Immigrant rights advocate Villanueva suffers stroke

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Tomás Villanueva, long an advocate for immigrant and workers’ rights in the Yakima Valley, is in the hospital after suffering a stroke Tuesday.

The 68-year-old said he’s fine, although he’s lost all feeling in his left arm. He was awaiting results from MRI and CAT scans Wednesday at Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center.

But in typical Villanueva style, the man wasn’t twiddling his thumbs. Instead, he took calls about workplace complaints on his cell phone and scribbled away in a legal pad.

“There is so much to do,” he said from his bed, surrounded by relatives. “Life will end but the problems never will.”

Villanueva said he’ll begin physical therapy today and hopes to soon be able to dance salsa.