When I was in the process of getting divorced several years ago, my house was on the market and I was searching for a place to live. My daughter was 3 at the time and since she was already running and playing I felt strongly about living in a house and having a backyard - not going back to an apartment or condo lifestyle which to me was suitable for a college single. I was very lucky. I ended up meeting some wonderful people who really helped me in one of the toughest periods of my life.
A local couple had just purchased a new home for their family and was looking to rent out the house they had thus far raised their three children in. It was a three bedroom house with a beautifully landscaped, flat, fenced in yard. The husband owned a landscaping company and did all the work himself. In fact, when I moved in with my daughter, his employees continued to come over weekly to mow the lawn and take care of everything. We absolutely loved living there. In fact, my daughter still talks about being put on my then boyfriend's shoulders to pick apples from an apple tree in the backyard.
Though I did not get to know the couple very well I thought very highly of them - the rent was more than reasonable, they took care of the lawns making my life easier, and they were there when anything else went wrong such as the dryer breaking. In fact, I had my second child while living in their house and I remember how sweet the wife was - calling to check on me and ask to stop by. She did not stay or intrude though I wouldn't have considered it an intrusion anyway - she simply wanted to bring by a gift for the baby.
As my oldest got into school, I saw even more of them - especially the wife. Their youngest son was in my daughter's elementary school class. I would often run into the wife at school. I wouldn't even see her coming and the next thing I knew I would hear a friendly, energetic voice asking how I was and turn to see her bright, white smile and sparkling eyes. This was a woman who truly lit up the room whenever she walked in. Anyway, in less than two years I was on my feet again and able to purchase my own place. Again they helped me. The husband hauled off furniture and other items I had decided not to keep and asked for nothing in return.
I continued to bump into the wife at the school over the years. And, as always, she was so pleasant and such a joy to see and talk to. But then in October of last year, shocking news hit the town. I will never forget how my heart dropped and tears came to my eyes when I hear it. I was at a 4 year old birthday party with my youngest daughter when another mother approached me asking if I'd read the paper that morning. I had not but I soon was told the story. Here is a summary of the story with current updates:
On October 12, 2007, a small Northern California community was shocked when it learned that one of its brightest, most inspirational citizens was fighting for her life after becoming a victim of domestic violence. Abelina Magana, was a mother, a wife, a successful real estate agent, a volunteer, and simply a ray of sunshine in the Novato, California community. Originally from Jalisco, Mexico, she moved to Novato in 1993 and made a life as a house cleaner and as a translator for the Novato Unified School District while her husband worked as a landscaper. Later Abelina went on to become a very successful real estate agent for Frank Howard Allen. The success never changed her though. If anything it allowed her to give even more to her family, friends, and community.
All around Novato, residents were accustomed to seeing Abelina's smiling face whether it be on Frank Howard Allen posters adorning the walls outside of Safeway and other businesses, at Chamber of Commerce events, or at the local elementary school or middle school her three children attended. She was a beautiful woman whose brown eyes always lit up when she talked and whose smile was bright enough to light any room. And, she was always friendly – running up to people she knew, whether good friends or simply acquaintances she'd crossed paths with and asking to see how they were doing – passing on best wishes to their children, and much more – simply a very energetic, passionate, friendly, and giving woman.
But on October 12th things changed and that bright light nearly went out. Abelina almost lost her life; her children almost lost both of their parents; and all those huge accomplishments Abelina made throughout her life suddenly seemed small in comparison to what she now faced. Yes, on October 12th, Abelina's husband shot her in their family home and then turned the gun on himself. Two of their three children were home at the time of the shooting and ran to a neighbor's house to get help and to call police. Abraham was dead when police arrived but miraculously God was watching over Abelina and she was clinging onto her life.
Today, over three months since the tragedy occurred, Abelina is still fighting daily in ICU at the UC Davis Medical Center. According to information posted by her family and friends at http://maganafamilyshare.blogspot.com, the detectives who arrived at the scene that tragic night never thought she would survive. The doctors who performed surgery and attended to her in ICU initially never thought she'd be able to breathe on her own again or that she would have movement in any part of her body except her shoulders and neck. Abelina continues to fight, to prove everyone wrong, and to be an inspiration to everyone however. Currently she is breathing on her own without the aid of her ventilator for as many as 14 hours a day. She has proven the doctors wrong about her mobility by moving her hands on her own. And, though it takes a lot of work getting her out of her hospital bed and into a wheelchair, Abelina is now sitting up several hours a day.
The Novato community really came together to support Abelina and her children, holding candlelight vigils, fund raisers, and much more. But, more is needed. Abelina is still in ICU with hopes to be transferred to San Francisco or San Jose in the future for rehabilitation where she will remain until she is completely secure in the pulmonary region as well as having the ability to remain in a wheelchair. The SF rehab facility is specifically for spinal cord injuries and they have experts in the pulmonary area. She still has a very long road ahead of her and the medical expenses alone are tremendous. In addition, her children are being cared for by friends and family and need support. Most recently her oldest son, Abraham, went off to Arizona to live with Abelina's brother Jessie.
Anyway, as you can imagine, this family now is faced with many burdens - emotional, physical, and financial. The community of Novato has already done a lot in terms of fundraisers but more is needed and will continue to be needed. If anyone has suggestions on agencies to contact for grants or donations, it would be greatly appreciated. I am heading up a grant writing campaign to try to help out and we are just getting started. In addition, there is a fund already set up for the family and I would appreciate everyone getting the word out to encourage donations.
Donations can be made to:
The Magana Family Fund
c/o Bank of Marin
1450 Grant Avenue
Novato, CA 94945
And, at the very least, please keep this amazing woman and her three children in your prayers.
A local couple had just purchased a new home for their family and was looking to rent out the house they had thus far raised their three children in. It was a three bedroom house with a beautifully landscaped, flat, fenced in yard. The husband owned a landscaping company and did all the work himself. In fact, when I moved in with my daughter, his employees continued to come over weekly to mow the lawn and take care of everything. We absolutely loved living there. In fact, my daughter still talks about being put on my then boyfriend's shoulders to pick apples from an apple tree in the backyard.
Though I did not get to know the couple very well I thought very highly of them - the rent was more than reasonable, they took care of the lawns making my life easier, and they were there when anything else went wrong such as the dryer breaking. In fact, I had my second child while living in their house and I remember how sweet the wife was - calling to check on me and ask to stop by. She did not stay or intrude though I wouldn't have considered it an intrusion anyway - she simply wanted to bring by a gift for the baby.
As my oldest got into school, I saw even more of them - especially the wife. Their youngest son was in my daughter's elementary school class. I would often run into the wife at school. I wouldn't even see her coming and the next thing I knew I would hear a friendly, energetic voice asking how I was and turn to see her bright, white smile and sparkling eyes. This was a woman who truly lit up the room whenever she walked in. Anyway, in less than two years I was on my feet again and able to purchase my own place. Again they helped me. The husband hauled off furniture and other items I had decided not to keep and asked for nothing in return.
I continued to bump into the wife at the school over the years. And, as always, she was so pleasant and such a joy to see and talk to. But then in October of last year, shocking news hit the town. I will never forget how my heart dropped and tears came to my eyes when I hear it. I was at a 4 year old birthday party with my youngest daughter when another mother approached me asking if I'd read the paper that morning. I had not but I soon was told the story. Here is a summary of the story with current updates:
On October 12, 2007, a small Northern California community was shocked when it learned that one of its brightest, most inspirational citizens was fighting for her life after becoming a victim of domestic violence. Abelina Magana, was a mother, a wife, a successful real estate agent, a volunteer, and simply a ray of sunshine in the Novato, California community. Originally from Jalisco, Mexico, she moved to Novato in 1993 and made a life as a house cleaner and as a translator for the Novato Unified School District while her husband worked as a landscaper. Later Abelina went on to become a very successful real estate agent for Frank Howard Allen. The success never changed her though. If anything it allowed her to give even more to her family, friends, and community.
All around Novato, residents were accustomed to seeing Abelina's smiling face whether it be on Frank Howard Allen posters adorning the walls outside of Safeway and other businesses, at Chamber of Commerce events, or at the local elementary school or middle school her three children attended. She was a beautiful woman whose brown eyes always lit up when she talked and whose smile was bright enough to light any room. And, she was always friendly – running up to people she knew, whether good friends or simply acquaintances she'd crossed paths with and asking to see how they were doing – passing on best wishes to their children, and much more – simply a very energetic, passionate, friendly, and giving woman.
But on October 12th things changed and that bright light nearly went out. Abelina almost lost her life; her children almost lost both of their parents; and all those huge accomplishments Abelina made throughout her life suddenly seemed small in comparison to what she now faced. Yes, on October 12th, Abelina's husband shot her in their family home and then turned the gun on himself. Two of their three children were home at the time of the shooting and ran to a neighbor's house to get help and to call police. Abraham was dead when police arrived but miraculously God was watching over Abelina and she was clinging onto her life.
Today, over three months since the tragedy occurred, Abelina is still fighting daily in ICU at the UC Davis Medical Center. According to information posted by her family and friends at http://maganafamilyshare.blogspot.com, the detectives who arrived at the scene that tragic night never thought she would survive. The doctors who performed surgery and attended to her in ICU initially never thought she'd be able to breathe on her own again or that she would have movement in any part of her body except her shoulders and neck. Abelina continues to fight, to prove everyone wrong, and to be an inspiration to everyone however. Currently she is breathing on her own without the aid of her ventilator for as many as 14 hours a day. She has proven the doctors wrong about her mobility by moving her hands on her own. And, though it takes a lot of work getting her out of her hospital bed and into a wheelchair, Abelina is now sitting up several hours a day.
The Novato community really came together to support Abelina and her children, holding candlelight vigils, fund raisers, and much more. But, more is needed. Abelina is still in ICU with hopes to be transferred to San Francisco or San Jose in the future for rehabilitation where she will remain until she is completely secure in the pulmonary region as well as having the ability to remain in a wheelchair. The SF rehab facility is specifically for spinal cord injuries and they have experts in the pulmonary area. She still has a very long road ahead of her and the medical expenses alone are tremendous. In addition, her children are being cared for by friends and family and need support. Most recently her oldest son, Abraham, went off to Arizona to live with Abelina's brother Jessie.
Anyway, as you can imagine, this family now is faced with many burdens - emotional, physical, and financial. The community of Novato has already done a lot in terms of fundraisers but more is needed and will continue to be needed. If anyone has suggestions on agencies to contact for grants or donations, it would be greatly appreciated. I am heading up a grant writing campaign to try to help out and we are just getting started. In addition, there is a fund already set up for the family and I would appreciate everyone getting the word out to encourage donations.
Donations can be made to:
The Magana Family Fund
c/o Bank of Marin
1450 Grant Avenue
Novato, CA 94945
And, at the very least, please keep this amazing woman and her three children in your prayers.
