Car swap on Peters Rehab patio
Patients and staff watched as a white car was hoisted through the air by a crane to the second-floor patio of the Leon S. Peters Rehabilitation Center Jan. 30 at Community Regional Medical Center.
The car, a late-model Pontiac Grand Am, will be used during physical therapy for Community's rehab patients and their families as they learn how to get in and out comfortably.
The ability to get in and out of a vehicle is a typical need of patients once they leave the Peters Rehab Center, which serves about 600 patients a year in recovering from trauma, illness or injury, including brain, burn and spinal injuries.
“What the car is used for is to practice getting in and out of cars, and it’s really helpful if you have an actual car as opposed to simulating it with a chair or something,” said Virginia O’Connell, manager of rehab services at the Peters Rehabilitation Center.
The car was donated by Jeff Dockstader, owner of Fresno Body Works, and was hoisted by a crane provided by Paul Quiring of Quiring General.
Before the late-model car was donated, the crane removed an older car that had been used by patients for 15 years.
 |
| From left, Community's Tim Harris (foundation) and Virginia O'Connell (rehab services) are grateful for the donations by Paul Quiring and Jeff Dockstader. |
“It had served many, many people, and needed to be retired.”
O’Connell said the new car is mid-sized, giving rehab staff better ability to simulate patients’ needs with their own cars or family members’ cars.
An engraved plaque recognizing Dockstader’s generosity will be displayed on the new car for all to see.
This story was reported by Eddie Hughes. He can be reached at eddieh@communitymedical.org.