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Former NASA astronaut discusses new book and wife Rep. Gabrielle Giffords inspiring recovery from shooting
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-- -- Great to be here at its anti it's a great book on my and me.
You know I take you know -- spoke before it actually knew I have no -- and the thing -- -- cap -- to -- -- -- here that's my out.
And that it's fine -- -- When it lasts all the pictures of what I want election system that's -- she does it does in big lump you got -- see that last night.
You know it's as big as ever this amazing -- -- a sense to me in the book.
How fragile life and it's no one minute everything's fine and normal Linux second as it.
-- you know there's something to be said for haven't plans but in an instant liking Getty's case and those.
You know six other people from southern Arizona that were killed including Christina Green.
-- things just drastically change in a moment.
-- as a drop quite a book actually marked just.
That where.
You say near the city life that you know when you last time we talked before the shooting says I'm proud of -- enjoy the new term.
And never knowing that there it -- it turned upside down.
-- -- very quickly so big shock you know the wake up on that Saturday and just be up for a couple hours and they get that call telling you that your wife has been shot really.
You know today I will certainly never forget who caught it he had it.
And at least get he's chief of staff.
What we've -- just had a little discussion with my sixteen year old daughter it was something about.
-- boyfriend party -- issue and then you call -- very simply said.
Mark it's.
And you know that sent us.
You know obviously it initially I didn't even.
Few minutes later and you think that the phone call actually happens I go back and look at my cellphone to make sure that actually did get that call.
It's an inch to an image so many of us know her who who live and work in Washington is on on the record number times -- you know I remember where you know where I was a member were sitting down watching the TV -- that.
You know not not every.
-- Man she loved coming on your show.
And you know be in in in Arizona.
-- -- constituents watch much fox and she watches it and thus issue is what coming here.
If people don't understand so behind the scenes that when -- -- we know it would hang around have like you know.
Flak about it where the big girl talk in the make up room it's that he's a congressman a but the minute as she walked into the studio big smile everybody in inches on -- this is our congressman.
That talking about things -- she was I remember last time I think she was on with Michelle Bachmann.
It touches on -- -- -- one is that once I wanna send -- and I think the camera even reflected that at.
But the book at the book is exhaustive treatment -- -- so many sort of peculiarities to like and President Bush 41.
Came in to see her in the hospital action is -- what what she say which some.
Well I mean the me first say what it what -- great American and the you know the upper statesmen of abuse in and of Texas.
As soon as we got to -- -- he really wanted to see her she wasn't quite ready yet.
But about a month later.
He came to visitor at a friend's house and she was really tired and and leaning over and half asleep and she sees she couldn't see really well at the time but as he got within five feet she just looked up and perked up sat up straight and said.
Wow.
This have a command it's -- -- -- to the minute you think that I.
It is in the -- -- talks about how you know during the gulf war mean here you are with the President Bush 41 and with your congressman wife who's been severely injured.
-- it if you go if you go back 21 years you are in the navy as a naval aviator flying for bush -- in desert storm.
Did use a commander and commander in chief -- with 39 combat missions over there never thinking at some point.
I'll be in his house or he would be visiting.
My wife who had really had I mean she had the risky job.
At the end of the day not me I mean she was the one that nearly lost her life serving -- country.
Out in.
There's not Bob -- elect but there's also in -- the -- -- -- the cost of the very of the republic but like this fascinating.
-- love Green all the stuff about about -- in the commander of the endeavor and even some of the mischief you caused.
Well I when I when call it mischief but.
But there's some interest interest in times played that you're told you're speeding off out to drive the car -- -- -- what was that what happened everybody does that yeah.
Everything is an astronaut and it was good it commander of the endeavor and getting -- will help from the NASA manager.
And you go down to you know the Kennedy Space Center before launch and couple days before that with where you're gonna travel 171500.
Miles an hour.
People tend to speed a little bit and yeah I took a little little heat for my boss because of it.
You know when your last trip you know it I suppose I suspect they were in the book that -- it was a little bit trying to -- let it go or not -- I see your decision they.
As -- -- -- I think a lot of Americans are ideally you you know we have QF a seriously injured but I I think a lot of us really wanted to -- it like.
Me too you know I originally had hoped that Gabby would be more -- and that in that decision but at the time.
You know it was really was really hard to engage her at that level but I'm one of the reasons I'm really glad I went is I would never heard the benefit from our if I did.
Salary issue let that what's the report so she's doing great she still improves every week.
She's well she's really hopeful I'm really hopeful that she'll be able to return to work one day.
We don't know what that is possibly.
You know we could see that happening in in months.
And it's you know it's a decision she's gonna have to make when when she's ready to make it.
From what I can -- pieced together -- set her mind is very is very quick and and very strong and it's the speech it's have a that's not that's struggling to keep up for the mind yes I -- -- with the thought thanking.
And a lot of folks probably saw her walking and speaking last night and the -- that the biggest disability she.
Has and that she works on.
Every day along with the ability to have to walk easier it's it's her speech.
And it's coming along all the time when you consider where she was on January 8 basically in a coma.
Or a month later where she couldn't speak at all where she is today it's really incredible recovery and an incredible story.
But about a fact there's a good mean and that's what it persists or -- seems that way.
It's seems a 100% to me -- -- she understands everything same sense of humor same attitude about everything she's been very positive -- all of us.
And she's still getting better all the time.
Yeah the the book is inspiring in the book is in.
In spite of you know off but I -- -- under understatement in the horrible the tragic part of -- off felt that we all felt that of course.
And there -- many others were injured and actually died this out but is that there's inspiring part of this we were up only four.
You know we you know I I've certainly poll for her every day.
You know she reminds me each and every day to to deny the acceptance of failure and she works hard.
Through you know through initially threw a lot of pain.
And through a lot of frustration.
And it's because she wants to get back to -- to serve her constituents and southern Arizona.
And and she will at some point issue -- -- recognize me.
Absolutely no -- well absolutely -- everything -- should should be watching this program 100% I mean and extra picks you know explain to her.
-- -- coming on your show and you know she would she would like to be here to.
While bush to look forward to seeing the book is and since it's great book and how -- in the neighborhood that in and of course and I like a life a lot.
Thank you she likes you -- at IKEA anyway thank you very much thank you SNI good luck with the book thank you very much.
