Gail Welch, 69, didn’t expect her visit to Minnesota to turn into a story worth writing about—but that’s exactly what happened.
A writer and former EMT from Maryland, Gail made the trip to visit her brother, driving through three blizzards with her dog along the way. “It was a wild ride from the start,” she recalled.
The adventure didn’t slow down once she arrived. While staying at a hotel, Gail slipped while taking her dog out, hitting her head on a concrete wall. Later, she took another hard fall, this time onto her arm.
After days of lingering pain, bruising, headaches, and even some forgetfulness, her brother encouraged her to get checked out at Riverwood Healthcare Center.
From the moment she arrived, everything changed.
“The parking lot was clear and the walkways were safe. It sounds simple, but after everything, that was such a relief,” Gail said. “And the second I walked in, I was greeted.”
Within minutes, she was in a wheelchair and escorted to an exam room. She was seen by Dr. Jessica Hodson, whose skill and easygoing demeanor put her at ease. A CT scan and X-rays confirmed a concussion and a severely bruised arm.
Gail is no stranger to high-level care. She typically receives care through Johns Hopkins Hospital, but she told us she wishes she could switch to Riverwood.
“I’ve never experienced care like it anywhere,” she said. “Every single person was kind, compassionate, and clearly knew what they were doing. They even made me laugh after everything that had happened.”
Gail has lived many chapters as an EMT and a patient, and she’s written a memoir to capture it all. Her experience at Riverwood became its own chapter, and it’s one of her favorites.
Today, Gail returned to Riverwood not as a patient, but to share the story we’re now part of. A simple thank-you, and a full-circle moment that won’t soon be forgotten.