LAKEPORT, Calif. – Thanks to volunteer generosity, more Sutter Lakeside Hospital patients will enjoy riding in “the Lexus of wheelchairs,” said Medical Surgical Department Manager Anne Garner.

The auxiliary volunteers, who run the hospital gift shop and coordinate other fundraising efforts, donated $6,000 so the Medical Surgical Department could purchase two Stryker wheelchairs.

The chairs, which can easily hold a patient up to 400 pounds, provide a whole new level of comfort for patients and the hospital staff transporting them.

“The chairs are extremely comfortable for patients and so easy to maneuver that it reduces risk of injury to the patient and takes the strain off our staff,” Garner said. “They feature attached IV poles; oxygen tank holders; a paperwork tray; very few detachable parts; and a high-quality, durable, sanitary and rustproof plastic construction.”

Garner said her staff was happy to say goodbye to the older steel wheelchairs because they were getting rusty and missing parts, such as footrests, that made them uncomfortable.

From the moment staff members saw a new Stryker wheelchair roll by from the Emergency Department, they were in love.

“We wanted one so badly that I immediately put a presentation together and borrowed one of the Emergency Department’s chairs to demonstrate its features to the Auxiliary,” Garner said. “My team and I were hoping for one new wheelchair, so you can imagine how thrilled we were when the Auxiliary bought us two.”

“We could immediately see how beneficial and wonderful these new wheelchairs would be for the Medical Surgical Department,” said Auxiliary President Sharon Brasher. “We’re always looking for ways to support the hospital and help patients have a more comfortable experience.”

Garner appreciates the auxiliary support in what she said feels like an “upgrade from driving a 1966 Volkswagen to a brand-new Lexus.”

She and her staff show their appreciation by buying treats and gifts in the shop at every opportunity.

“The ladies and gentlemen of the auxiliary are the unsung heroes of this hospital,” Garner said. “They run a gift shop that’s no bigger than a walk-in closet but is fully stocked with the best merchandise you can imagine. Their amazing talents and generosity are so appreciated.”

To learn more about Sutter Lakeside, visit www.sutterlakeside.org/ .