Point Reyes Light - October 21, 2004
Stinson crash victim to teach Chinese exercise
By Jacob Resneck
Car-crash victim Debra Zibitt of Stinson Beach said she owes the speed of her recovery to Qi Gong, a healing technique developed in China more than 5,000 years ago.
On June 23, Zibitt, 53, was driving south on Highway 1 approaching the Bolinas Wye when her small pickup truck collided with a larger car driven by Cathy Cook of Bolinas. Cook was northbound following a large recreational vehicle and failed to see Zibitt’s truck when she made a left turn in front of it.
The two vehicles collided almost head-on, injuring Zibitt severely. Both were transported by helicopter to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. Cook was also injured but not as seriously, the Highway Patrol reported.
A month in the hospital
"Debra spent a month in the hospital, and about half of that was in the [intensive care unit,]" her husband Charlie Zibitt, 57, told The Light. "She still wears a ‘halo’ [restrictive spinal and head brace] and will until her C2 vertebrae is healed. Because she fractured the vertebrae, they put a screw in there to stabilize it, which immobilizes her neck until it heals."
Ms. Zibitt said that because she has used 5,000-year-old Qi Gong techniques, her healing has been accelerated.
"During the hospital time, [by] using Qi Gong I was able to compose myself. The doctors were amazed by my rapid recovery," she said. "Now I’m relearning to walk."
After being hospitalized for six broken ribs, a broken forearm, broken left femur, and crushed vertebrae, Zibitt said she has been undergoing constant physical therapy and hopes to be walking again soon.
Will teach Qi Gong
A former Montessori teacher and a resident of West Marin for 29 years, Zibitt was to begin a Qi Gong class in West Marin before the accident postponed her plans. The experience, she said, has strengthened her belief in the practice, and she wants to begin teaching Qi Gong’s exercises as soon as she is physically able to, which she expects to do at the Dance Palace in January.
In the meantime, a brace known as a halo stabilizes her broken bones.
"This halo, it’s titanium," Zibitt noted, "and it goes from my waist to four inches over my head. Now I have four pins lodged into my head. It’s gruesome. There are four pins lodged into my scalp. It holds my neck so I can’t move my [back] or my head, but I still teach Qi Gong. I’ve had students visit my bedside."
She said the community support she received has been inspiring. "I got such an overwhelming response from Bolinas," she said. "Everyone I know has helped me. All of the well-wishers – they’ve really helped."
Zibitt said she will speak at the Dance Palace at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26, about Qi Gong and her recovery.