Gabrielle Giffords: Shuttle Launch Was 'Good Stuff'

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Sitting in a wheelchair atop NASA's launch control center with other astronaut families, wounded congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords watched her husband launch into space Monday aboard space shuttle Endeavour. And she smiled.

Inside Endeavour somewhere is a handwritten personal note she wrote the shuttle commander, her husband Mark Kelly.

The handful of shuttle watchers, including Giffords' nurse, were mostly quiet as Endeavour took flight. It's hard to hear amid the roar of the spacecraft.

Then Giffords said, "Good stuff, good stuff," according to the congresswoman's aide.

Kelly took her wedding ring into space, which he has done on past flights. But this time she wanted something back: his ring to stay on Earth. She had it around her neck on a silver chain from a funky Arizona jewelry store that included a heart and an Arizona map.

"Relief was her biggest feeling," chief of staff Pia Carusone said in a post-launch press conference. "She was very proud. She's always proud of Mark.

"There were hugs around," Carusone said. "It was very celebratory among the families."

After liftoff, Kelly's identical twin Scott gave red tulips to Giffords and a red rose to his brother's two daughters.

There were no photos. Astronauts' families watch liftoff in private.

This is the next to last shuttle flight as NASA winds down the 30-year shuttle program. During the 16-day mission, Giffords will provide two wake-up songs dedicated to Kelly and she will talk to him in a video conference from Houston. She headed back to Houston hours after the 8:56 a.m. launch to return to the rehabilitation center where she is staying.

The Arizona congresswoman was wounded in an assassination attempt in her hometown of Tucson on Jan. 8. Six people were killed and 12 others were wounded. Kept out of the public eye since then, Giffords has weakness on her right side, and difficulty speaking.

(This version corrects that shuttle mission is 16 days.)

Comments

[DeniseDuffieldThomas]

06:08 PM on 05/29/2011

Give her time and space to heal - she doesn't have to do this in public and we owe her some privacy now.

[McGyver1]

01:44 PM on 05/21/2011

God Bless you Gabrielle. You deserve the best!

[Siebenstein]

04:50 AM on 05/19/2011

I am already tired of her name....

[ClarkOHrepub]

11:29 AM on 05/18/2011

No disrespect to her, but I think the media is wearing her brand value thin. 

[Lolasmom]

11:08 AM on 05/18/2011

I do not understand this entire secrecy business about photos.
I think people would have even more empathy, admiration and support for her would be even stronger.

We all want Gaby to be well and represent us for as long as she wants/cares/desires. She is clearly a special human being whom I greatly admire.
I think it is a huge mistake to have all these old photos of hers and none of the actual photos.

In sickness there is no shame. By not showing actual photos of her somehow implies that illness, disability is something one should hide. Wrong strategy in my opinion.

Same goes for her progress. I am thrilled for all that she has been able to conquer, however relearning to speak and all the rest that goes with trauma to the brain, is a very long process, and one that I hope she will eventually share for the many who are walking the same walk she is.

[hagagaga]

12:00 PM on 05/17/2011

Good luck as you boldly go where few men have gone before, Captain Kelly. Live long and prosper.

I would wish Representative Giffords a speedy recovery as well, but my words are meaningless to the speed of her recovery and she is already recovering surprisingly fast.

[Spike5]

11:39 AM on 05/17/2011

I think it's wonderful that no pictures have leaked. I'm sure they are taking all precautions to make sure that no one involved in her care has the opportunity, but it's still hard to keep things like that from happening. It's a sign of the respect that everyone holds her in that this hasn't happened.

[chavo]

04:09 PM on 05/17/2011

That and the black tarp she's covered with every time she moves.

[Free Your Mind]

08:01 AM on 05/17/2011

Her recovery sends such a powerful message... Best wishes!

[butchcliff]

07:17 AM on 05/17/2011

Her recovery is progressing well. Cheers to her
Please don't show any photos of her yet. After such a tragic incident & long rehab...
pictures would only make for sadness...til she recovered better.

[loki]

07:13 AM on 05/17/2011

glad she is doing so well. But I think the insurance they are provided for life has something to do with it. Most of the voting public would not get the rehabilitation or medical care she is getting. We'd get some stitches, a band aid, a bottle of pills, and sent home in 24 hours because a very high paid CPA who is on the official medical panel at the health insurance company has determined more care to be an unnecessary expense.
But, she is one of the very fortunate who get the tax payers to pay for the best health care anyone could dream of. While we get nothing but an opportunity to pay extortion prices for mediocre care, with death panels called insurance companies looking for any excuse not to pay or to cut treatment short.
God bless America. The Greatest Country on Earth. If your in the top 1% that is. Its hell for everyone else.

[bryce05]

03:42 AM on 05/17/2011

I want to see a photo of her... even though I know it's not my business.

[wlkcrk]

02:23 AM on 05/17/2011

It bothers me that here is a woman who is educated and very successful and she is harmed by a real low life. She has been instrumental in aiding people in her state and has been stopped by someone who will never help anyone.
I wish her and her husband much luck and future happiness.

[littlebrowngirl]

12:04 AM on 05/17/2011

Very glad she is doing well.

[Apollonavigator]

11:58 PM on 05/16/2011

She must still be in pretty bad shape since all we get to see are file photos. I wish her the best, but I fear for her actual recovery.

[woodnwire]

07:53 AM on 05/17/2011

don't. she doesn't.

[Spike5]

11:37 AM on 05/17/2011

It's been stated that the part of her skull that was removed to give her brain room to swell has not yet been replaced. As a result, the shape of her head appears distorted.

In any case, I think she has plenty to do without worrying about makeup and hair to look good on camera.

[glassblower]

11:55 PM on 05/16/2011

Kudos to all of Gabby's therapists - physical therapists - occupation­al therapists - speech therapists - they should also all be recognized as an amazingly dedicated and inspiratio­nal bunch. The work these profession­als perform with patients like Gabby is remarkable­. I suggest that everyone go to one of these traumatic brain injury rehab centers for a brief visit. Walk through the common treatment areas and witness their work. Women (and all patients) like Gabby are truly special in their efforts. The staffs that work with them are equally special human beings too. I salute them!

[wheatsavage]

12:53 AM on 05/17/2011

Therapists get their reward every day at work - its a wonderful job. The body we are born with and human spirit is amazing!

[amart005]

01:04 AM on 05/17/2011

Neuro and ICU physical therapist here, thank you for your words!