houston Chronicle reported that the transfer was “flawless” – and added that Giffords smiled and began to well up with tears as she heard the rapturous applause that greeted her as she left Arizona to be brought to her air ambulance.

Giffords is set to remain in intensive care for the coming days while a fluid build-up in her brain is drained, after which she will be moved to The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research Memorial Hermann, one of the country’s top physical rehabilitation hospitals.

A close friend of Giffords from the Arizona state legislature said her family were hopeful that Giffords would be able to retain all of her mental abilities, and that their main concern was the level of strength she had in the right hand side of her body.

The Washington Post reports that Giffords will face a gruelling rehab schedule, however, with her arms also having significantly less movement than Giffords had previously enjoyed.

It adds that Giffords’ medical condition may have been much worse, but for a standard issue $99 first aid kit that recently became standard issue for all police officers in the state.