A Sonoran Treasure - Nilda Alina Trevor Pino
Alina Trevor is a famous artist from Caborca, Sonora. Her
paintings hang in galleries around the world, she has been a
guest on international television programs, and has received a
myriad of honors and recognition.
And in addition to her artistic talent and accomplishments, she
is an inspiration to millions for another reason as well – Alina is
paralyzed from the neck down.
A month before her 17th birthday, Alina was struck by a
vehicle while crossing the street as she walked to school.
Concerned bystanders rushed to her aid, and made the
mistake of moving her injured body at the accident scene.
She was transported to a hospital in the state capital of
Hermosillo, where she was kept on her back for several days.
In that position, her lungs filled with fluid and she developed
pneumonia.
She was airlifted to St. Mary’s hospital in Tucson, where she
died.
Her mother had been in the hospital room with Alina, and
doctors told her to leave the room, because her daughter was
dead. Alina described the experience from her perspective at
the time as being in the front yard of their family home in
Caborca.
Holding on to a fence, a wind was blowing that had knocked
her off her feet and threatened to blow her away. She kept a
fierce grip on the fence as the howling wind lifted her light
body, wanting to take her.
As her fingers began to slip from the fence, she heard a
booming male voice calling her name… Alina! Alina! She didn’t
realize it at the time, but the voice was her brother, who was in
the hospital room as doctors scrambled to save her life.
At that time, as she held on for dear life she felt that she was
screaming at the top of her lungs – “I want to live! I want to
live!”
And she did.
Alina described the experience to me when we first met in
2006, during a visit when I had the pleasure of collaborating
with her on the design of a brochure.
Shortly after her accident she had started painting, an activity
she had enjoyed since childhood. She considers her art to be
a daily motivation for her.
Alina lives in the family home in Caborca, where her mother,
Adelina Pino de Trevor, cares for her. Her mother has been at
Alina’s side since the day of the accident, selflessly caring for
her precious daughter. The artist credits her mother as being
a main source of inspiration, in addition to her family, and a
love of God and the Virgin of Guadalupe.
During my visits with Alina, we discussed a variety of topics.
She talked about her interest in improving accessibility for the
disabled to public areas. Virtually unheard of in Mexico just a
few years ago, now streets and buildings constructed in towns
like Caborca have disabled access ramps and parking spaces.
Another passion is communicating to youth about the
importance of staying in school, and to not use drugs. She is
filled with caring for others, and is also optimistic about medical
advancements in treating spinal cord injury being funded by
the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.
One time I’d had the good fortune to visit Alina when she was
painting. With a brush attached to a mouthpiece that is molded
to her teeth, she deftly moved her head to put color to
canvas.
I was transfixed as a colorful desert scene appeared. She was
creating the image from her mind, as she does with most
works of art that she creates. Her favorite themes are the
Sonoran desert of Northern Mexico where she was born and
raised, and flowers.
Alina’s beauty, kindness and smiling, positive outlook are truly
an inspiration. And for all of the people she has touched with
her beautiful art, inspirational life story, and her efforts to help
improve the lives of others, Nilda Alina Trevor has made this
world a better place.
To request a copy of Alina's brochure in pdf format by email,
click here.
Alina Trevor is a famous artist from Caborca, Sonora. Her
paintings hang in galleries around the world, she has been a
guest on international television programs, and has received a
myriad of honors and recognition.
And in addition to her artistic talent and accomplishments, she
is an inspiration to millions for another reason as well – Alina is
paralyzed from the neck down.
A month before her 17th birthday, Alina was struck by a
vehicle while crossing the street as she walked to school.
Concerned bystanders rushed to her aid, and made the
mistake of moving her injured body at the accident scene.
She was transported to a hospital in the state capital of
Hermosillo, where she was kept on her back for several days.
In that position, her lungs filled with fluid and she developed
pneumonia.
She was airlifted to St. Mary’s hospital in Tucson, where she
died.
Her mother had been in the hospital room with Alina, and
doctors told her to leave the room, because her daughter was
dead. Alina described the experience from her perspective at
the time as being in the front yard of their family home in
Caborca.
Holding on to a fence, a wind was blowing that had knocked
her off her feet and threatened to blow her away. She kept a
fierce grip on the fence as the howling wind lifted her light
body, wanting to take her.
As her fingers began to slip from the fence, she heard a
booming male voice calling her name… Alina! Alina! She didn’t
realize it at the time, but the voice was her brother, who was in
the hospital room as doctors scrambled to save her life.
At that time, as she held on for dear life she felt that she was
screaming at the top of her lungs – “I want to live! I want to
live!”
And she did.
Alina described the experience to me when we first met in
2006, during a visit when I had the pleasure of collaborating
with her on the design of a brochure.
Shortly after her accident she had started painting, an activity
she had enjoyed since childhood. She considers her art to be
a daily motivation for her.
Alina lives in the family home in Caborca, where her mother,
Adelina Pino de Trevor, cares for her. Her mother has been at
Alina’s side since the day of the accident, selflessly caring for
her precious daughter. The artist credits her mother as being
a main source of inspiration, in addition to her family, and a
love of God and the Virgin of Guadalupe.
During my visits with Alina, we discussed a variety of topics.
She talked about her interest in improving accessibility for the
disabled to public areas. Virtually unheard of in Mexico just a
few years ago, now streets and buildings constructed in towns
like Caborca have disabled access ramps and parking spaces.
Another passion is communicating to youth about the
importance of staying in school, and to not use drugs. She is
filled with caring for others, and is also optimistic about medical
advancements in treating spinal cord injury being funded by
the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.
One time I’d had the good fortune to visit Alina when she was
painting. With a brush attached to a mouthpiece that is molded
to her teeth, she deftly moved her head to put color to
canvas.
I was transfixed as a colorful desert scene appeared. She was
creating the image from her mind, as she does with most
works of art that she creates. Her favorite themes are the
Sonoran desert of Northern Mexico where she was born and
raised, and flowers.
Alina’s beauty, kindness and smiling, positive outlook are truly
an inspiration. And for all of the people she has touched with
her beautiful art, inspirational life story, and her efforts to help
improve the lives of others, Nilda Alina Trevor has made this
world a better place.
To request a copy of Alina's brochure in pdf format by email,
click here.
| Story (c) copyright 2008, Explore-Sonora.com, all rights reserved. |
| Nilda Alina Trevor Pino |
| Alina and her mother Adelina, on the set of the Univision talk show Cristina, with host Cristina Saralegui |
| Alina with the host of Sabado Gigante, Don Francisco |
| Nilda Alina Trevor Pino and Adelina Pino de Trevor |
Some of Alina's many awards that
line the walls of the Trevor home.
line the walls of the Trevor home.
| Alina's art studio |
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