Trauma survivors, first responders invited to plant garden on Reading Hospital campus

Reading Hospital Trauma Center, in collaboration with the Trauma Survivors Network, invited trauma survivors and their families, healthcare professionals, and first responders to plant a flower garden on the hospital campus Thursday afternoon.

Each participant received a flower bulb to plant in a garden space located outside the Emergency Department honoring a trauma survivor, a healthcare professional, or a first responder.

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In attendance was Jenifer Mohler, a 33-year-old patient who suffered complications due to COVID-19. She was in the hospital and a rehab facility for a combined total of 43 days. Today she focusses on her “new normal,” works towards her master’s degree, working, and parenting.

“It’s a big day for me. I feel like I’ve had a lump in my throat all day because I’m meeting the surgeon who saved my life for the first time” said Mohler. “I joined the Trauma Survivors Network, in hopes that there were resources available for me. So many people were such a critical part in my journey that I didn’t really get a chance to say thank you. In talking with Jennifer from the Trauma Survivors Network, I got to meet some of them last month, but today I got to meet a few more.”

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After planting flower bulbs with her husband and two kids, Mohler was able to meet members of her care team from Reading Hospital and Muhlenberg Area Ambulance Association. “It’s just really important to get a chance to say thank you to those who made a such a impact on my journey. It was scary for a while and these guys got me through it.”

Jenifer Mohler plants flower bulbs with her two kids.

Thomas Geng, DO, Chief, Division of Trauma & Surgical Critical Care said, “Jenifer is an incredibly resilient patient and learned how to walk again with the assistance of braces. Events like this allow our team the joy of seeing our patients after they’ve been discharged from our care. It means so much to us to see and hear from our patients as they continue their recovery.”

Mohler was one of many who stopped by to plant a flower bulb in the new garden throughout the afternoon, including Justin Vernon, who suffered severe head trauma following a car crash in February of 2022.

Justin Vernon plants a flower bulb.
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Berks Weekly
Berks Weekly
Berks Weekly is an independent and locally owned digital newspaper covering the City of Reading and Berks County. Download the mobile app: berksweekly.com/app
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