Gabrielle Giffords’ inspiring comeback
With her showstopping appearance at the DNC, she proved the power of joy VIDEO
Topics: Gabrielle Giffords, Democratic National Convention, Barack Obama, Gun Violence, Michelle Obama, Bill Clinton, Mark Kelly, Life News
Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) blows a kiss after reciting the Pledge of Allegiance during the final session of the Democratic National Convention.(Credit: Eric Thayer/Reuters)Of all the memorable, lump-in-the-throat moments of the Democratic National Convention — Bill Clinton’s “We’re all in this together,” Michelle Obama’s “When you walk through that door of opportunity, you don’t slam it shut behind you,” even Barack Obama’s “You did that” — the one that shone the most brightly was the simple repetition of a few lines most of us more generally associate with childhood homeroom class. It was the Pledge of Allegiance, delivered by a 42-year-old Arizona woman. And when Gabrielle Giffords took the stage on the final night of the convention, she redefined that worn-out, overused word “inspirational” and made it hers.
Giffords has made few public appearances since the January 2011 mass shooting in Tucson in which she was shot in the head at point-blank range — and six other people were killed. It was a devastating injury. Giffords had part of her skull and brain removed, underwent intensive reconstructive surgery, and lost the full use of the right side of her body and half of her vision. Yet her recovery has been nothing short of astonishing – a woman whom early media reports had presumed dead was walking, reading and speaking again, after just months of rigorous therapy.
Giffords’ road since that day back in 2011 has been challenging and mostly private. In November 2011, she and her husband, Mark Kelly, gave an interview with ABC News, in which she understatedly referred to her recuperation as “difficult.” This past January, she attended the State of the Union address and resigned from Congress, admitting, “I have more work to do on my recovery.” She also vowed, “I’m getting better every day. My spirit is high. I will return.” And return, at least for a few moments, she did.
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Mary Elizabeth Williams is a staff writer for Salon and the author of "Gimme Shelter: My Three Years Searching for the American Dream." Follow her on Twitter: @embeedub. More Mary Elizabeth Williams.



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