A series of seizures on April 3 left Salinas City Councilmember José Luis Barajas unable to communicate for nearly five weeks, he says. Barajas has been discharged from inpatient medical care and is recovering.
"It was very scary, not being able to talk or write," Barajas says.
He was able to understand what people communicated to him but unable to respond, he says via text message.
"My doctors feel I have had a very strong recovery, and I am now able to speak fully and write," he adds. "I want to thank my fellow councilmembers and District 1 residents for their patience with me over the last six weeks as I work towards a full recovery."
Barajas represents District 1 on the Salinas City Council, and while details of his medical condition were not publicly announced, he missed three consecutive council meetings. That prompted him, through an attorney, to request a medical leave of absence on May 5, granted by his colleagues on the council. (The city charter states that if a member misses three consecutive meetings unexcused, they can be removed from council.)
Barajas was first admitted to Salinas Valley Health, then the UC San Francisco hospital before returning home to the Acute Rehabilitation Clinic at Natividad in Salinas. He has since been discharged and is continuing to recover from what he says his doctors describe as a temporary condition.
"I look forward to attending the first City Council meeting after the council's summer break," Barajas adds.
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