The Hill News

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) is scheduled to undergo skull replacement surgery on Wednesday while her husband is in space.

A plastic implant will replace part of her skull, according to the Associated Press. The congresswoman has been wearing a helmet for protection after the Jan. 8th assassination attempt that resulted in a gunshot wound to the head.

After the shooting, doctors removed part of Giffords' skull to compensate for her brain swelling. But the removed bone was likely contaminated, meaning the plastic implant is necessary to protect her skull and allow her to stop wearing the helmet.

The implant will be placed under the scalp, allowing hair to grow on top so it is not visible, according to the report.

While she is in surgery, Giffords' husband, Captain Mark Kelly is aboard the space shuttle Endeavour, which launched Monday.

Giffords flew from TIRR Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Hospital in Houston to ! attend the shuttle launch but returned to the hospital late Monday evening. She has not been seen in public since the shooting.