Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords could not open her eyes and wasn't speaking Sunday, but she was responding to simple commands such as to squeeze a hand or hold up two fingers.

Dr. Michael Lemole performed the surgery on Giffords and, along with Rhee, became a household name, with some media dubbing them “rock star surgeons.” ...

Obituaries including South Bay residents' death notices and notable national and world deaths from The Mercury News ...