| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Serena K. Formby-Condon has demonstrated grace and |
|
|
resilience during her nearly decade-long recovery from a traumatic |
|
|
brain injury; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A former employee of the Texas Legislative Council, |
|
|
Ms. Formby-Condon worked as a computer consultant from 1995 to |
|
|
2009; she provided computer support to members of the Texas |
|
|
Legislature through several legislative sessions, in addition to |
|
|
contributing her skills as a graphic designer at various times and |
|
|
serving as web administrator for the council's Computer Support |
|
|
Center; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Ms. Formby-Condon had been dealing with recurring |
|
|
headaches when, on a holiday vacation in Grand Cayman on December |
|
|
23, 2007, she suddenly collapsed in the home of her friend, Sonja |
|
|
Guenter; she was rushed to a hospital, where she was found to be |
|
|
suffering from a severe brain hemorrhage, and arrangements were |
|
|
made to fly her by air ambulance to Miami Regional Hospital in |
|
|
Florida; there, she was kept in a medically induced coma for two |
|
|
weeks as doctors battled to save her life; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, After awakening from her coma, Ms. Formby-Condon |
|
|
learned that she had experienced a basal ganglia hemorrhage, a form |
|
|
of stroke that is fatal in 97 percent of reported cases; her |
|
|
survival was hailed as a miracle by the intensive care nurses who |
|
|
treated her, and she went on to undergo several months of physical |
|
|
therapy at St. David's Rehabilitation Hospital in Austin; while |
|
|
there, she received the support and guidance of a team of therapists |
|
|
that included John Cooper, Beth Bostick, Trish Ann Montoya, |
|
|
Stephanie Coker, Bob Whitford, and Michael Burrows, and thanks in |
|
|
large part to their efforts, she continues to take hopeful steps |
|
|
toward regaining her balance and short-term memory; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Today, Ms. Formby-Condon serves as a board member of |
|
|
the Texas Brain Injury Alliance and as a member of the Strategic |
|
|
Planning Committee for the Brain Injury Association of America, and |
|
|
she communicates daily with survivors, family members, and |
|
|
caregivers from all over the world as the administrator of an online |
|
|
traumatic brain injury support group; comforted and sustained by |
|
|
her faith, she is also blessed in all her endeavors with the love |
|
|
and partnership of her husband, Mark Condon; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Having overcome tremendous odds, Serena |
|
|
Formby-Condon continues to inspire all who know her with her |
|
|
commitment to promoting awareness and support for victims of |
|
|
life-threatening brain injuries, and she is indeed deserving of our |
|
|
heartfelt commendation; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby honor Serena K. Formby-Condon on the occasion of |
|
|
National Brain Injury Awareness Month in March 2017, recognize |
|
|
March 18 as Brain Injury Awareness Day, and extend to |
|
|
Ms. Formby-Condon sincere best wishes for her ongoing recovery; |
|
|
and, be it further |
|
|
|
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for her as an expression of high regard by the Texas House |
|
|
of Representatives. |
| |
|
|
Cyrier |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 31 was adopted by the House on |
|
|
February 23, 2017, by a non-record vote. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |