Patients in St. Charles’ Inpatient Rehabilitation unit are now walking back to health using the latest technology, thanks to a generous donation from a local couple.
Through a donation to St. Charles Foundation, Bend residents Linda and Greg Halliday helped fund the purchase of a state-of-the-art virtual reality treadmill. An overhead harness keeps patients secure as they walk on the treadmill interacting with virtual games and projected visuals that precisely measure balance, gait and strength.
Physical therapists on the unit call the new treadmill a game changer.
“We are so grateful to have this new treadmill, which helps patients regain balance, strength and confidence in walking after a serious injury or illness,” said Laura Taylor, physical therapist. “The new virtual reality treadmill really allows us to help patients feel confident. They're able to use the overhead harness and not put themselves or their therapist at risk of a fall or injury as they move a little bit faster and a little bit harder.”
The gift was a personal one for Linda Halliday.
In 2020, just a few days after she turned 65, Linda Halliday was exercising with one of her friends when she started to feel dizzy. She couldn’t move her arm well and struggled to speak. Linda’s husband Greg rushed her to the St. Charles Bend Emergency Department, where Linda learned she had experienced a stroke.
After several days in the Intensive Care Unit, Linda found herself in a relatively small unit of the hospital that few people know about: the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit. Tucked away on the lower level of the Bend Hospital, with 14 beds, this small but mighty unit is where patients heal and recover from traumatic injuries and serious illnesses – from car crashes to strokes and more.
Linda was one of the approximately 350 patients a year who are served by the unit, where patients undergo occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy and orthotics appointments for 3 hours a day at least five days a week. Linda spent 15 days in the unit, which is fairly typical.
“From the minute I got there, it was fabulous,” said Linda. “I had such wonderful care. The staff was just so wonderful and caring. There was always something new to get my neurons going. I felt very lucky. It was a blessing I was able to get into the unit.”
Linda and her husband Greg have partnered with St. Charles Foundation over the last five years to help purchase state-of-the-art equipment that will create a tangible difference for patients in the unit, just like Linda.
This year the Hallidays learned about a game-changing therapy treadmill that the team hoped to use with patients. The couple funded most of the purchase price with a generous gift of stock. The remaining funds came from 12 additional donors, who were moved by the Hallidays’ generous gift and added their support during the St. Charles Saints Gala in earlier this year.
The new entirely donor-funded treadmill will move to a permanent location in St. Charles’ new Susan A. Ellings Rehabilitation Unit when complete.
“I feel great knowing we are giving back to future patients. I have a lot of empathy and I know how beneficial this equipment will be,” said Linda.
“We just feel blessed in what we’ve been given in life, that’s why we want to give back,” said Greg.
Learn more about how community members are helping with the Susan A. Ellings Rehabilitation Unit on the Foundation’s website.
