“When the doctor first told me I was going to miss the beginning of the school year as I recovered, the first thing I said was ‘I am not finished being President,’” Oregon Alpha Alysia Kezerian said. “I wanted so desperately to finish what I started.”

On August 2, 2015, Alysia was in a rock climbing accident that left her with a severed spinal cord injury. On a beautiful afternoon only one month later in Denver, Colorado, I sat down with Alysia just outside of Craig Rehabilitation Hospital.

Alysia told me she had attended Pi Phi convention this past June and it left her empowered and full of ideas. “I couldn’t wait to share everything I learned with my chapter, and I wanted to bring the convention energy to back them,” Alysia said.

Alysia will still get that chance. She is working on her convention wrap-up for the chapter and cannot wait to Skype in for an upcoming chapter meeting this fall. Her Executive Council also wants to make sure Alysia has time with the New Members. She is even working on a speech for the Oregon Alpha centennial, which someone will read in her place next weekend. It is evident Alysia has no plans of letting her injury slow her down.

Alysia will spend 6-8 weeks at Craig Rehabilitation Hospital. “We knew Craig was the right hospital for me right off the bat,” Alysia said. “I was welcomed as soon as I got out of the ambulance.” The Kezerian’s researched several rehabilitation facilities and settled on Craig because of its specialties (traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries) and its work with young people.

She notes her days are even more jam-packed now. She is up early (around 7 or 8 in the morning) and then shortly after heads to her first class of the day — mat class for stretching. Occupational therapy, also referred to as “transfer training,” is where Alysia learns how to take care of herself in everyday situations, such as getting in and out of a car, traveling on an airplane and getting clothes on and off. Alysia spends her afternoons in physical therapy to work on balance and then fit class where she strength trains. Alysia even jokes about how strong her upper body will be when she leaves Craig.

Through all of these new changes in Alysia’s life, she has remained positive and upbeat about her future. She focuses each day on moving forward and getting better. “People ask me often how they can pray for me or what they should wish for,” Alysia said. “I tell them to pray I will improve everyday. I look forward to having one good day after another with little to no set backs.”

Alysia’s mom took me to her room and shared all of the cards, gifts, food, pictures and flowers her friends, family and Pi Phi sisters have sent. This is what gets Alysia through the bad days. Alysia is more than grateful for the support people have given her. “People keep saying how strong I am,” Alysia said. “I just don’t always feel that strong. But, 88 percent of the time, I have a real positive attitude.” When Alysia misses a class or gets frustrated, she feels like she is disappointing all of those who support her. “I have to keep reminding myself to be realistic.” She said.

Both Alysia and her mother expressed how much the support from Pi Phi has impacted them. Alysia said the support started with her Pi Phi sister and fellow Oregon Alpha Jen Kirst. “Jen was with me when the accident happened … Jen saved my life,” Alysia said. The support continued to pour in from her sisters, her Alumnae Advisory Committee and then from Pi Phis across North America. “I have received treats and cards from all over. And one of my Oregon Alpha sisters has parents who live in Bend. They stayed with me in the hospital right after the accident until my parents made it into town.”

Alysia also notes how fantastic her family has been. Her mom is staying with her as she recovers in Denver. “My mom remains calm and never gets frustrated with me,” Alysia said. “I don’t know what I would do without her.” Alysia’s dad, sister and other family have also been great, especially when she posted a joke on Facebook about how terrible the food was in the hospital. “We started receiving calls right away from our family letting us know they had ordered food and it would arrive at the hospital any minute,” Alysia said. “Soon we had too much food. I had to go back on Facebook and nicely let everyone know the food situation wasn’t as bad as I made it out to be.”

Alysia is looking forward to her release date, which is tentatively set for early October. She can’t wait to get back to her chapter and finish what she started.