Giffords to attend shuttle launch
HOUSTON
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the family
and doctors have not yet publicized the decision. A news conference
was scheduled for Friday morning at the Houston hospital where
Giffords is undergoing rehabilitation.
Giffords was shot in the head Jan. 8 at a political event
outside a Tucson, Ariz., grocery store. Six people died in the
rampage, and 12 others were wounded. Giffords has been slowly
recovering from a traumatic brain injury.
Her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, will be the commander of
Endeavour when it launches in April, and his identical twin brother
Scott is the current leader of the International Space Station
crew. Mark Kelly has been training for the mission and said earlier
he hoped his wife would be able to see him off.
But despite seemingly steady improvements -- the latest include
singing with her husband and chanting Hebrew healing prayers --
doctors have been cautious.
Last month, Dr. Gerard Francisco, the head of the team of
doctors overseeing Giffords' rehabilitation, said a medical
decision on whether she could attend the launch would be based on a
variety of factors, including how independent her movement is, how
much help will be available from friends and family and whether she
could handle the commotion of traveling.
At the time, Francisco said getting Giffords to the launch was
the goal, but it was too early to say if was realistic.
The suspect, 22-year-old Jared Loughner, has pleaded not guilty
in federal court. Authorities described him as a mentally unstable
college dropout who became obsessed with carrying out violence
against Giffords.