I have a new hero.
On Monday, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords returned to Washington to cast her vote in the debt ceiling vote. For those of you around the world who might not know about Gabby Giffords, she represents her Arizona district in the U.S. Congress. Last January, while meeting with voters at a shopping center near Tuscon, an attempt was made on her life. She was critically injured by a gunshot wound to the head. Six other people were killed, and 13 injured in the attack. Miraculously, she didn't die. Over the last 8 months, through several surgeries and continued rehab, Rep. Giffords has made amazing progress. She travelled in May to watch the launch of the final flight of the space shuttle Endeavor, which was commanded by her husband. In June, she was released from the rehab hospital and allowed to live at home. And this week, she returned to Washington to vote.
I know what it's like to be seriously injured and to be seriously ill. I know what it's like to struggle to maintain a life when my body is failing me. I know what it's like to have physical deficits, to lose function. And I know what it's like to live with pain. I know the struggle to improve and to overcome. - We all do. I think most of the readers of this blog have too much knowledge of the loss of body and the struggle to overcome.
But I cannot begin to imagine what the last 8 months have been like for Gabrielle Giffords.
My admiration has nothing to do with my politics or hers. This has nothing to do with cancer. But it has everything to do with struggle and overcoming obstacles. It's about accepting losses and figuring out how to make the most of what's left. It's about not whining about what's gone, but rather finding ways to still lead a good and meaningful life. It's about endless hours of pain and frustration while trying to recover the ability to do simple things that are easily taken for granted, like saying hello or telling her husband she loves him. It's about facing and overcoming fear. It's about making choices every day to try to be a little better. It's about continuing to move forward in spite of everything.
I have no idea what is in her future, whether she'll eventually return to her job in Congress or find a new direction for her career. It will continue to be filled with struggle and overcoming obstacles. Whatever happens, I am filled with admiration and wish her well.
Congresswoman Giffords, thank you. Thank you for your service, and thank you for a very big dose of inspiration!
Julie
On Monday, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords returned to Washington to cast her vote in the debt ceiling vote. For those of you around the world who might not know about Gabby Giffords, she represents her Arizona district in the U.S. Congress. Last January, while meeting with voters at a shopping center near Tuscon, an attempt was made on her life. She was critically injured by a gunshot wound to the head. Six other people were killed, and 13 injured in the attack. Miraculously, she didn't die. Over the last 8 months, through several surgeries and continued rehab, Rep. Giffords has made amazing progress. She travelled in May to watch the launch of the final flight of the space shuttle Endeavor, which was commanded by her husband. In June, she was released from the rehab hospital and allowed to live at home. And this week, she returned to Washington to vote.
I know what it's like to be seriously injured and to be seriously ill. I know what it's like to struggle to maintain a life when my body is failing me. I know what it's like to have physical deficits, to lose function. And I know what it's like to live with pain. I know the struggle to improve and to overcome. - We all do. I think most of the readers of this blog have too much knowledge of the loss of body and the struggle to overcome.
But I cannot begin to imagine what the last 8 months have been like for Gabrielle Giffords.
My admiration has nothing to do with my politics or hers. This has nothing to do with cancer. But it has everything to do with struggle and overcoming obstacles. It's about accepting losses and figuring out how to make the most of what's left. It's about not whining about what's gone, but rather finding ways to still lead a good and meaningful life. It's about endless hours of pain and frustration while trying to recover the ability to do simple things that are easily taken for granted, like saying hello or telling her husband she loves him. It's about facing and overcoming fear. It's about making choices every day to try to be a little better. It's about continuing to move forward in spite of everything.
I have no idea what is in her future, whether she'll eventually return to her job in Congress or find a new direction for her career. It will continue to be filled with struggle and overcoming obstacles. Whatever happens, I am filled with admiration and wish her well.
Congresswoman Giffords, thank you. Thank you for your service, and thank you for a very big dose of inspiration!
Julie
6 comments:
Absolutely incredible. Thanks for posting this.
Julie, I too have been following the story of Gabrielle with both sadness and admiration.
She is my hero also!
Wow! An inspirational post, Julie, and beautifully expressed. Write a book. About exercise and forging ahead. With lots of little tips.
Julie,
This is an amazing post. I think I agree with Gillian, maybe you should write a book...
I can't imagine all that Gabrielle and her family have gone through. She certainly is an inspiration. Thanks for writing this.
I'm glad you guys liked this post - I'm so blown away by her (especially after watching all the stupid, selfish, self-serving theater that substitutes for real political decision-making these days).
And thanks for your vote of confidence, Gillian & Nancy! I so have some ideas, it's finding time to put them down on paper that's challenging - and also fear of not being a good enough writer! (I really admire people who are writers)
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