Some people seem to be born lucky. Naomi Lyall is one of those included in this group.
Of course, Naomi knows it was not all luck that she survived the life-threatening snowboarding accident at Tahoe on January 25, 2014, but divine intervention.
Transported by Life Flight to the RenownTraumaCenter in Reno, she was treated for the traumatic brain injury (TBI) she had suffered. Weeks later, transferred to Santa ClaraMedicalCenter, she had to recuperate there for another five to six weeks. The right side of her brain was affected and she had to re-learn to swallow, talk, walk, and regain use of her limbs and her memory.
Naomi went to stay with her sister in Temecula to further recuperate. Recuperation took a very long time with therapists from Rehab Without Walls coming to the house to give physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and recreational therapy.
Eventually she was able to return to ScottsValley and continued her therapy.
While she was down South recuperating, the ScottsValley community did not forget her. Kelly Cox, attendance clerk at Scotts Valley High School, worked with GateWay youth pastor, Nate Hennes; and Gretchen Schmidt, (a GateWay member whose husband coaches tennis at the high school); Beth Hollenbeck, music teacher; and many other people who created a “Nay Day” Fundraiser on in May of 2014.
They managed to raise an overwhelming $20,000 to help with Naomi’s medical bills! Her recuperation continued for a long time after this, but eventually during the last school year, she was able to volunteer at ScottsValleyHigh School helping Mark Andrews in teaching Conceptual Physics. Last spring, Naomi was able to teach one class on her own and this August, Naomi was back to teaching five Conceptual Physics classes. She has also been able to do a little climbing in Yosemite. She is so thankful for all of the support and generosity from those in ScottsValley who helped her!
Naomi says, “I thank the community, GateWayBibleChurch, ScottsValleyHigh School, ScottsValley as a whole, all school community district offices, Penny Weber, Karen Lewis and all others who helped. It is hard to encapsulate the thanks for such an outpouring of love to one little individual.”
Way to go, Naomi!
