LAWTON Okla_ Every year,
thousands of patients receive millions of dollars in specialized therapy at the
West Texas Rehab
Center, and it's free.
The private
non-profit center has been changing lives ever since it was founded in 1953. Saturday
night, you can help continue that tradition by contributing during their
telethon on your 7News station.
Patients are
being given a new lease on life through the vast array of specialized
rehabilitation services offered at the center. That's proof that their
ambitious mission is working.
"We work
to improve the quality of life of the people that we serve, regardless of their
financial circumstance," rehab center President Woody Gilliland said. "That
last part really sets us apart from other health care providers. We turn no one
away regardless of their ability to pay."
It's a mission
that's been working since 1953, chronicled in captivating photographs displayed
throughout the center. Gilliland said in 60 years, the patient count has grown
from 17 to almost 30,000 a year. He said one of the reasons for that growth is the
center's ability to handle complex diagnoses that some providers choose not to
serve.
"That
impacts patients and families," Gilliland said. "To get some of the services
that we have, many people will have to go to the Metroplex, or a larger urban
environment. Here, they can not take off of work, come on their lunch hour,
bring their youngster, and not miss school."
The services include
occupational, physical and speech therapy. The center maintains a positive atmosphere,
which the center's staff said is essential.
"The
people that come here are here for a reason," physical therapist Erin Hicks said. "They either don't feel good, or something's
not working right. They're not able to do what they need to do. So, if we can
have positive attitudes, laugh, have a good time, and get their minds off of
what's going on, that definitely helps."
Gilliland said
some the center's ability to meet the rising demand for those services depend
on donations. He said the escalating cost of healthcare is tough on many of
their patients, including those with insurance.
"It's not
just those without a payer source," Gilliland said. "A lot of those with a
payer source still have problems with co-pays and deductibles. Certainly, we
can help them in that area as well."
He said the
center provides about $3M to $4M in care to those who can't afford it each
year, making donations vital to their cause.
The center has
been around since 1953. Since then, they've had second and third generations
donating to the center. They even have a "Legacy of Love Wall" dedicated to
donors that have passed away, complete with an interactive system with
information on the donors.
Gilliland said
the goal of this Saturday's telethon is $1M. He said that money allows them to
give patients first-rate care and provide life-changing moments to anyone who
walks through their door.
"I heard
one just this morning," Gilliland said, "A mother has a young son that has been
in speech therapy here. Her comment was that when he first started coming here,
he couldn't speak. Recently, he said to his mom ‘I love you.'"
This weekend's
telethon is the center's largest fundraiser of the year. Last year, it brought
in over $1.2M.
That money
helps the center give specialized care to patients who can't afford to pay for
it. The telethon is this Saturday at 7:00 pm and ends at midnight.
The headliners are rising country stars Jana Kramer and Aaron Watson.
