First Photos: Gabrielle Giffords is shown smiling

P.K. Weis, SouthwestPhotoBank.com

Now isn't this awesome! These wonderful new photos of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords were just released today of her looking good and smiling. The congresswoman is shown smiling above with her mom as she prepares to leave the hospital in a month.

From The Associated Press:

The photos were taken May 17 outside the Houston rehabilitation facility where Giffords has been undergoing treatment since she was wounded five months ago at a meet-and-greet event with constituents. Six people died and a dozen others were hurt in the Jan. 8 attack in Tucson, Ariz. Since then, access to the Arizona congresswoman has been tightly controlled. Until Sunday, no clear images had been released. The only recent sign of Giffords came in late April, when grainy television footage showed her slowly ascending a flight of steps to a NASA plane that took her to Florida to watch her astronaut husband rocket into space. The image was so blurry that it was impossible to confirm it was Giffords until doctors did so at a news conference in mid-May.

One Month Later: Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' husband writes letter to supporters

Today marked the one year anniversary of the terrible tragedy in Tuscon, Arizona. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AR) was meeting with constituents on January 8 at a local supermarket when a gunman opened fire and shot her in the head. During the incident, 13 other people were injured and 6 people died. Rep. Giffords is now receiving rehabilitation therapy at TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, TX.  Her husband, Astronaut Mark Kelly marked the day by posting a update on her facebook page along with several pictures.

"It is hard to believe that only one month has passed since Gabrielle was shot. The doctors say she is recovering at lightning speed considering her injury but they aren’t kidding when they say this is a marathon process. There are encouraging signs everyday though. Gabby’s appetite is back and – even though it’s hospital food – she’s enjoying three meals a day. We can’t thank you enough for the heartfelt show of support that has come in from all around Arizona and the nation. I want the families of all the other victims and the entire Tucson community to know that Gabrielle will soon stand by your side to mourn this tragedy and learn how we can heal. In the mean time, your prayers are being heard so don’t stop." - Mark Kelly

You can visit Rep. Giffords page here and send her a note of support too. Let's continue to keep her, her husband, and all those that suffered that terrible day in our prayers.