Who are your real-life heroes?

My real-life heroes are my parents and grandparents. Being raised on a farm, we have learned family values and hard-work ethics. My grandparents started our farm and ranch over 90 years ago; they had the foresight to envision their grandchildren’s livelihood. My parents taught us to work and be self-sustaining. They taught us the importance of education and family traditions. They taught us the value of living an honest life. During the COVID-19 pandemic, as a family, we did not lack in much. Due to our family values instilled in us, we have all been able to share our talents and our produce grown.

Due to the pandemic restrictions and the many uncertainties that were brought upon us all, our kids and families encountered a very difficult and trying year. The Taos Public School employees have been working long hours trying to provide and accommodate to all the needs of our youth. They have provided computer equipment and online instruction, along with daily meals. The staff has worked tirelessly trying to keep our children abreast in their studies. If you are not teaching, counseling, preparing lunches or delivering, then you are preparing the school infrastructure for the time when our children are able to return to school. THANK YOU, TAOS PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES! Our 4-H youth have also been affected by the pandemic. They were unsure of their indoor and livestock projects. After working long summer hours on projects, the kids were afraid the projects would go unnoticed, not be judged and/or sold at a livestock auction. The Taos County Extension employees and County Fair Board arranged for virtual judging and a virtual auction. Thank you, taos extension office and county fair board! Much appreciation also goes to Kit Carson Electric Cooperation and Captain Alejandro Rodríguez for the support you showed my son with his livestock projects. The Taos Swim Club (TSC) also took a hit this past year. Due to state restrictions, the Taos Youth and Family Center has been closed. Our kids are hopeful that as our county has moved to the yellow level of the pandemic, the town of Taos will reopen the swimming pool and allow them to get back to swimming. In addition, the annual tradition of the Taos Feeds Taos organization is to provide families in need with food boxes for the Christmas season. Once again, due to restrictions, TFT provided families with gift certificates to Super Save Discount Foods for food purchases. I am grateful TFT found a new method to support families in need. It has been a difficult year, but we are very fortunate to live in Taos. We are blessed that we do not reside within a big city.

I have been a Registered Nurse at Holy Cross Medical Center here in Taos for 16 years this May. I have worked the majority of my nursing career and am currently working in the Labor and Delivery Unit, but have worked the Medical Surgical floor, and Pre- and Post-surgical, and Endoscopy units as well. I have been a coach for Taos Xtreme Allstar Cheerleading teams for eight years, working with Taos youth ages 4-18; and just completed my first season as Head Coach of Taos Middle School Cheerleading team. The accomplishment I am most proud of is my family. I became a mother at 18, and along with my husband, and the help of our “village” have raised and continue to raise three incredible young humans. I am also very proud to be able to give back to my community which continues to give so much to me, in working with our youth, giving them support and an outlet through cheer. Being able to support Taos women, some friends, family, in the vulnerable journey of labor and birth, and as they navigate their new role as a mother. It is just as empowering for me as it is for them, and it’s wonderful to be a part of the magic of Taos’ “village” as it goes full circle.

Sane? My husband (who also works at the hospital as a surgical technologist) and I are fortunate the hospital and our coworkers are supportive of a work-life balance, allowing us to have semi opposite work schedules. We prefer one of us be with our children as much as possible, except for a couple of days a week when we’re blessed to have my mother, Theresa, or my mother-in-law, Marbella Trujillo, help watch our daughters while we are at work. As a nurse, I am able to work three 12-hour shifts a week, the majority are weekend days, which gives me four days off during the week for my family and coaching duties. My husband works Monday-friday, and ends his work day in the early afternoon, only to rush home to be with our 2 1/2-year-old, while my 13-year-old and myself rush off to cheer practice Tuesdays-thursdays. Sundays are family days, a day we are all off together.