Doctors clear Giffords to attend shuttle launch

Updated Monday, April 25 at 8:18 a.m. ET

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has been cleared to attend the launch of her husband's space shuttle mission Friday, astronaut Mark Kelly told CBS News Anchor and Managing Editor Katie Couric in an exclusive interview to be broadcast Monday.

Couric sat down with Kelly in Houston ahead of the shuttle launch, and he shared details about how his wife is progressing as she recovers from the brain injury she suffered following the January 8 shooting in Tucson, Arizona.

Kelly said of Giffords' ability to leave her rehab: "I've met with her doctors, her neurosurgeon and her doctors. And ... they've given us permission to take her down to the launch. I'm excited about that, yes."

Complete coverage: Tragedy in Tucson
Gabrielle Giffords standing on her own

When Giffords heard she'd be able to attend the launch, "she said, 'awesome' and she pumped her fist," Kelly said.

In general, Giffords has been progressing well, Kelly said.

"Her personality's a hundred percent there," Kelly said. "You know, it's difficult for her to walk. The communication skills are difficult, at this point."

He said the prospect of attending the launch has been very motivating for Giffords in terms of her rehab.

According to Couric, who discussed the interview on "The Early Show" Monday, Giffords goes through three to five hours of rehabilitation every day at the TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, including speech therapy that incorporates music. Couric said Giffords likes to listen to U2 and "Beautiful Day" is one of her favorite songs.

Because Giffords was shot in her brain's left hemisphere, the right side of her body has been affected, particularly speech and motor skills. She's even learning to write with her left hand as a result, Couric reported.

Couric said that doctors' biggest concern about Giffords attending the launch was probably the travel to and from the site. She noted that part of Giffords' skull is still missing, though doctors plan to reattach it.

Couric also asked Kelly about the dangers of the space mission given his wife's condition.

"NASA says there's a 1 in 75 chance ... that something catastrophic could happen on any mission. But this is not his first time at the rodeo. He's been on three missions already. He knows the risk and reward ratio," Couric said.

Giffords has also encouraged him to go and her progress has helped him make that decision.

"He kept waiting for her to have setbacks, because he was told repeatedly. And he said she just hasn't had setbacks."

Couric's full interview will be broadcast on Monday, April 25 on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric (6:30 PM ET) on the CBS Television Network.

[mare32le]

PHOTOGRAPHS. I want to see up-to-date PHOTOGRAPHS or Videos. Since you are bothering me regularly with such news articles etc., show me some recent pictures or s..t..f..u..

[BigGrizzly55]

Enough is enough. Yes this is a great story but this is getting old. Why don't we continously cover the stories of soldiers who are crippled for the rest of their lives trying to get better and support their families. I realize that she's a Liberal and that this is a Liberal network but enough is enough. The true heroes are still putting their lives on the line in the war.

[Molly-Pchr]

wars.

[documemts]

"Why don't we continuously cover the stories of soldiers who are CRIPPLED FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES......" Hey, you need to read your comment to find the answer to your comment. Conservatives: Are they as dumb as rocks or do they just think that way?

[Bisk1]

What a Story and a FIGHT ...... it's refreshing to see that many of the dumb Repugs don't continue to believe that all TOUGH women are Repugs since they r packn.

[AlFranken]

I find it hilarious that Palin "targets" Gifford and the insane kid tanks Palin in the polls by taking her literally while at the same time helps lift a new Democratic rising star. LOL!!!

(The media now seems to follow Gifford's every move)

On top of that, Palin shoots herself in the foot with her famous "blood Libel" retort. LOL!!

Now we got Trump's "birther" circus clown act going center stage -- what next? LOL!!!

[Molly-Pchr]

She must have some hospitalization/health plan.

[Ralphinphnx]

Oh come on CBS and the rest of our pathetic news media,how much longer are you clowns going to milk the Congresswoman Giffords story anyhow? As,
like I a lot of other people frankly I am tired of hearing if Giffords
had a bowel movement today or not nonsense. And I'm also fed up with the
constant 24/7 Swooning over the Worst President in US history,the Kenyan
Wonder Barack Hussein Obama and it is clearly time to move on here.

[Unsilent_Majority]

ballsacksayswhat?

[nanc12]

Is someone forcing you to read and comment on these articles. If you don't want to hear about the Giffords, don't read the freakin' article!

[marion47]

good luck to gabrielle and her husband. they both should go for it and oblama can stay home and watch it on tv like the rest of us.

[creeper00]

I understand the president will be joining Rep. Giffords at the launch. He and FLOTUS had to do something spectacular that day. After all, they won't be attending the wedding. I wonder if Giffords invited them or if they're just crashing the party. If Barry wants to do something appropriate, I suggest he attend the last shuttle launch on June 28. That would be a perfect fit, since our shuttle program died on his watch.

[bankersvox]

Doesn't it seem selfish of this man to take off while his wife is recuperating ?

[notreich]

She's going to be recuperating for the rest of her life. And you two, if you are two, are really stretching. Tea Party Republicans, I suppose?

[shazbat34]

Not selfish at all. Kelly and Giffords are both heroes in my book. (And I am a Republican, by the way)