Jeni Brown is an on-the-go type, upbeat, motivated, and always ready for life’s next challenge.
She is a project manager for a cool and graphically appealing apparel/screen printing company, the kind of job that takes a keen eye and a unique ability to properly serve a bevy of entities. Its beauty is understanding we are not a world of one size – and style – fitting all.
A car accident in 2024 left the hard-working Brown with a surgically repaired left humeral fracture (break in the upper arm bone on the left side of the body) and an unusual slowdown in her up-tempo world.
A post-surgery doctor’s referral found Brown, a Runnells, Iowa, resident in the care of Rock Valley Physical Therapy’s Patrick Ford, PT, DPT, OCS, CF-OL1, Clinic Manager/Pleasant Hill, (Iowa) (Copper Creek).
Pairing with Rock Valley’s Ford would prove to be just what a determined and motivated Brown needed.
A compassionate, caring, and knowledgeable therapist, Ford said Brown was dealing with pain, weakness, and nerve damage, and struggling with tasks one – who is always on the go – takes for granted.
“So, we focused on regaining simple activation of her hand while gently initiating range of motion,” Ford said of his approach for Brown to reach her goals and return to pre-accident life. “This transformed into getting her shoulder and elbow to gain their motion back and simple dexterity to help her get back to some work on her computer.’’
Brown said a trust in Ford’s ability as a therapist and the mixing of two motivated personalities, was paramount in her recovery.
They simply made a wonderful team.
“I always enjoyed talking with Patrick,” Brown said. “He made physical therapy fun and enjoyable. My best friend laughed at me one day and told me: “I feel like your physical therapist is your BFF.’’ Patrick was a huge help to getting my arm-usage back and he was always helpful, professional, and friendly. I never missed an appointment and always looked forward to going.’’
At Ford’s urging, Brown made sure the work she put in outside the Rock Valley walls would play a winning role in her road to better health.
“Patrick always explained what we were doing and why,” she said. “And he gave me ideas and exercises to continue at home and always gave me tips to help me reach my goal. We set goals and he always pushed me to improve each week.”
“I always took his advice and did my home exercises,” Brown added. “I doubted myself on things I could do, and Patrick always encouraged me to push myself and I found I could do things I didn’t think were possible.’’
Ford said success for Brown and making a difference in the lives of all his patients is why he does what he does.
“Like others, I got into this business to help others through exercise and fitness,” he said. “I so appreciate making connections with people and the uniqueness of physical therapy and our ability to see our patients more than other providers is special. I also love health and fitness. Helping people overcome their injuries and take on healthy habits is so rewarding.’’
Being part of the Rock Valley family is especially rewarding for Ford. It afforded him the opportunity to meet and help Brown, have a positive impact on her life, and care for others.
“Rock Valley and my coworkers across the many clinics have been more helpful than any other job I have worked,” Ford said. “People genuinely want you to be successful and help you be the best therapist you can be. There’s also a recognition of life outside of the clinic and priority of ensuring there is harmony between the two.’’
By: Johnny Marx, Rock Valley Storyteller