Shooting victims eager to see ABC's Gabby Giffords special
Friends say it will be full of inspiration and heartache
Reporter: Ileana Diaz
TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Pam Simon is Gifford's staffer and close friend. She visited the KGUN9 studios and watched a preview of the world exclusive interview with Gabby Giffords including videos and pictures never released before. Within seconds, it brought a big smile to her face.
“I’m just so incredibly inspired by my friend gabby who indeed has worked so hard to make this happen,” said Pam Simon.
And the road to recover isn't over yet.
“How do you feel?” ABC’s Diane Sawyer.
“Pretty good,” said Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
“Is it painful? Does it hurt?” said Sawyer.
“It’s difficult,” said Giffords.
For Pam Simon, watching Monday's special will also have its difficult moments.
“Her cadence of her speech is a little different and I think we'll hear the old Gabby’s pace again,” said Simon.
Until then it will be emotional to see videos and pictures of Gabby as she fought for her life. For Simon it also brings back memories of that tragic day when she too was shot a couple of times.
“When I see a picture like this it takes me back to that day and its rough, to remember that point in time. We were all hurting pretty bad emotionally and physically at that moment,” said Simon.
And the hurt doesn't end there. Patricia Maisch helped wrestle shooter Jared Lee Loughner and took away his bullets that day. Now she is reliving it through pictures and words.
“It really brought back that day back. Almost too close. I’m sure I’ll be affected, I can’t help but be,” said Maisch.
This will be the first time most victims will see footage of what happened and hear the full story. Everything from what Giffords knows to how she feels and what her future plans entail.
“Did you ever think she would progress so much in such little time?” asked KGUN9’S Ileana Diaz.
“This has been a year of unexpected heartache and unexpected blessings. Of course, our hope always would be this recovery but in truth seeing that smiling face and laugh and hearing her voice, it’s truly a miracle,” said Simon.
The ABC World Exclusive special will Monday at 9 p.m. on our station, KGUN9 On Your Side.
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