50+ Lifestyles

Bend of the River Pilots

Club continues support of Genesis brain injury patients and families

By Genesis Health System

Pauline Stark has been a family member, waiting hour after hour as a loved one recovers from a traumatic brain injury.

“You don’t want to leave because you might miss talking with the doctor, or maybe your family member will pass, or show some signs of recovery, and you want to be there,” she said. “I was at Genesis for three months in Intensive Care and on the neuro floor.”

Pauline’s son, Nick, survived his injury 15 years ago and has made progress over the years. He lives in a rehabilitation hospital in Oklahoma.

Stark became a member of the Bend of the River Pilots, a Quad-Cities-based club affiliated with Pilots International. Pilots International organizations, like the active Bend of the River Pilots affiliate, provide education and support for brain disorders patients and their families.

Stark was the local club’s project manager for Bundles of Hope, which are special totes of items for families who are at the hospital with a brain injury patient.

“When something like this happens, you immediately drop everything to get to the hospital,” Stark explained. “And, you may be there for the days without a break to get the necessities for hygiene, food, clothes, or anything to pass the time.”

The Bundles of Hope tote bags have been donated to the Genesis Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation department to provide some of the emergency needs of families In the Bundles of Hope tote bags are snacks, water, a book about brain injury, blankets, puzzles and games and personal hygiene items, such as toothpaste and toothbrush.

“The bags have a lot of the items that families will use as they visit brain injury patients. We’ve had a lot of support from this group since 1994 and we’re always appreciative of their projects,” said Jan King, Director of Nursing Operations, Genesis Medical Center, West Central Park. “It’s a relatively small group, but they get a lot accomplished for their size.”

Genesis Medical Center, West Central Park treats more than 80 brain injury patients each year, making the program one of the largest in Iowa. The inpatient and outpatient programs at Genesis are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation (CARF), meaning specified quality of care standards are met when providing rehabilitation services to a person who has sustained a brain injury.

With a dedicated Neuroscience Unit, Genesis Medical Center, Davenport can offer complete care for neurological and neurosurgical patients, such as those with diagnoses of stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, seizures, brain injuries and spinal cord injuries.