Bobby Jean
Dr. Jack Sherrer first met Bobby Jean’s mother, Barbara, when she was his patient. As he visited with her during her office visits, it became apparent that things were tough at home. Very tough. Barbara worked full-time at a nursing home as a medical assistant and the rest of her time was spent taking care of Bobby Jean. Bobby Jean was born with cerebral palsy andmultiple severe developmental problems. She is limitedly communicable and is completely bedridden and wheelchair-bound. She is on continuous supplemental oxygen and is fed thru a permanent tube in her stomach. She requires around-the-clock care. Barbara has a caregiver care for Bobby Jean while she is at work but is her sole caretaker when home.
Transporting Bobby Jean to and from the doctor or to the hospital has been very difficult. Because access in and out of their house is by steps, ambulance and transport services have not been able to help. These facilities do not allow their employees to physically lift and transfer patients; patients can only be moved and transported in and out of houses via wheelchair ramps. Barbara has therefore had to physically pick up and carry Bobby Jean by herself for years to and from the house to the family van. Lifting Bobby Jean has also obviously gotten much more difficult and strenuous as Bobby Jean has grown and gotten heavier.
Pedaling for Kids considers it very much a blessing to have been able to help the Ratliffs. Remember David Singley? He’s the same guy that ran the Master Kleen clothes sale last year that raised funds for Pedaling for Kids. With materials paid for by Pedaling for Kids, David single-handedly built an absolutely beautiful ramp for Bobby Jean! We couldn’t be more appreciative to David and couldn’t be more proud of the great job he did.
After the ramp was completed, the Ratliffs tested the ramp out. And tested it out again. And again. And again. Barbara couldn’t believe how nice and easy it was to move Bobby Jean. Bobby Jean was giggling. And for the rest of us … there wasn’t a dry eye to be found …
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