Wonderful, Kind and Loving

Neola Kooyman is 77 years old, married with two grown children. She enjoys watching birds, working with her flowers and loves the dolls and figurines that she collects. She’s been an Avon representative since she was 24 years old and says she is getting old and should stop but she just loves the people too much. 

In September of 2010 her busy lifestyle was interrupted when she broke her hip and fractured her pelvis at a friend’s house. Her friend called the ambulance and she went to Pella Regional. She stayed overnight that evening and then went to Des Moines for surgery. She returned to the Skilled Care Unit at Pella Regional for her recovery the following Tuesday. She was there for about a month doing physical and occupational therapy.

“Therapy was painful at first,” said Neola. “I couldn’t put any weight on my leg in the beginning. But no pain, no gain. I had therapy twice a day. They would make it fun, which made it easier for me.”

Marv, her husband, had his birthday in October while she was in Skilled Care. “Kara took me shopping in the gift shop that day for my therapy,” said Neola. “I walked there and back with my walker and did my shopping for his present. It was great and so nice of her to think of it.”

“Dr. Blom-he’s a peach,” said Neola. “I really like him. They were all fantastic. When I went home and still needed help, the home health girls were great. One even went to the store for me to get a ‘grab-it’ thing as I was having trouble getting over the ridge and into the shower. That was so nice of her.”

Neola shared that Pella’s hospital is tops with her. She had good things to say about the food and how clean the hospital was. “It wouldn’t scare me a bit to go back. They were wonderful, kind and loving. So thoughtful,” said Neola.

Learn more about Skilled Care at Pella Regional.