Celebrating progress, inspiring hope
On a warm June day, former patients of UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central’s rehabilitation unit gathered in Boulder Park next to the hospital for a reunion picnic. One patient, now walking on their own, pushed a stroller and carried a plate of food with an arm they had once struggled to use.
For Jennifer Schneible, a physical therapist at the hospital, seeing that progress was exactly why she stepped up to continue the unit’s annual picnic after her colleague, Colleen Roy, retired.
“I didn’t want it to fall through the cracks because I saw how much of an impact it made,” Schneible said. “I knew that once it was gone, it would be hard to get it back.”
Schneible, a Colorado Springs native, joined UCHealth in 2023. She was drawn to rehabilitation because she wanted to help patients regain independence and return home to their families.
“It’s a special bond that you make when you’re working with someone at their lowest point,” Schneible said.
Once patients leave the hospital, however, Schneible and her colleagues don’t always see what comes next. The reunion picnic changes that.
“This event lets people come back and show off how well they’re doing,” Schneible said. “It’s really special for the staff and the patients.”
Using Roy’s notes as a roadmap, Schneible took the lead in planning the picnic. She worked with Joe Foecking, director of rehabilitative services for UCHealth Southern Colorado Region, and Greg Braeger, unit manager, along with colleagues Dwayne Martinez, Moussa Mikhail and Will Williams to bring the event to life.
From invitations and food to setup and day-of logistics, Schneible’s organization helped dozens of former patients reconnect with their care teams, express gratitude and share stories of renewed independence.
One former patient returned for the third year in a row to see Nylasha Pearson, a certified nursing assistant who supported her during rehabilitation. Schneible ensured the two had time together again this year.
For rehabilitation staff, moments like these offer a rare glimpse into the lasting impact of their work.
“When you see how much progress they’ve made and how excited they are to show that improvement, it really is touching,” Schneible said. “It makes you kind of emotional to think, ‘Wow, I actually did change the course of their lives for the better.’”
But it’s not only former patients and care teams who attend the picnic. Current rehabilitation patients can attend and meet those who have overcome similar challenges. Seeing that progress can be a powerful source of encouragement and a reminder that recovery is possible.
“I think it gives them hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that this will only be a small chapter, and it’s not going to define the rest of their life,” Schneible said.
Schneible’s efforts did not go unnoticed. In a recent Celebrating You nomination, a colleague noted that her “dedication and organization” helped preserve the reunion picnic tradition and bring people together to celebrate progress and share their stories.