New wheelchair makes up for patient’s loss
EAST LONDON man, Rodney Hodgkinson, got a happy ending to his mishap when he received a brand new wheelchair last week.
This was after his red chair mysteriously went missing at Frere Hospital in February.
The new chair was a joint donation from Frere hospital, PnA Stationers and the Sweetheart Foundation.
It was handed over to Hodgkinson in a private ceremony in Vincent on Thursday.
Speaking to the Dispatch, about his new chair, which was still covered in plastic, 76-yearold Hodgkinson and his wife, Mary, said the new chair surpassed their wildest imaginations.
“It’s got a pretty design to accommodate my back and it’s adjusted to suit all my needs. It even has a cushion,” he said.
Hodgkinson has had to use a a wheelchair since last year, when a bout of severe arthritis left him immobile. He also battles with a heart condition and kidney failure.
He said he’d always remember the bizarre moment when his wheelchair went missing from his hospital bed on his first night at the Frere intensive care unit.
He was admitted after battling with heart-related pains. The chair was parked by his bedside. When he woke up the following morning, it was nowhere to be found. “I’d never heard about something like that happening, or even imagined it would happen to me,” he said.
The red wheelchair never resurfaced, but Hodgkinson said the brand new chair made it easy to forget about his mishap. “We were pleasantly surprised when we got the call that I’d be receiving a brand new chair soon. I’m grateful to everyone who contributed towards this. It fits me so nicely,” he said.
Frere CEO Rolene Wagner said Hodgkinson’s plight moved them into prompt action. “We all immediately agreed to come to the aid of Mr Hodgkinson. Our team did a home visit to take accurate measurements to ensure that the correct wheelchair would be selected. Our maintenance mechanic will ensure that the wheelchair is well maintained so that Mr Hodgkinson gets maximum use out of his wheelchair.” —