Principal Injured In Crash Leaves Rehab

After spending more than a month in the hospital, George Foster, the principal at Desert Pride High School, finally returned home Thursday.

George said it was one of the happiest moments of his life.

His journey has been a difficult but inspiring one. A few weeks ago, George was hooked up to a ventilator and could not talk or eat on his own. But now he can do all of that in the comfort of his own home.

?I feel good, I feel wonderful, and I feel like I’m going to make it all the way,” George said.

George did make it all the way, right out the front doors of the Southern New Mexico Rehabilitation Center, and into the arms of his beloved family.

A bittersweet farewell moment with his nurses and physical therapists George said he envisioned ever since he arrived.

“I put it in my mind that ‘Ok, you have to jump a step each time and climb to get back to where you were at.?”

Thursday was the first time George had seen his Las Cruces home in more than a month, not to mention, his best friends. His two dogs, a Chihuahua and Bichon Frise, jumped into his lap and showered him with kisses as soon as they saw George enter the living room.

“I couldn’t imagine a couple weeks ago that he’d already be home, they told us it would be several weeks,? Judith Foster, George?s wife who was also nearly killed in the crash, said. ?But one thing I can say about him is, he’s a determined man and once he decides to put himself on a goal he does everything he can to get there.”

George?s first goal was to dance with his youngest daughter Ashley at her New Years Eve wedding, a moment made possible with his physical therapists by his side.

“It meant the world, the whole world,? George said.

And next, was to be with Judith for their 38th wedding anniversary, which just happened to fall on the very same day George was released from rehab.

“I can’t think of a better anniversary gift than to have him home and back in our house,” Judith said.

It was the night of December 4th when Nancy Moreno hit the Fosters head-on. Police said her blood alcohol was nearly three times the legal limit. Moreno already has two previous DWI convictions. This past week, Moreno pleaded not guilty.

“A lot of people that get DWIs, that is their third, that’s their fourth, that’s their fifth, that’s their sixth,? George said. ?This has got to stop. It’s time to change the law; it is time to get the whole state, the whole community, and start backing new laws. I hope and pray that nobody has to go through this – ever.”

George said he believes the only reason he has made such a tremendous recovery is because of all the support he has received, along with always having a positive attitude.

George said he still feels a constant pain from his broken sternum, and is unsure how long he will have to remain in a wheelchair.

But now that he is home, George said he was most looking forward to a special anniversary dinner Thursday of shrimp and filet mignon, prepared by the Fosters? son.

Moreno is currently held on $25,000 bond. A trial date is not yet scheduled.