Tucson , Arizona ( CNN ) -- When President Barack Obama said Wednesday night that Rep. Gabrielle Giffords had opened her eyes for the first time since being shot on Saturday , an overflow crowd of nearly 30,000 people at a memorial event erupted into cheers that the congresswoman may have heard in her hospital room . Obama said he learned of the eye-opening from Giffords ' husband , astronaut Mark Kelly . `` She knows we 're here , and she knows we love her , and she knows that we will be rooting for her throughout what will be a difficult journey , '' the president said at a memorial in Tucson to honor the victims of the shooting . Giffords is still listed in critical condition at the University of Arizona 's University Medical Center . Suspect Jared Loughner allegedly fired at her first , striking her in the head . As soon as Obama finished his remarks , Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand , D-New York , let it be known that she , Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz , D-Florida , and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi , D-California , were in the room at the time , along with Kelly and Giffords ' parents . `` It was like witnessing a miracle , '' Gillibrand told CNN . `` Debbie and I were telling her how much she was inspiring the nation with her courage , her strength , and we were talking about the things we wanted to do as soon as she was better , '' the senator said . `` I said , 'We 'll have another night out for beer and pizza with your husband . ' And Debbie started talking to her about their house in New Hampshire , just talking about all the things we wanted to do , and all of a sudden she started to struggle to open her eyes . So Mark saw that and said , 'Open your eyes , Gabby , open your eyes . ' She kept struggling and struggling and Mark just kept encouraging her . And within a moment she literally opened her eyes . '' `` The doctors could n't believe it , '' Wasserman Schultz said . `` Mark started encouraging her , saying 'Gabby , give me a thumbs up if you can see , if you can see me , touch my ring , touch my wedding ring . ' She started doing that , '' she said . `` We just kept talking to her and talking to her about the fun we 've had with her , and so then she opened her eyes more . She went from opening her eyes really just in slits to opening them nearly fully . It was n't very long , and then they closed again . But it was just absolutely -- it was the most incredible , aside from my kids , the most incredible experience . '' Giffords kept her eyes open `` for a moment , '' Gillibrand said -- `` maybe 30 seconds , maybe 60 seconds . '' `` You could see she was focusing and Mark said , 'Gabby if you can see me , give me the thumbs up , ' and not only did she give the thumbs up , she literally raised her entire hand , '' Gillibrand later told CNN . Doctors sent them out of the room shortly after that , Gillibrand said , because Giffords needed to rest .
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand : `` It was like witnessing a miracle '' Gillibrand , Reps. Nancy Pelosi and Debbie Wasserman Schultz were in Giffords ' hospital room . They had been there for hours waiting to see her before she died. ` The doctors could n't believe it '' Thousands at a memorial event cheer when Obama announces the development .