VA Maryland Health Care System

Perry Point VA Medical Center Host Fishing Day for Ventilator Dependent Patients

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Perry Point VA Medical Center employee Randi Kvis helps ventilator veteran patient Butch Gullion of Harve de Grace, reel in a fish along with Perry Point VA electrician Jeff Rae and Butch’s grandsons Tyler and Taylor.

June, 2008

Hospitalized veteran ventilator patients were recently treated to a special fishing outing at the Perry Point Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, a division of the VA Maryland Health Care System.  This annual day of fishing and fun has taken place every spring for the past four years. 

Ventilator dependent veterans were taken via ambulance to Perry Point’s fishing pier on the banks of the Chesapeake Bay, where staff from respiratory, nursing, engineering, recreation therapy and bio-medical services connected and monitored their ventilator machines. 

This year, four veterans and their families were able to enjoy a morning of fishing, food and friendship.  More than 20 VA staff volunteered to make this a very successful event.  VA electrician, Randi Kvis has helped each year to bait and set up fishing rods for the veterans.  “It gives you a great feeling to know that these veterans have a rare chance to get outside and go fishing thanks to all our efforts” said Kvis.