As a caregiver, Tyja makes a profound difference in her client’s lives, “My purpose is to make their life as close to what it was as possible, you don’t want to make them feel that their life is different.” Tyja’s approach and positive attitude has helped her client Karin, accomplish her goals, including traveling to Guatemala to perform surgeries on children.
Nomination Letter
Written by Karin, Tyja’s client
It is with great pleasure that I write to you in regards to Tyja Owens. Tyja is an amazing woman, who has been working with me since 2014. In 2013, I required a surgical procedure on my back. I have a rather complicated congenital spinal anomaly and have always worn a full-length leg brace. I am a full-time operating neurosurgeon and Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Michigan. After my surgery I had significant weakness in my lower extremities and required assistance with activities of daily living. As you can imagine this was a complicated and devastating time for me. I seriously thought that my existence as a neurosurgeon, and more importantly as head of the Department of Neurogurgery, had come to an end because I was unable to walk independently and now required a motorized wheelchair. Through determination, hard work, the love of family and friends, and the support of my institution, I was able to reclaim much of my previous existence. I could not have accomplished this without the ability of assistance of my activities of daily living.
Initially, I had a series of care providers that would come to my house to help me during mornings and evenings, but eventually appreciated that one person stood out among all of them. This person was Tyja Owens. Tyja is an amazing woman. She is professional, dedicated, and caring. She has become an integral part of our family, and to be honest I feel that I know her family much as I know my own. She is capable, thoughtful, extremely smart, and always caring about the people she takes care of. Listening to her recount stories of other clients has been heartwarming for me. She genuinely loves her job and believes firmly in the fact that assisting others is not only meaningful, but important to the fabric of society.
I am the first woman to chair the Department of Neurosurgery in the United States. I am also the Chair of what is considered to be on the of the best neurosurgical departments in the country. As a result of this, I am often called to participate in important meetings throughout the United States. These include the American Board of Neurologic Surgeons, the America Association of Neurologic Surgeons, and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. This past year I was President of the society of Neurologic Surgeons. Each of these organizations, and my many regulatory responsibilities, mean I am called upon to travel across the United States, and even out of the country. To do this in a motorized wheelchair would be impossible if I did not have the ability to travel with someone.