Virginia Shooting Survivor Vicki Gardner Gets Visit from Buddy the Dog at the Hospital
Vicki Gardner was "bright-eyed" and "bushy-tailed" going into physical therapy.
— -- The woman who survived the on-air shooting that left two journalists dead in Roanoke, Virginia, is steadily recovering and recently got a visit from her dog at the hospital, according to her recovery page on Facebook.
Vicki Gardner, who walked herself to an ambulance though she had a bullet in her back last week, was "bright-eyed" and "bushy-tailed" this Wednesday as she took on "physical therapy with determination," read the latest post on Vicki's Recovery Page on Facebook.
"Her daytime highlights included the ability to take a bite of real food and a visit from her most favorite guy in the world... Buddy!" the post continued. "Buddy was cleared for his first hospital visit with a bath and up to date shot records."
The executive director of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce had been doing an interview with WDBJ's reporter, Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward, who were fatally shot last Wednesday.
Gardner woke up from a medically induced coma last Thursday after her second surgery, her husband, Tim Gardner, previously told ABC News. She has had a kidney and part of her colon removed since the shooting, but is expected to make a recovery.
A fund called "Vicki's Vision" has been started to continue Vicki Gardner's mission of growing business and tourism at Smith Mountain Lake.
"The idea is to provide a large center to be used by people in the region as a gathering place and resource for everything from adult/higher education classes to large town hall meetings," read the post on Gardner's recovery page.
"Vicki's Vision started long before last week's devastating events, however, the creation of a community center could be a way to strengthen and heal our community. We would love for this incredible milestone to be a positive, lasting outcome of this terrible tragedy."
The post added, "Vicki would like to express her gratitude for the outpouring of compassion and support she has experienced through all of you. Thank you."