Gabby_ A Story of Courage and Hope - Alison Hanson [119]
Once Gabby was steady on her feet, the president hugged her and told her she looked great. The last time he’d seen her was in the hospital in Tucson, several days after the shooting, and she had been comatose. The time before that was at the White House, when he noticed her new haircut.
“How are you feeling, Gabby?” the president asked.
“Fine, how are you?” she answered. She had mastered that simple exchange.
President Obama told her that the country was wishing her well, that he was proud of her, and that she needed to get back to Washington. It would have been more intimate if they could have sat together. Everyone standing there was a little awkward. But Gabby wanted to stand to show respect to the president and to show she could do it.
The Obamas stayed about ten minutes. “Thank you for coming,” Gabby said as they were leaving.
After that, the president met my crew and toured the facilities with his family. He was in good spirits, relaxed and friendly. None of us knew it at the time, but that very morning, he had made one of the most important decisions of his presidency. He had secretly authorized the military operation that would lead, two days later, to the death of Osama bin Laden. Looking back, the president’s poker face was perfect. He’s obviously a man who can compartmentalize things.
His daughters, Malia and Sasha, spent some time that afternoon with Claudia and Claire. I later texted Claudia, asking what it was like meeting them. She texted back: “One tall. One short. Both nice.”
Gabby later said she was “bummed” the launch was scrubbed, but we both agreed that, despite the disappointments, it had been an exciting day. I was confident that NASA technicians would figure out the electrical issues, and soon enough, my crew and I would be on our way.
Gabby’s recovery had taught me a few things about patience, so I wasn’t too antsy about this flight delay. I knew it was a decision made for safety. As the shuttle-launch director, Mike Leinbach, said that afternoon, “I’d rather be on the ground wishing I was flying than be in the air wishing I was on the ground.”
The mission was delayed another seventeen days. So I was able to spend time with Gabby at TIRR, before heading back into another week of quarantine.
After we returned to Houston, Gabby and I went out publicly for the first time, joining our friends Tilman and Paige Fertitta at one of Tilman’s restaurants, the Grotto. We drove Gabby over from TIRR, and when patrons in the restaurant saw her, they nodded politely and didn’t disturb us. News did get out, however.
Later, Gabby and I were back at the hospital watching The Office on TV. A promo came on for the 10 p.m. news, with the big story of the day: “Gabrielle Giffords was seen out for the first time at a Houston restaurant . . .”
Gabby looked at me with this what-the-hell expression on her face, as if she and I had just arrived in an alternate universe.
Gabby was also able to go on an outing for Mother’s Day, May 8, at another one of Tilman’s restaurants, Landry’s, down in Kemah. I’d bought her an orchid to give to her mom, and had her sign a card with her left hand. My girls came to the dinner, too, and for the first time ever, they gave her a Mother’s Day card and a gift, a nice plant. Their gesture meant a lot to Gabby.
Still, I saw that Gabby had been feeling down that entire day. I didn’t want to bring her down further by talking about it, but I thought she was depressed because Mother’s Day had her thinking about her future. She’d likely never have children of her own. I held her hand at dinner, and she was mostly quiet and subdued.
The next day, May 9, I had to say goodbye to Gabby yet again and head back into quarantine. This stay in quarantine was harder. The launch was set for May 16 at 8:56 a.m., meaning my crew and I would have to wake up at 11:30 the night before to start getting ready. It was important for us to begin “sleep-shifting,” adjusting our internal clocks,