Giffords makes trip to Tucson

Mon., June 20, 2011

Associated Press

PHOENIX – Rep. Gabrielle Giffords returned to Houston on Sunday after spending the weekend with her family in Tucson.

The visit was the Arizona Democrat’s first trip home since she was shot in the head at a January political event. Six people were killed in the attack and 13 were wounded.

Giffords boarded a private plane late Sunday morning after spending nearly two days in Tucson, Giffords Chief of Staff Pia Carusone told the Arizona Republic. Details of the visit by Giffords and astronaut husband Mark Kelly were kept private at his request.

Kelly announced the visit in a news release Friday, and the couple and one of Kelly’s daughters arrived in Tucson that evening.

“We’ve been dreaming of this trip for some time,” Kelly said in a statement. “Gabby misses Tucson very much and her doctors have said that returning to her hometown could play an important role in her recovery.”

Giffords was released from a Houston hospital Wednesday and is set to start outpatient therapy.

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Giffords makes trip to Tucson

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