Saint Luke's Foundation's annual Books and Boutique event benefits Saint Luke's Rehabilitation Institute
April 13, 2018 - The 2018 Books and Boutiques was held on Friday, April 10th at the Overland Park Convention Center. This amazing afternoon of shopping, fashion, and a gourmet lunch followed by a conversation with author Frances Mayes, author of the international best-selling novel Under the Tuscan Sun, raised over $320,000 to build a new therapeutic garden at the state of the art Rehabilitation Institute, opening in the Fall of 2019 on the campus of Saint Luke’s South Hospital.
In its 11th year, Books and Boutiques brought together nearly 1000 supporters of Saint Luke’s South Hospital and the new Rehabilitation Institute. Guests browsed 15 local independent boutiques selling everything from the latest fashions to elegant home décor and gorgeous accessories. Over a gourmet lunch, emcee and KMBC anchor Lara Moritz shared the story of Valerie and Nick Worth, a young couple with a personal interest in the creation of the new Rehabilitation Institute. When he was just 24, Nick was injured in an ATV accident while touring the property he and Valerie had just purchased for their new home. Nick sustained a severe spinal cord injury that resulted in the loss of function of his lower body.
At the time of his injury, the Kansas City region did not have a rehabilitation facility that offered the level of care Nick needed to return to the quality of life prior to his accident. He and his family made the crushing decision to travel to the closest facility, located in Denver, CO. Nick was forced to leave Valerie, his parents, his dog, his life so that he could access the best, most cutting-edge therapy.
With the creation of the new Rehabilitation Institute on the campus of Saint Luke’s South Hospital, Nick and thousands of others will be able to receive the highest level of care close to home. This new facility will offer the latest in robotic therapy, access to the newest clinical trials and therapeutic regimes that have shown the best results for patients post-stroke, cardiac event, and traumatic injury.
The inclusion of a therapy garden funded by the proceeds from Books and Boutiques will further set the Rehabilitation Institute apart. An essential part of that therapy involves patients learning to move safely in open spaces and maneuver over a variety of terrain, including grassy hills, gravel, sand, and pavement. The therapy garden will provide these resources in a beautiful and inspiring environment. It will help give our patients the best chance to get back to living the lives they love as fully as possible.
Books and Boutiques is one of Johnson County’s premier events and a tradition for many women in the community. Planning for the 2019 event is already underway. For more information on 2019 event, please visit Books and Boutiques.
