Dunedin nurse opens her eyes after month-long coma

A Dunedin nurse has started to open her eyes after being in an induced coma and undergoing two surgeries in the last month.

Intensive care nurse Teresa Sevilla was 32 weeks pregnant when she collapsed from work during a night shift on August 3.

A CT scan of his head showed massive bleeding.

The decision was made to perform an emergency cesarean section and baby Estella Marie was born.

The Sevilla underwent surgery in mid-August but remained in an induced coma.

Her husband and fellow intensive care nurse, Heylon Sevilla, said yesterday that she was airlifted to Christchurch Hospital and underwent a second surgery on Thursday.

He was successful and had begun to open his eyes.

But it could be some time before his wife fully responds, he said.

“I’m fine because the surgery went well.”

He and his son Nio would temporarily live in Christchurch while she went through rehab.

He hoped to return to Dunedin forever in the next two or three weeks.

Baby Estella, who turned 1 month old on Thursday and was “groomed” for the occasion, remains in the neonatal intensive care unit at Dunedin Hospital, being cared for by staff and friends.

In an update on the Givealittle page for the family, which raised more than $ 43,000, Heylon Sevilla said a long road to recovery is now in sight.

“Kia kaha Teresa, the nightmare is almost over. Soon it will be morning,” he wrote.