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Roanoke shooting survivor prepares to return to work

ROANOKE, Va – (WRIC) – The woman who survived a shooting caught on live television in Roanoke four months ago is nearly ready to return to work.

Vicki Gardner was shot in the back on August 26 while being interviewed by local Roanoke station WDBJ.

A former employee of the station walked up to Gardner, reporter Alison Parker, and cameraman Adam Ward before firing. Parker and Ward were killed. Gardner took a gunshot to her back, grazing her spine. She spent two weeks in the hospital with several surgeries to repair internal injuries. Gardner said she is not haunted by the shooting, but rather enthusiastic for the future.

“I don’t, not at all,” she said. “It is such a joyous place, and again something horrible happened, but it does not define where I work. And it was right outside my window where this tragedy happened.”

Gardner plans to return to her job at the local chamber of commerce in late January.