Waiting for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords to check out of the rehab hospital in Houston where she's been for the last five months was like "waiting for Christmas morning," an obviously tired -- but just as obviously elated -- staffer for Giffords said in a phone interview Wednesday evening.
"We knew in advance, but we couldn't tell anyone," said C.J. Karamargin, Giffords' long-time communications director. With her discharge just hours away, he added, "we just wanted to unwrap the present."
An Outdoors Kinda Gal
Karamargin had nothing but praise for the doctors and other health professionals at TIRR Memorial Herman, where Giffords has been a patient since January, after she suffered a gunshot wound to the head in an assassination attempt. But, he said, "as good as TIRR is, who wants to live in a hospital?"
Certainly not Giffords, who was often seen biking or inline skating to work in Tucson, where the Arizona Democrat has represented the state's 8th Congressional district since 2006, and in Washington, DC (where she is a member of the Congressional Bike Caucus).
"She's always been very determined, no matter what she's doing," Karamargin continued. "She works hard at everything, and that's how she approaches therapy. Being able to leave today, that's a testament to her own focus."
Another milestone will come when she's able to return to Tucson, Karamargin said.
But that's a thought for another day.
For now, Karamargin stated, he's just thrilled that each afternoon when Giffords is done with therapy she'll be able to return to the League City, Texas, home where she can be with her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly.
"This is going to boost her recovery," he said. "And I don't think anyone could have anticipated five months ago that we would be at this point now. The distance she's covered in this short period of time -- it's just remarkable. And I have no doubt that she will continue to improve."
