Sebia is Back!
After a seven month medical absence from the Law Center, I was thrilled to return to my position as Development Director on January 4th, 2010. I am actually amazed to be alive and back in action. Some of you may know that on May 16th 2009 I had two brain aneurisms burst, and post surgery I was in recovery until the end of the year either in New Mexico or Texas. Fortunately the aneurisms burst while I was gardening with my husband so he was able to call for an ambulance immediately. After treatment, it was absolutely wonderful to get home in mid August and back to my family, friends and broader community which helped my recovery immensely. Now, I have happily resumed my work with Shelbie and Juana raising money for our efforts to protect New Mexico’s communities, land, air, and water.
For half of my three month hospitalization, I have no memory or recollection of my day to day world and activities in either Albuquerque or Santa Fe hospitals. However, I am told I would delight in each visit from friends and colleagues, and would mostly remember everyone that came to see me. My Law Center friends were frequent visitors and helped keep my spirits up. I just couldn’t remember five minutes later who had come. My husband Spin was my mainstay of support and would be there for nearly every meal! My memory began returning around July 9th when Spin flew with me to Houston to transfer me to a neuro-recovery center there called Touchstone, located in Conroe, TX. After a month and a half of serious memory exercises with a talented and committed staff, I came home to do my final therapy work with neighbor girlfriends in their businesses. They nurtured me back to health in my Nambe neighborhood.
By year end I was more than ready and confident that I could return to the Law Center with a mostly complete recovery – I imagine more healing will happen between now and May. Incredibly, my doctors expect me to make a full recovery within a year of the event. I am amazed at the resilience of my brain and its ability to heal under proper conditions. For my family, friends, neighbor girlfriends and colleagues— I am most grateful for all your help and support. I can’t thank you enough! I also owe a huge debt of gratitude to my surgeon at UNM Hospital – Dr. Christopher Taylor – who was an expert at stitching me back together. And, all of my therapists in NM and TX did a wonderful and caring job of healing me so I could rejoin my wonderful life. For all their efforts I am forever grateful.
I have to also thank the Law Center for their confidence in me and ongoing support during my medical emergency, and to thank all of you – our members—for your support for our work. I greatly appreciated your kind thoughts, well wishes, and prayers – they all worked. At night I would lie in my bed and have a flash that someone was thinking of me at that moment – wishing me well. Every one of you helped bring me back, and for that I am also most grateful. Happy New Year to you all, and thank you!
