From Patient to Finding Purpose at PVCH

For Sharon Lewis, Pawnee Valley Community Hospital was once simply the local hospital she relied on for routine care. But in 2022, that familiar place became much more: the hospital where she received life-saving care, found the encouragement to keep going and discovered a renewed sense of purpose.

Lewis was home alone when a series of events quickly turned serious. After spilling hot coffee and trying to seek care for burns, she fell and remained unable to move for nearly 24 hours before arriving at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital in critical condition and in shock. What Sharon remembers most from that day is how quickly the team responded and how supported she felt from the very beginning.

Her recovery was long and difficult. She went from bedbound to using a walker to regular physical therapy sessions, all with the support of nurses, therapists and staff members who kept encouraging her forward. Despite being informed that her recovery might take months, Lewis felt empowered and supported by her care team, who she feels believed in her even when she doubted herself.

“It’s not whether you are old or young, but the belief in yourself and the encouragement and the people you are around that help you overcome,” Lewis said.

Not long after returning home, Lewis fell from her front porch and discovered she had a broken bone in her back and two pinched nerves, which sent her back to PVCH for more therapy. Once again, she found skilled care and a level of compassion that stayed with her. She also formed a lasting friendship with a therapist who encouraged her through recovery. One therapy milestone remains especially meaningful.

“When I broke my back, my therapist discussed my goals for PT,” Lewis said. “I played tennis when I was younger, so I said I’d like to try pickleball. On my last day, she got permission to take me to the community center, and we played pickleball. To me, that was everything.”

As Lewis grew stronger, she kept returning to the hospital, sometimes for therapy and sometimes for lunch in the busy cafeteria, which serves as a meeting place for many throughout the community. Over time, Pawnee Valley no longer felt like just the place where she had received care. It felt like community. Today, she works in the kitchen at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, where she helps prepare meals, serve patients and support day-to-day operations.

“The people here are like a second family,” Lewis said. That sense of connection reflects the hospital’s mission to care for the community in a personal, local way.

“As a team, we focus on keeping healthcare local and treating each patient individually, so we can make a positive community impact that ensures our patients are both healthier and happier,” said Melanie Urban, administrator of Pawnee Valley Community Hospital.

For Lewis, Pawnee Valley Community Hospital is more than the hospital where she recovered. It is the place that helped her move forward and the place where she now helps others do the same.