Volunteer has Special Connection with Sheltering Arms

When Chris Bragg was a patient at Sheltering Arms in September 2009, he had no idea that it was just the beginning of something much bigger.

“When I first came to Sheltering Arms after my stroke, I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t talk, I couldn’t swallow,” says Bragg.

 

He was so grateful for the progress he made in his physical, occupational and speech therapy at Sheltering Arms Hospital and in his subsequent outpatient therapy. When he needed rehabilitation a few years later following a heart attack and open heart surgery, the choice was obvious to him. He came back to Sheltering Arms.

“They treated me so well and I really felt good about myself. In my heart, I wanted to give back,” he adds.

Mr. Bragg certainly gives back to Sheltering Arms these days, volunteering his time every Tuesday and Thursday. He has been dubbed the ‘Director of First Impressions’ for the way he warmly greets patients and visitors at the front desk of the hospital. He also visits with patients, offering encouragement from someone who has been in their shoes.

“It doesn’t take a whole lot to make someone smile. It’s a good feeling to give,” he summarizes with a smile.

Sheltering Arms was founded by Rebekah Peterkin and a group of volunteers in 1889 and was run by volunteers for several years. Volunteers remain an important part of our daily operations today. In fact, last year a total of 91 volunteers donated more than 4,120 hours of their time throughout the Sheltering Arms programs, services and locations. In honor of National Volunteer Week, we salute Chris and all of the dedicated Sheltering Arms volunteers!

Above: Sheltering Arms President & CEO, James Sok thanks volunteers June Quisenberry (left) and Chris Bragg (right) for their hard work.

Share This Post:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
RehaBlog

More Posts

Backpack Safety

Backpacks are a convenient way for students to carry around their schoolbooks and supplies throughout the day, but using them incorrectly can lead to serious muscle and joint injuries. Carrying a heavy load can strain the shoulders, back, and neck. As a result, the body tries to compensate by leaning forward or sideways, which can lead to misalignment of the spine and weakening of muscles.

Managing and Preventing Incontinence with Physical Therapy

More than 25 million adult Americans suffer from incontinence. Men and women are often embarrassed to seek treatment for loss of bladder or bowel control. Urinary and fecal incontinence can cause low self-esteem, create social isolation, and impair quality of life. Incontinence is the lack of voluntary control over urination or defecation. There are two major types of incontinence and they are treated differently.

Reduce Pain With These 5 Exercises for Knee Osteoarthritis

According to the American Physical Therapy Association, approximately 14 million people in the United States have symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA). Over time, the cartilage on the bones that form our knees begins to wear away; this causes inflammation, which we refer to as osteoarthritis. As the disease progresses, it can affect surrounding muscle, tendon, and ligaments, therefore, contributing to significant pain and dysfunction.

Occupational Therapy Interventions for Spinal Cord Injury: Innovative Upper Extremity Weight-Bearing Recovery

When you think of body weight support systems in physical rehab, walking probably comes to mind first. But did you know this technology can also transform arm, shoulder, and core recovery after a spinal cord injury? This high-intensity training helps build upper body strength, manage spasticity, improve posture, and boost overall endurance! Learn how we use advanced body weight support technology at Sheltering Arms Institute to help patients safely practice arm weight-bearing and how innovative technology is changing SCI therapy.

How Speech Therapy Can Help Your Cognition

After a stroke or brain injury, everyday thinking skills like memory, attention, and planning can feel overwhelming. Because these skills directly support how we communicate, SLPs use targeted strategies to help patients regain confidence and daily independence. Learn how cognitive-communication therapy can help.

Start your Journey

Learn more about Sheltering Arms Institute

Contact a specialist at Sheltering Arms Institute to learn more about how you can gain more freedom in your everyday life.