Photo: Courtney Stebbe, Jonathan Vanzella therapists in the Rehabilitation Unit at NRGH and patient G.S. 

There is extra excitement in the Rehabilitation Unit at NRGH this month because of the generosity of an observant donor.

The words “borrowed” and “looking to purchase our own” must have caught the donor’s eye while reading our July newsletter.

The article which peaked his interest described the enthusiasm of the therapists at the rehabilitation unit about their project to add Recreational Therapy to the program. At first it included gardening, music, bingo and baking. The purpose of RecT is to improve physical, cognitive and social as well as emotional function.

To add the outdoors into the mix, a Trail Rider (almost like a stretcher and wheel chair rolled into one) was borrowed for short periods of time to take patients out onto a trail. Therapists know that contact with nature calms anxiety and settles the mood.

Courtney Stebbe and Jonathan Vanzella, therapists at the unit, tried to take patients out as much as possible on the borrowed Trail Rider. They were elated when they learnt of the donor’s generous gift, which covered the cost of one Rider completely!

At last it arrived, and on a crisp but sunny afternoon in October, the brand new Trail Rider was unpacked and assembled and the two were able to take a patient for an adaptive hike on their very own Rider.

“We are very happy and grateful”, Courtney, who works at the High Intensity Rehabilitation Unit (HILU) says. G.S, the lucky patient to test the new Trail Rider, chose the fitting song “On the road again” by Willie Nelson to be played on the hike.

Courtney adds that the new Trail Rider will also help to get patients who have problems with balance or gait away from the hospital. “We’ve had patients staying here for more than 100 days or more!”

Jonathan remembers a 103-year old lady. “We take things for granted, but she was smiling the entire time while on the ride, pointing at trees and flowers as if seeing it for the first time”. She chose classical music to be played.

He also tells about a young male patient on his unit who would excitedly point at the borrowed Trail Rider, exclaiming: “I’m going on that today!” Jonathan works at the ALC Courtyard (Alternative Level of Care).

He reiterates that patients are definitely more settled after an outing on the Trail Rider. It breaks up the institutionalized routine and enhances their quality of life.

For now, Beaufort Park Community Garden across from NRGH serves well to accomplish the goal, but Jonathon and Courtney hope to take patients on outings further afield, maybe Departure Bay Beach or even to the boardwalks at Rathtrevor Beach.

For that, a bus or van would be needed, which is far out of reach at the moment. But we can dream, can’t we?