Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives Gabrielle Giddords, 40, who was was shot in the head by Jared Lee Loughner was spotted today slowly boarding a plane on her way to Florida to see her husband blast off on the final mission of the space shuttle Endeavor. Gabrielle’s husband is husband navy pilot and astronaut Mark Kelly.
The gritty walk by Giffords, who was wearing a padded medical helmet, was her first public steps since being shot in the head at a public event in January.
The Arizona congresswoman left TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital and boarded a waiting NASA plane at Ellington Airport in Houston.
Giffords was spotted leaving the hospital in a wheelchair and with her face covered before being driven to the airport. At the airport, she walked under her own power and without assistance from the car to the plane stairway and slowly up the steps.
Giffords’ staff has tried to keep her out of view from the public, and said she would not be making any public appearances during the Endeavor’s launch. Giffords will be joined on Friday by Kelly’s three daughters, President Obama and the first lady at Cape Canaveral to watch the launch.
Gabrielle’s doctor says this visit is a step in her rehabilitation and that her speech and walking was improving. Gabrielle is in Florida like other spouses of the crew she just needs a little more attention. After the shooting it is nice to see Gabrielle up and about!
Image credit to KTRK
