Virginia WDBJ gunman Vester Flanagan's 3rd victim smiles from her hospital bed

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Vicki Gardner was pictured recovering after being shot in the back
She was attacked by Vester Flanagan while being interviewed on local TV
Flanagan shot Gardner near Roanoke, Virginia, during WDBJ broadcast
Shooter killed cameraman Adam Ward and reporter Alison Parker
Gardner needed treatment and had a kidney removed after attack, but is now recovering, family members have said

Published: 23:41 EST, 5 September 2015 | Updated: 00:44 EST, 6 September 2015

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The third victim of the Virginia TV gunman is recovering from her wounds, and is starting to be able to walk and read again.

Vicki Gardner, the only survivor of the attack last month by Vester Flanagan, was pictured smiling in her hospital bed Friday as she continues to be treated.

Gardner was being interviewed on WDBJ, the local news channel in Roanoke, Virginia, when Flanagan gunned down reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward on live television.

Road to recovery: Vicki Gardner, an interviewee who was shot in a live TV attack near Roanoke, Virginia, is pictured above in hospital, where she has undergone major surgery

Treatment: Doctors took out one of Gardner's kidneys and part of her colon to deal with the bullet wound from Vester Flanagan's gun

She was shot once in the back by Flanagan, who filmed the attack, uploaded it to social media, then killed himself before police could get to him.

Family members posting on a Facebook page dedicated to her recovery, said that the shooting damaged her internal organs and have left her struggling to walk.

Surgeons removed her right kidney and part of her colon, but has been showing positive signs since.

The posts told that she has been well enough to take a bite of food, drink tea and read get well cards sent to her.

Killer: Flanagan, pictured above, was a former employee of WDBJ, the local news station for which his victims worked

Victims: Cameraman Adam Ward, left, and reporter Alison Parker, right, both died of their wounds in Flanagan's attack. He later killed himself

She is also undergoing grueling physical therapy, which he family say she is facing with 'determination' and has seen her well enough to walk 'a couple laps' of the intensive care unit at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where she is being treated.

Late Saturday family members said staff were 'keeping a close eye' on Gardner because they are worried her wounds might get infected.

However, they added that she is 'still on the mend' overall.

Gardner, the leader of the local chamber of commerce in Smith Mountain Lake near Roanoke, was speaking to Parker on WDBJ when the shooting began.

Flanagan, a disgruntled former employee of the station, shot all three involved in the filming, and later himself. Only Gardner's wounds have not proved fatal.

Funerals for Parker and Ward were held last week.