By Ben Orcutt

FRONT ROYAL -- Area residents are rallying around Debbie Llewellyn, a former community activist who is paralyzed from the shoulders down.

Family and friends have formed the group "Team Debbie" and have been raising funds to help defray costs she and her husband, Charlie Llewellyn, have incurred since she became paralyzed following an April 7 surgery in Reston.

Llewellyn, who like his wife is 55, said his wife had five herniated discs in her spinal column and that while surgery on April 5 was successful the surgeon does not know what went wrong following a second operation on April 7.

However, Llewellyn said his wife's spirit is strong and he's had staff at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange, N.J. -- the same facility that treated the late actor Christopher Reeve following his horse-riding accident -- tell him that his wife's room is the only one they walk into where the patient asks them how they're doing.

"That's just her nature," Llewellyn said.

Although she has been paralyzed from the shoulders down, Llewellyn said his wife has been able to move fingers on both hands recently, and he is confident she will come home.

"We were both overwhelmed by the support from the community," Llewellyn said. "It's overwhelming and very emotional. Hopefully she can keep improving. It's a daunting task ahead of us. Absolutely, she will come home. That is the goal with everybody."

Llewellyn said his wife's medical problems have put a financial strain on the family. He is renting a motel room in New Jersey to be near her, and said there will be a number of expenses for special medical equipment when she comes home.

Members of "Team Debbie" are helping to raise funds for their friend through the sale of baby-blue wristbands and a benefit concert set Saturday at the Warren County Fairgrounds.

Among the committee members is Rhonda McDaniel, a deputy clerk at Warren County General District Court who has known Mrs. Llewellyn for 32 years. Team Debbie meets on a weekly basis, and McDaniel estimates that more than $4,000 has been raised thus far for their friend.

"As for what she's been through, I think her spirits are very good," said McDaniel, 52. "I saw her on my birthday, June 4th. That's when she was in Washington and she was still really spunky."

Warren County General District Court Clerk Pam Kidwell, who graduated from high school with Mrs. Llewellyn, is another member of the team. Like other supporters, Kidwell sports a baby blue wristband in support of Mrs. Llewellyn, "because Debbie's given a lot to her community and we're just trying to give back to her."

Tracy Rutherford, 48, who works in the commonwealth attorney's office, spoke in a similar vein.

"I've been acquainted with the Llewellyn family for quite some time," Rutherford said. "They need all the support they can get right now. This is something that packs a punch. I mean it really sends home the message that the events in someone's life can change suddenly, overnight. It drives it home, I mean truly."

Mrs. Llewellyn, who has two adult sons, has a laundry list of many accomplishments, including being the original owner of Debbie's Ivy Garden, former president of the Front Royal Jaycettes and a steadfast volunteer for area charities. She also was a Miss Warren County Fair queen and runner-up in a Miss Virginia pageant.

"The Debbie I know has never been a passive person in any way and she would be out doing the same thing if she could help in any way," Rutherford said. "She'd be out lending her support to an unfortunate situation if somebody else had incurred it. She'd be doing the very same thing."