While it is great news that Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is recovering from the gunshot wound she received, there are many difficult events still ahead of her. One of those events will be learning the truth about the shootings, a truth that doctors have protected her from to date.
Over a month ago, on a Saturday morning (1/8/2011) in Tucson Arizona, a mentally troubled college student named Jared Loughner approached Rep. Gabrielle Giffords at a public event, shot her in the head, and then turned his gun on bystanders, shooting 18 people. [Source: “Giffords ‘fearless’ despite threats, colleague says – CNN.com.” CNN.com – Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Jan. 2011.]
In the intervening weeks, details have emerged about Jared Loughner, the shooting victims, and Gabrielle Giffords’ medical condition. So far, though, few of those details have been shared with Giffords.
Today, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords continues her recovery. She is reportedly remembering more words as time passes, and speaking in short phrases. Giffords’ chief of staff says that doctors have not permitted Giffords to hear the story of the Arizona shootings that caused her injury because her communication skills are still limited and “it’s not really fair,… to tell someone something so tragic and someone that might not have the ability to ask the detailed questions that someone will have when they hear this news.” [Source: “Gabrielle Giffords Doesn’t Know Details Of Shootings, Aide Says,” Huffington Post, 2/16/11. Downloaded from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/16/gabrielle-giffords-doesnt_n_823909.html]
At some point, someone (presumably Gabrielle Giffords’ husband) will have to sit down with the injured Representative and explain to her the details of the tragedy she has just suffered through. She does not know, for example, that Judge John Roll, a friend of hers, was killed by Loughner. That will be a tough conversation.
By then, though, Gabrielle Giffords will presumably have recovered dramatically from her injuries. As painful as the truth about the shooting might be, we can all be grateful for her survival.
Sources
“Giffords ‘fearless’ despite threats, colleague says – CNN.com.” CNN.com – Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Jan. 2011.
“Gabrielle Giffords Doesn’t Know Details Of Shootings, Aide Says,” Huffington Post, 2/16/11. Downloaded from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/16/gabrielle-giffords-doesnt_n_823909.html
