now the swelling is gone and her skull can be repaired. in a cnn exclusive, i sat down with her surgeon who will be performing the surgeon at the university of texas. >> is this a big step in someone's recovery? >> it is. >> reporter: the doctor will implant a special piece of bone made for giffords. >> it fits in perfectly. >> reporter: so this is holding the implant and real skull together? >> that's right. it really is a significant step. more than just getting the bone back, it's a marker for where we are. >> reporter: dr. kim told me that patients often need another procedure, this one to get rid of a build-up of fluid in the brain. he inserts a drain. patients where this internal drain called a shunt forever.