Twin Cities Teacher Returns To Class After Brush With Death
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Students who went through a frightening ordeal last January witnessed something wonderful on Monday.
A popular teacher returned to school after undergoing many surgeries and nearly losing her life. A year ago, Adela Alvarez was leading an evening Zumba class after teaching Spanish during the day at Mayer Lutheran High School.
She collapsed that night and went into cardiac arrest. Then while hospitalized, a life-threatening blood clot and infection required doctors to amputate her right leg just above the knee.
WCCO-TV visited her in her classroom Monday. She appeared even more energetic and optimistic than when we first shared her story last winter.
This was Adela's first day back in class, teaching Spanish after a year's absence. She spent the summer learning how to get used to a prosthetic leg. Her insurance coverage enabled her to get one that is technologically-advanced. It's designed for people who are active.
Alvarez has a lot of catching up to do with her students and a lot to show them, like her bionic prosthetic leg.
"To bend the leg like this way, I need to put my weight on my heel, if I put my weight on my toes, it bends," Alvarez said.
She's on her feet now but a year ago, the students at Mayer Lutheran High School were praying Senora Alvarez would survive her 16 surgeries and the complications that came along with them. Not only has her health been restored, so has her spirit.
"You know what, I have two hands and I have my other leg and I am alive. Yes, that's the thing. My life changed. Yes, I don't want to lie to you. I have days that are harder. But, when I put everything in perspective. You know what, I am alive," she said.
Students told us how much they missed her. Nathan Taylor is a senior and has been in Senora Alvarez's since he was a freshman.
"It's not like we didn't like our first semester teacher, but we love Mrs. Alvarez," he said. "We are blessed to have her. That was a very serious incident for her. For her to be back is close to a miracle."
She's hoping her journey will teach her students a lesson about life.
"Yes I lose my leg. My life changed, but life is a gift from God. Many times we think we have control of our lives and we don't," Alvarez said. "The thing is when something happens,what are you going to do? Are you going to get angry? Be upset? Get bitterness in your heart? It doesn't help," she said.
She said she is able to exercise again. Yes, she's doing Zumba. But it's only at home, mostly from a chair, sometimes using Skype to do it with her 82-year-old mother in Argentina. Senora Alvarez hopes to teach Zumba again, perhaps for people who've had knee or hip replacement surgery. Also, she said her doctors implanted a cardiac defibrillator to prevent future heart problems.
Her bionic leg is pretty amazing. It is giving her a wide range of motion but it cost about $145,000. Insurance covered most of it, but the family still has a lot of medical expenses. They've set up a GoFundMe page for people who want to make contributions.
