Gaia's Guardian Award

The Gaia’s Guardian Award is given by Full Circle to a person or group for "Outstanding work benefiting Mamma Gaia and her creatures". It is given to those people who inspire the rest of us by their courage, caring and compassionate action. You do not have to be Pagan to win this award - what counts are good deeds and a noble heart.

This award is presented every year at the annual Witches Ball in October.

2001 Gaia's Guardian Award

Shoppers parked illegally in handicapped spaces in Northern California should take care. They may come out of the parking lot and find an intensely serious woman in a black Thunderbird Super Coupe blocking their exit until the arrival of the police she's just called on her car phone.

Deborah Noel admits that she's militant about the rights of people with disabilities. She's been through a life changing illness and has fought her way back to living an independent life that includes the assistance of Service Dogs.

Prior to 1986, Deborah had enjoyed a very full and "normal" life. She had been a model, a ballerina and a cosmetologist. Then in her 30's she continued to study dance and to work at fashion shows. She traveled around the world and led an active life that included water and snow skiing, golf, tennis, skating and parasailing.

1986 was a rough year. She had just left an unhappy marriage to a successful entrepreneur and she was attempting to make a living on her own as a part-time model and hair stylist. Then she begin to suffer from intense flu-like symptoms, stomach cramps and a severe headache. She went to her doctor, twice, to find out what was wrong. The second time she was given morphine for cervical pain and sent home. In fact, she had a bleeding ulcer which went undetected. Bacteria entered her bloodstream and she suffered a blood infection so intense that one of her kidneys failed. She fell into a comma and was discovered 3 days later by a friend who rushed her to the hospital. The ER doctors found that gangrene had developed in her lower legs and both hands. Emergency surgery saved her life but she lost both legs below the knee and all of her fingers on both hands.

Deborah then begin the difficult process of grieving, emotional healing and physical rehabilitation. She learned to use a wheelchair and was fitted for a pair of prosthetic legs. Neither of these tools offered her the independence she wanted.

In 1989, she received a Service Dog from a non-profit group called Canine Companions. This changed her life. Now she had Oregon, an animal partner that would enhance the quality of her life and help her live independently.

Deborah does nothing by halves. She worked very hard and trained with Oregon and she eventually became the local spokesperson for Canine Companions. She then went on to act as their Northwest Regional and National spokesperson.

In 1990, she (and Oregon) won both the regional and the national Jefferson Award from the American Institute of Public Service. This award is given for "Outstanding Service Befitting a Local Community". Oregon was the first dog in the nation's history to win this award. Award winners are invited to Washington D.C. for the formal ceremony and celebration. Ironically, she was not able to enter the large federal building from the front, as it had a great many steps and no wheelchair ramp. She was escorted around the back and taken up via an uncovered ramp, in the rain, while wearing an evening gown. During her acceptance speech, she used her usual wit and humor to point this fact out to the distinguished body of guests who were present that evening. We can only hope that those in power got the point.

While in Washington she also spoke at a gathering that included the members of the U.S. Supreme Court and she appeared on CNN to discuss the positive difference a Service Dog can make in the lives of people with disabilities.

In 1992, she was awarded the Human-animal Bond Award by the Delta Society, an international non-profit group which also breeds and trains Service Dogs. She has also appeared with one of her dogs on the Science Diet Calendar for that year.

In the last ten years Deborah has worked to build an independent, creative life. She continues to educate the public on the rights of people with disabilities and on the need for Service Dogs. She has also developed a pair of specially made shears so that she can continue to cut hair professionally.

She has served as a Board Member for both Canine Companions and Community Resources for Independence in Northern California. She has also participated in the annual Barrier Awareness Day as a Co-Chair. During this special day, members of the public and various government servants draw lots and "win" a disability. They then spend that day "living with" that disability; using a wheel chair, living as a blind person, etc. They are escorted and guided through their workday by someone who has that same challenge in real life.

She has raised two litters of puppies for Canine Companions over the years. She has also helped to train Service Dogs for others. She has volunteered in the puppy classes and served as a Mentor and Peer Counselor, visiting those in need of support. She has traveled all over the U.S., often alone with just her dog, speaking on behalf of Service Dogs and people with physical challenges. She has helped to redesigned the harnesses and back packs used on Service Dogs to make them more efficient for their users and more comfortable for the dogs. She has also worked to develop videos about Service Dogs.

Deborah has worked with several different Service Dogs over the years. Oregon has since passed on, as has Orinda, another much loved companion and the mother of her service dog puppies.

Deborah lives in a rural part of Northern California. She is currently taking some time to rest and relax. These days she develops her spiritual and creative side and concentrates on her Pagan practice. She plants trees and works on her farm, attends drumming circles, beads jewelry, does crafts, trains her dog, gardens, cuts & styles hair, and travels. She practices in an eclectic Green Tradition.

Her work, humour, courage and her creativity inspire all who meet her. I am therefore pleased and proud to announce that she is our Gaia's Guardian Award Winner for 2001.