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Rockbridge
Area Transportation Service (RATS)
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ORIGINAL
RATS RIDERS
Common Interests
Betty Douglas and Mildred
Thurman have more than one thing in common. The two ladies are sisters who
share their
Buena Vista
backyards and years of companionship. In
addition, the two regularly attend medical appointments at
UVA
Health
Sciences
Center
in
Charlottesville
, several times each year. Mildred recalls
when her daughter began driving
her to the UVA cancer specialists after working nights as a nurse in
Staunton
– they often waiting to be seen for 3 or 4
hours before driving back home, exhausted.
And there were missed appointments too due to the driving demands. In
these early days, despite an ongoing request for out of town transport,
RATS did not have the
vehicles nor drivers to oblige.
Both Betty and Mildred
were among the first when RATS finally began driving to the
Charlottesville
destination and have continued ever since.
Mildred’s cancer remains in remission. Betty makes it to her own
appointments..
Over the years, these
sisters have logged many miles with RATS and have come to rely on RATS drivers
to negotiate the Valley’s highways and the UVA hallways.
Vivid
Memories
Delois
Alexander has vivid memories of traveling
to and from
UVA
Health
Sciences
Center
in
Charlottesville
years ago when she first sought treatment for her rheumatoid arthritis. She
and her family learned about knuckle replacement that could restore function
to her contracted fingers. They recognized the value of this procedure and her
late father didn’t hesitate to drive her to appointments. Delois recalls one
day when they got to the top of Afton Mt and the rain began. “Put your
windshield wipers on, Dad”
Delois said, showing a hint of concern. “I don’t
have any” was Dad’s reply. “He was a scary driver”, she adds.
Fortunately,
Delois found the wheelchair transport company, Patient Transport
Services, to take on the driving. But in 1999
PTS pulled up stakes in
Rockbridge
County
due to its high cost/ low return operation. It was at that point that Delois
discovered RATS, relieved that she would continue to have transport to her
treatment and checkups.
Currently,
Delois also uses RATS for a bit of fun. After being confined to her home for
16 years due to her physical limitations, she now schedules
just-drop-me-off-and-come-back-later trips to Walmart plus monthly
dinner outings with friends to a variety of local restaurants. The modest fare
she pays is worth this freedom.
Delois
reports that the RATS drivers are kind, courteous, and considerate always
checking that she is comfortable. “I didn’t used to talk much when I rode
but now I talk with them the whole trip. Before I know it we’re there”.
Still Working
When you meet Elva
Mathiot, you’ll find it hard to believe that she is 92 years old but
you’ll find it easy to believe she is one of the nicest person you’ll ever
know. She is an active, sociable resident of the Lexington House Apartments
with a helping hand and a friendly word for all. Her kindness is contagious.
It was 4 years ago, after
Elva moved to
Lexington
from
Florida
, that she began riding with RATS first to
various local eye and foot doctors and eventually to Krogers and Walmart. Elva
understands the need for RATS 48 hour advance scheduling so she calls RATS
Dispatcher as soon as she knows her appointment. She finds that each of the
drivers is so nice and so helpful assisting her in and out of the car and to
her door.
Two years ago Elva fell
in her apartment and was taken to the hospital where they found nothing wrong.
After several days of continuing pain, Elva sought other help, arranging with
RATS to transport her in a wheelchair to
Augustus
Medical
Center
where she had a hip replacement. After months
of recuperation and therapy, and many cautious moves, Elva began walking
easily once again and now enjoys strolling around her neighborhood with an
adapted walker with wheels and a flip-down seat when she tires.
While Elva enjoys her
independence, she still relies on RATS for shopping, doctors, and to get to
her once a week job at Stonewall
Jackson Hospital Thrift Shop as behind the scenes clothes organizer.
A
True Original
John
Snarr is a true RATS original. In October 1995, shortly after RATS was
founded, John became a regular rider traveling to a weekly exercise &
social group that was held at the hospital. John and the several others spent
an hour exercising, then bought dinner at the hospital cafeteria before being
shuttled home, a routine that continued for 3 years.
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