Nonpro t
BY KAREN CHANEY
The lifting function of the chair allows patients independence to get up by themselves post surgery.
Kathleen Ruth founded the Dallas/Fort Worth chapter of The Healing Chair in 2019.
COURTESY THE HEALING CHAIR
KAREN CHANEY COMMUNITY IMPACT
Southlake resident takes a seat to those in need Kathleen Ruth said she heard about The Healing Chair, a St. Louis nonpro t, from her sister-in-law who was friends with Carol Mullenix, the founder of the organization. Because Ruth’s mother had breast cancer, the organization’s mission spoke to her. The backstory Ruth said Mullenix is a breast cancer survivor, and when she was recovering from surgery, a friend
asked if she had an electric lift recliner at home. Mullenix said she did not but she’d be ne. When she got home from the hospital, an electric lift recliner chair was waiting. Ruth said a lot of people sleep in the chair the rst couple weeks post-surgery because their muscles are so weak and the lift function of the chair allows them to get up independently. Ruth contacted Mullenix and asked if she could start a similar nonpro t in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Mullenix agreed, so Ruth founded The Healing Chair-Dallas/Fort Worth in 2019. Who it’s for Since the nonpro t’s inception, Ruth has
delivered 313 chairs. She said although most chair recipients are women recovering from breast can- cer-related surgeries, she also has delivered chairs to people recovering from a variety of surgeries. The details Ruth has 30 cleaned leather chairs and she said her delivery zone is within a 45-minute drive from Southlake, where the chairs are stored. Patients can keep the chair as long as they need it, which is typically between six and eight weeks. A bag with a blanket, a comfort pillow made by Girl Scout Troop 4050 and a post-surgery drain holder are given to the patients. A journal travels with the chair as an extra layer of encouragement.
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