Great Care at Orleans Community Health!
By Jim Moody, Executive Director, Orleans Community Health foundation
On May 14, 2014, I had the pleasure of sharing a few moments with Karen A. Mahorne, who wanted to share her story with me.
Karen has been in the Comprehensive Medical Rehabilitation Unit (CMR) for six months. I realized right away that Karen feels very happy about her decision to receive care in Medina, as she appeared quite pleased to share her story.
We met in her room, a well decorated space with reminders of her home and family. She was smiling and sitting upright in her wheelchair – something she could not do six months ago. “When I arrived here, I couldn’t walk and was in a lot of pain. Everyone pushed me to get better, which is just what I needed.” Karen said her nature is to work hard at anything she does, so the inspiration from her ‘second family’, as she calls the staff in the CMR unit, was just what she needed.
When asked to describe her caregivers, Karen said “they were always motivating, keeping me from getting too down on myself and my situation. One particular Physical Therapist named Dawn never let me stay still. She has consistently pushed me to never give up.”
“If there is one thing I have learned in my life, it is so important to keep motivated, even in the most difficult circumstances. That is exactly what Dawn helped me to do.” As important as Dawn has been to her care, she expressed her appreciation for the entire CMR staff, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy employees. Karen says “the teamwork of everyone has helped me to heal – emotionally, mentally and physically.” She is particularly grateful to Dawn, Cherry and Stacey.
When she first arrived, Karen told her doctor she would walk again. I noticed it is very apparent that she has an inner drive that comes from deep within. As our conversation ended she said, “As I leave here, I am going to show the doctor that I am walking, just like I said.
I enjoyed getting to know Karen and hearing her kind words. As I left her parting words with me were, ‘Nobody is going to push for me but me. I have no choice but to be motivated to go home soon!’