Gallup bank robbed
Staff Report
GALLUP — Wells Fargo Bank, at the Millennium Media building,
got robbed Friday afternoon at its downtown location.
Details about the robbery were sketchy from the Gallup Police
Friday afternoon. Officers at the scene said at about 3:15 p.m.,
a white male wearing a blue jacket, a red hat and blue jeans walked
into the bank and handed the cashier a note.
The man, believed to be armed with a gun, walked out of the front
door of the bank after the robbery and went into the alley behind
the Puritan Bakery near the courthouse. A red San Francisco 49ers
hat was found in the alley.
A man was seen in that alley getting into a white pick-up truck.
Police aren't sure if this is the suspect or not.
Police believe this is the hat worn by the man involved in the
robbery.
The robber took an undisclosed amount of cash from the bank.
Officers believe the suspect is the same man who recently robbed
the Bank of America twice. The suspect is about 5-feet, 8-inches
tall in his mid-30s with green eyes.
He doesn't wear a mask when he enters the bank.
Scott Koons and Arnold Jim, armored guards for Chief Security
Inc., returned to Wells Fargo were questioned by police.
"We were here just seconds before the robbery occurred,"
Koons said.
They added they didn't notice anything out of the ordinary and
didn't see anyone coming into the bank after they left.
Bank personnel would not answer any questions about the robbery.
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Family copes with young girl's cancer
7-year-old faces seventh surgery
Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer
CHINLE, Ariz. — Life is full of the joy of a loving family but
also the physical pain that cancer brings for Rachelle R. Nez, 7,
of Chinle.
Rachelle has a rare form of cancer that affects the adrenal gland
system, called adrenal cortical carcinoma, so rare that only 200 confirmed
cases are diagnosed in the United States each year, according to the
American Cancer Society. The adrenal glands are located above the
liver, controlling such important functions as puberty.
On Wednesday, in Phoenix, Rachelle will be facing her seventh critical
surgery, to be conducted at St. Joseph's Hospital. This procedure
is known as "debulking," in which surgeons remove tumors
to the full extent possible.
A large contingent of 10 family members will be making the trek by
cars to St. Joseph's. Rachelle and her mom, Aurelia Nez, are leaving
Monday with Safe Ride Services. They will first travel a litle farther
south, to the University of Arizona hospital, where a doctor will
discuss an experimental procedure known as chemotherapeutic treatment.
But at this time, chemotherapeutic treatment is only used on adults.
"I don't know, it's really hard to decide," Aurelia said.
"I will wait till after the surgery to deal with it."
Other family members who will make the trip to Phoenix will be Greta
Nez, who is Aurelia's first cousin and helped raise Rachelle, Greta's
fiancee, Edwin, and son, Ethan, 1-1/2, Greta's mom, Lillie, and Aurelia's
other children: Cameron, 14, fraternal twins Nicholas and Nicole,
10, Farrell, 9, and Fernando, 4.
All surgeries are serious matters, but Greta said doctors have said
this seventh surgery may be the last great hope for Rachelle's long-term
survival.
"Most of the time, I go down to Phoenix by myself," Aurelia
said.
"This time, I felt that she needs to go with all of the family
support she can have," Greta said. "The doctors have said,
'Don't expect anything; and expect the worst.' Her mother and me are
taking it really hard."
The daily regimen
Rachelle's first surgery was performed in late 1998, when a tumor
the size of a golf ball was removed from her adrenal system.
Adrenal cortical cancer is rare, and it wasn't officially diagnosed
in Rachelle until the summer of 1999 at St. Joseph's, Aurelia said.
Rachelle has undergone different forms of chemotherapy, including
oral chemotherapy, in addition to six critical surgeries.
Rachelle must take oral medication each day, including steroids, to
control seizures. Her mother or aunt will take her as many times as
necessary to the Indian Health Service Hospital in Chinle, as they
did Friday, to meet with Dr. Jodi Wenger. That can be several times
a week.
She has a shunt under her skin that allows doctors to administer medication
efficiently and without needles. Rachelle's small body has pronounced
scars, above her abdomen, showing the toll that six surgeries take
on a 7-year-old. One of her kidneys was removed during a previous
surgery.
While undergoing chemotherapy, Rachelle had to travel to St. Joseph's
every three weeks for a period of eight months. That has been tough
on her five siblings, but Greta a child advocate worker for the Chinle
Unified School District is a capable substitute.
"They understand," Greta said of Aurelia's children. 'Then
again, it takes a toll on them, too, because their mother has to be
out of the house all the time."
Rachelle is a first-grader at Chinle Primary School under a special
needs program. The best thing about her education is that Rachelle
receives one-on-one teaching from an aide, Dianna Bianna.
"She's great with Rachelle," Aurelia said. "My daughter
can spell her name.'
Rare cancer manifested
The extremely rare adrenal cortical carcinoma affects children and
adults, but is especially hard on young children. Rachelle has a large
roundish face and a rash on her forehead, both from her condition,
as well as excessive body hair. The cancer is bringing on puberty
much faster than normal.
The hardest aspect for her mom and aunt to cope with, however, is
the sudden changes in mood that affect Rachelle. One moment, she can
be content with a paddycake of yellow Playdough or playing hide and
seek behind a new acquiantance's shoulders. A few minutes later, Rachelle
may become agitated, irritated or withdrawn.
Weight gain through exessive eating is also a problem. Rachelle gained
21 pounds in just one four-week period, her mom said.
Greta said Rachelle's physical problems are worsening, which is affecting
her moods, and in turn, her school performance and social interaction.
That is why this seventh surgery is so important, along with the possibility
of an experimental procedure.
"She has regressed so much that her education level is now lower
than what's expected," Greta said.
A call for help
Aurelia, who receives public assistance and medical care through Arizona's
Access program, nevertheless is falling behind in her limited expenses.
She and Greta are asking other Navajos and non-Navajos to help with
the family's expenses, including constant travel. Any donation is
appreciated, they said.
Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo Bank, in the name of: Rachelle
R. Nez, Fight Against Cancer Benefit Fund.
The family has raised some funds through a bazaar and collecting donations
from jars placed around Chinle during the Christmas season.
But it's not enough.
"That's why I'm coming to you guys," Greta said.
In Phoenix, the entire family will be staying at the Ronald McDonald
House at a special rate.
During a photo shoot with the Independent, Rachelle, sitting on her
mom's lap, next to her siblings on a bench outside the IHS hospital,
did not want to smile. That is, not until a favored snack Cheeto's
were offered as a trade-off.
"We call her 'Sweetie,'" Greta said.
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City cannot give money to Ceremonial
Bill Donovan
Staff writer
GALLUP — The city cannot legally provide any aid directly to
the Gallup Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial because of state anti-donation
laws.
However, the city can enter into an agreement with the state tourism
office that would allow the city to provide some assistance to the
financially-troubled program.
That's the legal opinion from Lynn Isaacson, one of the city's attorneys.
City Manager David Ruiz said during Friday's regular meeting with
area media that the opinion stems from a desire by the Ceremonial
Association for an agreement with the city.
The association, which has eliminated all paid staff this past year
to reduce expenses, has been talking to the local leaders about using
city personnel at Red Rock State Park to handle the phone calls and
other needs of the Ceremonial during the off season.
The association also wanted the city to pay for the cost of two parades
and waive the cost of renting Red Rock State Park for the week of
the event.
Ruiz said all of these, according to Isaacson's opinion, would be
a violation of the state anti-donation laws, which prohibit using
government funds to help non-governmental entities.
While the Ceremonial Association was once a state agency, but in 1996
it broke away from the state and is now a private organization.
Ruiz said the legal opinion points out that the 1996 act which ended
the Ceremonial's ties with the state calls upon the Secretary of Tourism
for the state to promote the event. This paves the way, said Ruiz,
for the city council to allow for a joint powers agreement with the
tourism office to achieve many of the elements that the association
wants.
City Council delegate Louis Bonaguidi, who is also chairman of the
Ceremonial Association, said he found it odd that the city could not
provide the association a break for its use of Red Rock State Park.
After all, he said, the park was built for the Ceremonial and the
city came on board afterwards so that the park would get more use.
It's only fair now, he said, that the city reciprocate.
He said he hoped that something could eventually be worked out with
the state or some other entity to allow the city to show its support
to the Ceremonial.
He added that if the city really wants to show its support, the sooner
they do it the better.
"We have money to do the event this year," he said, adding
that the city and others who say they support the Ceremonial should
realize that there are others, including the city of Farmington, who
would be willing to take over the event in a second if financial difficulties
would force the association to cancel or postpone the event in Gallup.
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Grants pulls out to big lead
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
GRANTS — The Grants boys and girls track teams racked up a most
impressive showing during the first day of the District 3AAA track
meet Friday afternoon at the Grants High School Stadium.
The Grants boys are making it look like a runaway already piling up
63 points after the first day of district competition. Cobre is a
distant second with 18 points, followed by Socorro 16, Hot Springs
7 and Bernalillo 6.
By claiming six district champions in the six finals Friday, the Grants
girls proved to be even more dominating, amassing 89 1/2 points with
Socorro far back in second with 22 1/2 points, followed by Cobre 9,
Hot Springs 7 and Bernalillo 3.
The district meet will have concluded early this afternoon. The first
two places in each event will advance to next week's state meet along
by qualifying times or by distances.
"We're reaping the benefits of our hard work," said Grants
boys head coach Bob Vandiver who is seeking his team's first
district title since 1986. "The kids are rising to the occasion.
We had kids that stepped it up. We're looking good for tomorrow (today)."
Vandiver admitted that being in a new district and without private
schools Academy and St. Pius along with Moriarty has helped.
"We still have Socorro and Bernalillo," said Vandiver who
has 47 boys on the team, his largest ever. "If those schools
were still in our district we'd been in a dogfight. We would still
be in the hunt (for the district title). But right now everyone is
feeling different in the new district."
Grants long distance standout Gary Louis claimed the 800 and 3200-meter
finals.
Louis posted a winning time of 2:05.60 in winning the 800 which Grants
incredibly swept the top five spots. David Nielson placed second with
a 2:08.48. Matt Chaffin was third (2:11.95), followed by Brent James
fourth (2:13.26) and Jesus Sandoval fifth (2:14.31)
"That was a complete surprise," Vandiver said of the 800-meter
1-2-3-4-5 sweep.
Louis also cruised in the 3200-meter finals with a winning time of
10:28.75. The Pirates placed four in the top six places with Nielson
second with a time of 11:01.83, James third (11:10.85) and Melford
Garcia sixth (11:22.89).
Grants' Joe Castillo took the long jump title with a winning effort
of 20-0. Grants also claimed the next two spots with RoShaun McKinney
second (19-8 1/2) and Jared Rivera third (19-1).
Hot Springs' Tyson Rush won the discus with a winning throw of 132-7
1/2 with Cobre's Mike Moreland second at 122-3.
Grants' John McNeill finished fourth (120-5 1/2) with teammate Brandon
Gutierrez fifth (113-4 1/2).
Cobre's Peter Parra won the high jump, clearing 6-2 with Bernalillo's
Mark Hahs second at 6-0. Grants had Moses Marquez place fourth (5-8)
with Wade Pynes sixth (5-6).
The Pirates look solid for the 200-meter finals with five qualifiers.
Johnny Gallegos posted the fastest qualifying time with a 22.44, ahead
of Cobre's Stan Montoya at 22.86. The Pirates also had Cody Rivera
third (22.98), McKinney fifth (23.88),
Pynes seventh (24.31) and Joey Rivera eighth (24.51).
Grants dominated most of the prelims, with five qualifiers in the
110-meter high hurdles and four in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles.
Joe Castillo turned in the fastest qualifying time in the 110-meter
high hurdles with a time of 15.53, just edging out teammate Rivera
with a 15.60. Grants' Daniel Hunter was fifth (18.34), Josh Roundy
seventh (19.55) and Daniel Knott eighth (19.74).
Cobre's Montoya was the top qualifier in the 300-meter intermediate
hurdles with a 41.36. Grants placed four qualifiers with Rivera fourth
(42.88), Castillo fifth (43.08), Tyler Cash seventh (45.36) and Knott
eighth (47.08).
Grants' Johnny Gallegos topped the qualifying for the 100-meter finals
with a 11.07, ahead of Pirate teammate McKinney with a 11.10. Grants'
Castillo was fourth (11.42), Floyd Brito fifth (11.51) and Moses Marquez
eighth (11.89).
Cobre's Sergio Munoz leads the field in the 400 meters with a 52.70.
Grants' Rivera was the second fastest with a 52.42 with teammates
Brett Kramer fifth (55.59) and Mark Lowther eighth (57.41).
Grants girls
The Grants girls, who have qualified for state in 14 of the 19 events,
completely dominated the competition, producing six district champions
in the six finals held Friday afternoon.
"We ran six finals and had six district champions," Grants
girls coach Theresa Dominguez said. "That was nice. It's nice
that Academy is not around anymore along with Moriarty and St. Pius.
We're used to being dominated by other schools. So this is nice. For
state next week I've got blue ribbon power. The girls are really pumped."
Grants junior Antonia Dominguez picked up a pair of firsts in the
high jump and triple jump.
Dominguez cleared 4-10 on her first attempt for first place honors
in the high jump as Grants claimed the first three spots.
Shayne Holmes took second at 4-8 with teammate Kimberly Holmes third
also at 4-8. Grants' Bobbi Jo Brito finished fifth (4-4).
Dominguez, who is also an all-around athlete in volleyball and basketball
as well, also topped the competition in the triple jump, with a 33-2
1/2 effort. Socorro's Haley Licha took second at 30-0 3/4. Grants
took the next two spots with Shayna Holmes and Tiffany Hobbs at 29-0
1/2 and 28-2 1/2 respectively.
Grants long distance standout Erin Lewis also picked up pair of firsts
in the 800 and 3200-meter finals.
Lewis outlasted Socorro's Veronica Padilla in the 800-meter finals,
2:24.90 and 2:27.74. Grants also had Lonetta Gallegos take third (2:50.97),
Suevannah Eylicio sixth (3:00.37) and Carol Lewis seventh (3:06.93).
Lewis ran away from the field in the 3200 with a winning time of 12:01.34.
The Lady Pirates swept the top five spots with Lynetta Gallegos second
(13:21.80), Tawina Louis third (13:28.18), Suevannah Eylicio fourth
(14:34.85) and Carol Lewis fifth (14:48.11).
Grants' Robbi Lucero won the discus title with a solid throw of 121-6
1/2, just shy of the school record of 122-0. Lucero, a senior, set
a new school record in the shot put two weeks ago with a 36-6 1/2
toss. April Gerleve of Hot Springs took second at 109-1. Lady Pirate
Berna Frigerio finished fifth (86-10).
Grants' Maegan Montoya, who was competing for the first time in two
weeks after being injured after breaking her pole, returned in fine
form winning the pole vault, with a winning effort of 7-6 as Grants
finished 1-2-3. Grants' Josephine Jaramillo placed second at 7-0 with
teammate Erin Louis third (6-6).
Grants looks good in both hurdle finals with four qualifiers in the
100-meter hurdles and three in the 300-meter hurdles.
Natalie Jaramillo posted the second fastest qualifying time in the
100-meter hurdles with a 17.14. Teammates Antonia Dominguez finished
third with a 17.60, Naomi Cantrell fifth (20.04) and Katy Stoneking
sixth (20.16). Socorro's Tiffany Grigg ran the fastest qualifying
with a 16.44.
Grigg also leads the field in the 300-meter hurdles with a 50.03.
Grants had three in the finals with Cantrell second (51.74), Jaramillo
third (52.45) and Stoneking fifth (56.54).
Grants has five qualifiers in the 200 meters with Montoya posting
the second fastest qualifying time with a 27.50. Teammates Kimberly
Holmes is third (28.36), Jaramillo fourth (29.01), Hobbs fifth (29.84)
and Shayna Holmes seventh (29.94).
The Lady Pirates qualified four in the 400 meters with top qualifier
Josephine Jaramillo leading the way with a 62.08, just ahead of Socorro's
Renee Gallegos with a 62.94. Grants' Evelyn McNeil is third (67.44),
Hobbs seventh (72.97) and Bobbi Jo Brito eighth (74.04).
Socorro claimed the fastest two qualifiers in the 100-meter finals
with Roberta Smith first with a 12.97 and teammate Gallegos, just
.01 of a second back at 12.98. Grants qualified Holmes third (13.82)
and Hobbs seventh (14.16).
The Grants girls finished third in the district last year, just one
point out of tying Academy for second place. The Lady Pirates are
seeking their first district title in five years since 1996. Grants
will be looking to qualify for state in the both hurdles along with
the long jump and 400-meter relay and 800-meter relay.
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Laughter fed up with Ethics Committee
Jim Maniaci
Dine' Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Inscription House Chapter President David D. Laughter
said Friday he is seriously considering resigning because of the Ethics-Rules
Committee decision.
By a 3-2 vote the committee decided to let him finish his term if
he pays $750 within 30 days. Chairman Pro Tem Duane Tsinigine broke
a tie, joining Lee Jack and Samuel Yazzie in the majority favoring
Friday's amended resolution. Wallace Davis and Joe Lee opposed it.
Chairman George Tolth, Vice Chairman Daniel Peaches and Member Joe
Dayzie did not attend the April 27 hearing and excused themselves
from the decision meeting.
Laughter served on the committee during the 18th Navajo Nation Council,
but Tolth is the only carryover member on the committee...
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MacDonald sorry for 'hurt and heartbreak'
PHOENIX (AP) — Former Navajo Nation Chairman Peter MacDonald
apologized for incidents that occurred during his last year as the
head of one of the nation's largest tribes.
In a written statement, MacDonald said his actions brought "hurt
and heartbreak" to the Navajo Nation and the Navajo people.
In 1993, MacDonald, 72, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for his
role in a 1989 Window Rock riot in which two people were killed. MacDonald
had been trying to reclaim power after being removed from office for
accepting kickbacks and bribes.
Then-President Clinton commuted MacDonald's sentence in January and
he returned to the Navajo Reservation, which sprawls across parts
of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah...
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Natural gas prices stay high
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — Natural gas prices have remained high this
spring, and some say they will stay aloft through summer and into
next winter.
Public Service Company of New Mexico is charging 53.96 cents per
therm for May gas bills. That's only slightly lower than some recent
months and well above last May's price of 29.13 cents.
"There is concern that prices will stay where they are or climb
a little over the summer," said PNM spokeswoman Julie McCabe.
PNM is projecting a per-therm price of 54.69 cents for June. The
reason for the lofty prices, McCabe said, is mostly due to natural
gas storage levels being down...
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Navajo Council will meet May 14
Jim Maniaci
Dine' Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Nation Council will meet on Monday,
May 14, the Ethics-Rules Committee decided Friday.
Major matters to be decided include an override of a presidential
veto, approving money for the IHS referendum in June, removing the
sanctions against the Navajo Board of Election Supervisors, and
changing critical requirements for future referenda.
The committee approved the one-day meeting's initial agenda of six
action items, including a proposed override of President Kelsey
A. Begaye's veto of the tribal gambling ordinance that is the next
step in a long process before the dice roll can roll in a Nevada-style
casino in To' hajiilee.
Begaye cited many reasons for the veto of the ordinance, which is
normally the first formal step towards winning federal and state
approval for a tribe to legally operate Nevada-style gambling palaces...
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DWI/Drug Court offers rehab over punishment
Andrea Egger
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Few members of the community but lots of law enforcement
and the judicial community attended a public forum Thursday on the
McKinley County DWI/Drug Court.
The Driving While Intoxicated/Drug Court is a partnership with Magistrate
Court and the Chamber of Commerce, which is where the forum was
held. The chamber helps provide funding for the system. The forum
was held as a part of events for May as National Drug Court Month.
At the beginning of the forum, Chamber of Commerce Manager Barbara
Matthews gave a plaque of appreciation to Magistrate Rhoda Hunt
for her service as the drug court judge.
"I picked up the broken pieces and put it back together,"
Hunt said of the DWI/Drug Court, which she inherited when she became
judge. The court came into being to give another alternative to
jail for offenders...
While his mother sleeps, the Straw
Man dreams
Walter Howerton Jr.
Managing Editor
To sleep, perchance to dream.
William Shakespeare
My mother used up her anxiety, went to bed early and slept soundly
the night before her brain surgery. She had to be at the hospital
at 6:30 a.m. last Monday. She sighed a few times on the drive to
the hospital. Other than that there was no sign she was nervous.
When they put her in a wheelchair at the hospital and rolled her
toward the surgical suite, my father watched her go. He said she
never even looked back.
"She waved her hand and the last thing I heard her say was,
'I'm tough,'" he said.
Five hours later, my sister called to tell me the surgery was over.
The tumor was gone. My mother was in recovery. She would be awake
in a couple of hours, spend the night in intensive care, be back
home again in a few days. Her sight was saved. And her blurred vision
would clear over time. It was turning out to be a piece of cake,
an easy walk in the park of my mother's brain, just like the surgeon
promised.
I told my wife the good news over dinner. "But it wouldn't
surprise me if they called and said she was in a coma," I said.
Not more than a couple of minutes after I said that (and I can't
explain why I said it other than that I could feel her sleeping,
and the depth of her sleeping, 2,000 miles away; perhaps because
she insists she is tough and would not be hugged and I am her son
and because I am nothing if not my mother's brain-obsessed Straw
Man, I simply embraced her with my own mind; I do not believe in
telepathy, but I do believe old habits of love are hard to break
and this is our habit) the telephone rang.
It was my sister. Things had changed for the worse.
My mother was not awake and there was no sign she would be awake
anytime soon. Her brain was bruised because they had to lift it
to get to the tumor. There had been a seizure in the recovery room.
The doctor said she seemed a little weak on her right side. She
would remain in intensive care. Her hospital stay would be longer.
The doctor was reassuring and said none of this was really that
unusual (do they have a course in medical school on how to say things
like that with a straight face?).
Later, as I struggled to sleep, I realized it would not surprise
me if they called to tell me my mother was dead. It was a thought
I tried to shove off the bed and into the darkness. I pushed. The
thought resisted. Sleep took a long time. Perhaps, I feared meeting
my mother coming the other way.
Many years ago, my mother suffered a bulging blood vessel so deep
and dangerous that brain surgery was not an option. The only hope
for curing her was putting her to sleep for several weeks.
In that deep, drug-induced sleep, she dreamed she came to see me
in New Mexico. It was a dream she pieced together from scraps of
information, things I had said, photographs I had sent, books, maybe
even the background scenery from cowboy movies. She had to piece
it together because she still has never been to see me in New Mexico.
She never has been to New Mexico at all. But in her forced sleep,
she dreamed me and New Mexico and when she woke up she could describe
the bright landscape in detail and remember how much she enjoyed
the visit.
Sometimes our dreams take us on strange journeys.
But I did not dream my mother last Monday night. Instead, I dreamed
my granddaughter.
She is the beautiful red-haired grandchild whose faulty brain already
has begun taking her life away and she is not even 3 years old.
She now walks with stiff splints stuffed into her shoes to straighten
her feet. But she walks. Better than ever. When I saw her at Easter,
we spent hours walking up and down the sidewalk outside her house
all the way to the end of the block and back. Every walk was a little
better than the one before.
Something in her seems determined to hang on to what she's got.
It's as if she knows that every step she takes is another step away
from the chair that threatens to claim her for the rest of her life.
She has learned to crawl up the stairs again. She clings to a few
words. She tries to communicate even though her own brain gets in
the way. We are learning things from her, too. When she shakes her
head "no" and frowns, she means no. When she shakes her
head "no" and smiles, she means yes. She would do that
when I asked if she wanted to go for a walk.
It took all the effort she could muster, but she even tried to say
"Grandpa" a couple of times. Twice in five days and it
came out more like "Ummmmpuh." I hold onto that sound
because I know I might never hear it again (her ailment is capricious
that way). She does not really talk. And she won't.
In my dream on Monday night, she spoke to me. A whole sentence.
"I want a sucker," she said, clear as anything. I grabbed
her up and hugged her to me." I want a sucker," she said
and smiled at me, her face close to mine, eyes wide (on the Easter
visit, I fell asleep in the recliner and when I woke up she was
standing over me, her face hovering close, eyes twinkling, silently
staring me awake; that was the wonderful face I dreamed, only it
was
speaking to me).
In my dream, I got her one of those big all-day suckers, hoisted
her up onto my shoulders and began to run. I called out words to
her and everything I said, she said. We named things, talked about
things as I ran on down the street. Words and sentences poured out.
"Grandpa," she said with a giggle. "Grandpa, Grandpa,
Grandpa."
It was a wonderful dream and, like my mother, I would have stayed
asleep to hold onto it. But that is not the way of dreams.
The next morning, when I woke up, my granddaughter still couldn't
talk and my mother still was asleep.
Several days later, my mother still is not really awake. But her
eyes open if you say her name. My father said that is a good sign
(he has been married to her for 58 years and sees good signs in
the smallest things), but she remains in intensive care.
The doctor remains hopeful.
And what does my mother hear when someone speaks her name? Does
she hear my father's familiar voice calling her to wake up one more
time as it has for 58 years or just a voice disturbing wonderful
and impossible dreams of things she thought she never would see,
perhaps New Mexico, perhaps a child's voice she thought she never
would hear?
She sleeps.Perchance she dreams.
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Deaths
Lena Ann Begay Thomas
JONES RANCH — Services for Lena Thomas, 45, will be announced
at a later date.
Thomas died May 4 in Albuquerque. She was born April 23, 1956 in Shiprock.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
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