Co-workers share story of friendship and helping 1 in need

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A friendship among two co-workers at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center recently turned into an incredible act of kindness.

*Gena Bowling (right) and Amy Horine stand in front of the van given to Bowling by her co-worker.*

Gena Bowling, patient accounts front desk receptionist, is married to Roger, who is severely wheelchair-bound. Things got more complicated when Roger lost a significant amount of mobility. With a small vehicle and the difficult task of getting her husband in and out of the vehicle, Bowling needed an act of kindness.

She got it from Amy Horine, who gave a handicapped-accessible van to Bowling — no questions asked. “I have a very nice co-worker,” Bowling said. “We have a Honda Accord and it was impossible for him to get in and out of. We have doctors appointments in Wichita and lots of times it would take three firemen to get him in (the vehicle) and three firemen to get him out.”

Horine didn’t hesitate to offer the van to Bowling. But it wasn’t as simple as having a van. The vehicle had a special place in Horine’s heart as it came to her from the loss of her grandfather. “My grandfather passed away in October,” Horine said. “He was also disabled and an Army veteran. He had the van, drove it every day, and when he passed away, I inherited all of that.”

Horine says it’s great to see Roger getting the chance to have a more mobile lifestyle again. “Gena and Roger just really needed something so they could get him out and get him places,” Horine said. “They go to grandkids’ ballgames. It was nice for him to still be able to get out and do things he really enjoys doing and watching his grandkids.”

Horine volunteered her own hours and money to transfer the title of the van, then washed and tagged the van out of her own pocket. She even went the extra mile and filled the tank with gas.

*The van comes complete with an electric ramp for the electronic wheelchair used by Bowling’s husband and a safety harness to keep the wheelchair in place.*

Of course, the state looks at gifts like this kind of funny so it was sold to Bowling for $1. Another co-worker, Debbie D’Alessio. paid the $1 to complete the transaction. Horine is a single mom that could have sold the van and used the money for her own gain, but said the gift was never a question. “It was the right thing to do,” Horine added. “We’re a really close team in this office and this department and we’re more like family I think than we are co-workers.

Horine put the needs of another ahead of herself. Serving another’s needs is the most selfless act of kindness that is so rarely seen today.