Those attending the vigil shared a spark, they say, of compassion they hope will be felt from Houston to Tucson and around the world.
"It's nothing short of a miracle that she is still with us," said organizer Carrie Mullin. "We wanted to show the support of Houstonians. This was not just a local event. This was something that affected us as a nation."
Some of those who attended live nearby.
"America, in general, wishes her well," said vigil attendee Mary Meyer. "We want to see her pull through this."
Others, like Joey Morris, live further. He says he rode two busses to get there Friday. He was there for the congresswoman and her family.
"They've been through a lot and they need all the support they can get right now," said attendee Joey Morris.
And so they chanted and prayed, not just for the congresswoman but for the others who were injured and killed in the Tucson rampage. One twelve-year-old girl feels kinship with 9-year-old Chirstina Green, who was killed.
"To support her and all these people who had to go through this pain to know that there's people who care," said attendee Sidney Chavez.
They're people who care and who have opened their thoughts and hearts now, wishing well perfect strangers.
Congresswoman Giffords is apparently a huge supporter of the local food banks in Tucson, so her office asked that in lieu of flowers, folks who attended the vigil donate to the Houston Food Bank. Some of those who came did.
