NE Iowa family's donation will help Gundersen Lutheran rehab patients get back into the swing of life

The new addition to Gundersen Lutheran--La Crosse's Physical Therapy Gym includes an actual car. The funding for renovation to the gym area to include the car was made by the family of the late Emil Panos of Protivin.

A donation from a Protivin family is helping rehab patients at Gundersen Lutheran in La Crosse.

When patients are recovering from a stroke or a hip or knee replacement, for example, they need to prepare for life back at home.  That includes practice getting in and out of a car.

That's why the family of the late Emil Panos of Protivin has made a donation to pay for the cost of an addition to the Gundersen Physical Therapy Gym in La Crosse which includes an actual car.

"The car will benefit thousands of our patients," says Gundersen's Deb Head.  "Before, we had to take our patients outside to practice. Now the car is in the Physical Therapy gym on the Rehab Unit and will be much more convenient patients and their families." The trunk of the car can also be used so family members can practice moving equipment or a wheelchair in and out of the trunk safely.