Mayor injured after falling from horse

Millstone Mayor suffers broken arm, three fractured ribs and punctured lung

By: Purvi Desai
   MILLSTONE — Mayor Nancy Grbelja was injured in a riding accident Saturday afternoon and is recovering in hospital with a broken arm, three fractured ribs and a punctured lung.
   "I’m recovering," Mayor Grbelja said Tuesday in a phone interview from her room at CentraState Hospital in Freehold. "I’m still in the hospital with a collapsed lung."
   Mayor Grbelja said she was steering her 7-year-old gelding toward the left while she herself veered opposite to the right, causing her to fall over.
   "I didn’t keep balance and went to right," she said. "The horse stopped right away."
   The accident occurred on a trail near the mayor’s home on Stillhouse Road.
   Mayor Grbelja said a friend who was present at the time called 911.
   "The EMS came very fast, along with the state police," she said.
   Mayor Grbelja said she had to undergo surgery on the arm, which was broken between the shoulder and elbow.
   "I’m very comfortable with my surgeon. He is an orthopedic surgeon with Blue Cross," she said. "I’m feeling much better today, and my lung is being drained. I’ve been doing breathing exercises that will help get the blood out of the lung," she said, adding she will, at the latest, leave the hospital by the weekend.
   "I’m just going to go for additional X-rays (Wednesday)," the mayor said. "I just want to make sure everything is in good order before I leave the hospital."
   Mayor Grbelja said she has been riding for a year and was riding at home when the accident occurred.
   "The gelding is as gentle as a baby’s butt," she said, adding that the horse is not to blame for her fall. "It is very, very affectionate and very, very gentle."
   As for her work, Mayor Grbelja said her duties as mayor and her work will not be affected by this accident.
   "One of the things is, I’ve never had things hold me back," she said. " I’ll take a little bit of time off of work, conduct work through phone calls and conferences. Nothing will stop. I’ll be able to care of my work and do my duties as mayor."
   She said she may skip the Planning Board meeting this week but will definitely attend next week’s township meeting.
   Deputy Mayor Bob Kinsey said Mayor Grbelja has been communicating with township officials and residents despite the fall.
   "I know she’s in good spirits," he said.
   Since it is a severe injury and her arm is broken, Mayor Grbelja said she has to undergo physical therapy to regain full use of her arm. During physical therapy, she will undergo the reactivation of nerves, a method associated with this type of injury, she said.
   "I just have to really thank the state police and the EMS for their speedy reaction time to the scene and all of my friends that have stepped to help with my animals," Mayor Grbelja said, adding she has six horses, two dogs and three cats.
   Committeeman Elias Abilheira said he and the other township officials want the mayor to get better as soon as possible.
   "Someone like Nancy is heavy lifter," he said. "We miss the amount of work she does and will need to pick up the slack. She’s very caring and I’m hoping she gets better soon. We want her back in perfect health as soon as possible."
   While Mayor Grbelja recovers, the Township Administrator Jim Pickering, Township Clerk Maria Dellasala and Mr. Kinsey will have to fill her shoes, Mr. Abilheira said.