My Favorite Window Seat: One Patient's Journey to Recovery with the Help of St. Luke's Rehabilitation Center and a Southwest Airlines LUV Jet

This is a guest post from Lynda Housden, who let us know about her favorite “therapy module” at St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute (hint: it’s the interior of a SWA plane).  

My career takes me to cities across the nation. Every week, I take a plane ride on Monday and return home on Thursday. Airplanes are my mode of transport.

When I had my knee replaced last month, I knew it wasn’t going to be an ordinary surgery and recovery would be a hard journey since my hip was replaced last year, and I was recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

As a frequent flyer that relies on travel for my livelihood, it was so important for me to find a local place where I could get back into the swing of things quickly.  Knowing many people who had great experiences, and with my recent diagnosis, I asked my doctor to send me to St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute in Spokane, where they take an innovative approach to rehabilitation and use different therapy modules to help patients return to their daily lives faster.

In the comfort of St. Luke’s Community, I learned how to get into a car and SUV, get on a bus, step up on a curb, walk on different surfaces, push a shopping cart, and board an airplane with my new injury. But, I wasn’t learning to board just any plane, this therapy module was a Southwest Airlines plane. 

The therapists coached me on how to board and exit this LUV "jet," navigate the aisle, side step into and out of a seat, and sit and stand. I was so excited and thrilled to know that the skills I learned in the Southwest Airlines module would prepare me for my next business trip.  The physical and occupational therapists worked with me to make every day a little easier and less painful. They were always positive and encouraging.  I now have all the confidence in the world. What a difference it made!

Thank you to Southwest Airlines for their charitable gift to St. Luke’s Community. I’ll continue to be able to confidently get to my favorite window seat.