Back O' The Page Stories 3/04
By Scott Coverdale
I got a call from a hospital social worker, who had heard of us from somewhere, she couldn't remember where. She had a nineteen year old patient who she was trying to discharge. His appendix had burst in Mexico, and he had gone into a coma in September. He had lost the ability to speak and walk, but was now ready to go home, though he would be in a wheelchair for a year or two at least. He lives in a mobile home in Sahuarita. She was going to try to get a grant from the Tour de Tucson Fund, and wanted to know if we could possibly build a ramp for him.
I went out the next day to scope out the job. It was a pretty tough home, but it's where people live, and so I agreed to build the ramp. The social worker said that the funding request would have to be submitted to the Tour Fund, then would have to clear several hurdles and approvals before we could be sure of the funds. It may take several weeks.
"But the kid is ready to go home now?" I asked.
"The hospital would let him go on Friday, except that he has no way to get into the house."
"Would anyone be offended if we built the ramp without having the grant approved?"
"Well, no, but there is no certainty that it will be approved."
"I'll see what we can do," I told her.
I went to the lumber yard and loaded down Moby with a lot of materials. Our steel fabricator agreed to rush through a ramp end. For the next two days, Matt, Francis and Heather went a-ramping, and built a jim-dandy ramp. We bought paint which the boy's mother, uncle and neighbor applied with enthusiasm. By Friday, everything was ready and the young man was brought home. The hospital worker called me later. She was a little bit awe-struck at the ramp and the family's gratefulness. She also told me that the grant had been approved, and we could expect to get a check in about six weeks....
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