Gabby Giffords Accepts Award in Rare Public Appearance

Gabby Giffords, the former Arizona House Rep. who was critically injured in a shooting at a “Congress on your corner” event last year, has taken a break from her recovery to accept an award.

Giffords was widely reported initially as being killed in the shooting, only to pull through against all odds and regain a large portion of her ability to speak, read and write. The recovery process has been a “rough road” for the lawmaker, but Gabby Giffords returned to the House floor in August of 2011 in order to vote during the critical debt ceiling debate that locked up the federal government through the end of summer.

Ultimately, Giffords retired from her post temporarily but officially in January 2012, a year after her attempted assassination. She promised to return to public service after her recovery was complete. Giffords was recently honored with the “We Are EMILY Award” from Emily’s List, a pro-choice organization honoring women who advocate abortion rights.

Giffords herself was unable to accept the award, and her mother Gloria Giffords spoke on her daughter’s behalf. The elder Giffords said:

“Obviously the ideal situation isn’t for me to be up here accepting this award on behalf of Gabby, but life’s not perfect.”

Emily’s List also disclosed a new award named in honor of Gabby Giffords, the “Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star” award. According to the organization, the award will be bestowed upon “women who demonstrate the sort of commitment to community, dedication to women and families and determination and civility that have been the highlights of Giffords’ career.”