Susan Hilema looks at a photo of Christina-Taylor Green. Photo courtesy of the Arizona Republic.

We got an email today from a reader who thanked the National Association of Social Workers for commemorating Gabe Zimmerman, MSW, the aide to Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) who was slain in the Tucson shootings in January.

But the emailer asked us not to forget another social worker involved in the tragedy. Retired social worker Susan Hileman is a friend and neighbor of the Green family and took their 9-year-old daughter Christina-Taylor to the shopping center to meet Rep. Giffords.

Hileman was shot while protecting Christina-Taylor, who died. Hileman is still recovering from her wounds. She describes her recovery and emotional pain in this Jan. 21 Arizona Republic article.

“I’m so sorry that I couldn’t bring her home,” Hileman said.

Ron Barber. Photo courtesy of KVOA TV.

Another Giffords aide who was injured was Ron Barber, who is a social worker too. He is mentioned in this Arizona Republic article about the tragedy. KVOA TV in Tucson on Jan. 14 also posted this article on Barber when he was released from the hospital.

“My healing process is well underway and so is the healing of this wonderful community we call home,” Barber said in a statement.

To read the National Association of Social Workers’ statement on the death of Gabe Zimmerman, click here.