Teen admitted for free and local therapy in Wheeling after scooter accident

WHEELING, W.Va. (WTRF) — Seneca Rehabilitation Hospital may be known for its care of older adults.

But one of its most recent admissions hasn’t even reached her 18th birthday, because its nurses knew she needed that local and loving touch.

After a traumatic electric scooter accident, Wheeling Park student Kimberly O’Dell was taken to WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital in Morgantown.

Her grandparents traveled back and forth to see her every day.

But when Seneca found out about her case, they offered to take her in for physical, occupational and speech therapy with no compensation.

The hospital’s CEO says the comfort of seeing family every day is as important as any exercise.

“We wanted to bring her to the hospital here, regardless of whether or not we are going to get compensated for the care. The grandparents wanted the girl to come to Wheeling. They only wanted her to come to Wheeling. And we just made it happen.”

Tomasz Jankowski, CEO, Seneca Rehabilitation Hospital

Kimberly says the nurses have helped her through weeks of three-hours-a-day therapy.

She says the one thing she’s looking forward to doing most when she’s finished is just walking around.

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