Health
UKIAH, Calif. – Milestones are important – on the road, in business and in life.
No one knows this more than Dennis Thurston of the Thurston family of businesses.
Having recently returned to Ukiah after spending a few years in La Quinta, Dennis and his wife Carol are looking forward to crossing new milestones in Mendocino County.
Most recently, they helped Ukiah Valley Medical Center cross an important milestone in their capital campaign with a gift to expand the campus and put the campaign over $3 million towards its $4 million goal.
“My family and I are grateful to our extended family at Thurston Auto Plaza and Honda, whose hard work through this difficult economy made it possible for us to make this gift,” said Dennis.
Dennis’ son Tracey Thurston serves on the UVMC Capital Campaign Committee. “Our family is grateful to the employees, physicians and patients at UVMC for the support they’ve shown us over the years and this is a meaningful way for us to show our appreciation with a gift to the entire community.”
In addition to a new emergency department, helipad and intensive care unit, the campus expansion will include the Thurston Family Café and Courtyard.
“We are most grateful for the support that the Thurston Family has shown with their gift,” said campaign co-chair Don Coursey, M.D. “The Thurston Café and Courtyard will provide comfort and nutrition to the entire community for years to come.”
“This gift comes just as we are preparing to break ground on the campus expansion,” said CEO Gwen Matthews.
The groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 30, at 5:30 p.m.
To learn more about Ukiah Valley Medical Center’s campus expansion project, contact director of philanthropy, Allyne Brown at 707-463-7623 or by email at
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UKIAH, Calif. – For expectant mother Lindsey Powis of Potter Valley, her fourth delivery was anything but expected.
“While at home with Erin [my husband], I began to experience contractions. Since this is my fourth baby I knew what to expect,” said Powis. “To be honest I really wasn’t ready to travel to the hospital but Erin insisted.”
Driving to the hospital was pretty uneventful until they exited Highway 101 on Perkins Street. “As soon as we exited I knew it was time,” said Powis. “I tried to have Erin stop in the McDonald’s parking lot but he insisted on continuing to the hospital – so we continued.”
And it is a good thing they did.
Pulling up to the Family Birth Center at Ukiah Valley Medical Center, Erin Powis leaped out of the car and ran in for help.
Family Birth Center R.N. Monica Coulson immediately went into action and proceeded out to the car.
“When I approached the car I knew we didn’t have time to wheel her in,” said Coulson. “I had to deliver the baby right then and there in the car and there wasn’t any way around it!”
A healthy baby boy, Camden John Powis, was delivered at 3:30 p.m. and weighed 7 pounds and 8 ounces, and was 20 inches long. The family’s midwife, Jennifer Liana, C.N.M., arrived shortly after.
The Powises were so grateful for their care and impressed by the newly remodeled Family Birthing Suites. They also enjoyed seeing some of the R.N.s from the deliveries of their three other children.
One thing’s for sure, Camden will have an exciting story to share with his friends some day.
The Family Birth Center at UVMC offers labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum care all in the same room.
A special care nursery (Level II NICU) is staffed by highly trained nurses and attending physicians that specialize in caring for newborns with special needs and complications. Childbirth classes and tours are available.
For more information please call 707-463-7550 or visit www.uvmc.org/birthcenter .
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