Relationships…
They are the backbone of a physical therapist’s practice and the foundation on which Rock Valley Physical Therapy stands.
Example:
The bond between DeWitt, Iowa’s Renae Peasley, a true-to-life 24-karat gem and Rock Valley Physical Therapy’s Olivia Mueller, PT, DPT, ATC.
It is filled with trust, care, compassion, and a heaping helping of humor.
Lots of humor.
“It’s family with Renae and Rock Valley,” said Mueller, a superb patient advocate. “She is like family to us, but that is the way we look at all our patients. They come to us at the toughest of times and it is our job to get them better, help them reach their goals, but understand and learn as much as we can about them. What is neat about Renae is she is so kind and so willing to share. She is invested in all of us – Dana (Trenkamp, PT, DPT, CMT, Clinic Manager), Deana (Trotter, MPT), Keely (Green, PTA) and Ellicia “Ellie’ (Beck, Front Office), as well.”
The bond between Mueller and Peasley is so tight the two know when they see each other, there is a dress code.
“Purple pants and a black shirt,” Peasley said with a giggle, sporting a T-shirt in honor of Iowa great and Indiana Fever (WNBA) star Caitlin Clark. “It’s knowing what we are going to wear when we see each other so we can match. The dressing alike comes from getting to know one another.’’
Peasley, whose late husband Richard “Dick’’ Peasley, watched over DeWitt for several decades as its police chief, has had plenty of reason to know and trust the tremendous therapists at Rock Valley’s Dewitt clinic.
In December of 2023, she fell and fractured her left wrist.
It was then that Mueller stepped in and guided Peasley through her rehabilitation, working twice weekly for a time and then once a week as Peasley reached discharge. It was not the first time Rock Valley has played a positive role in returning Peasley to good health. Just prior to injuring her wrist, Peasley relied on Rock Valley after suffering a broken femur early in 2023.
In addition to treating and challenging Peasley in therapy, there has been the getting to know an amazing person and a tremendous cornerstone of the Dewitt community. Phenomenal with young people, Peasley – for years – operated a childcare facility in her DeWitt home.
Peasley is the kind of patient a therapist looks forward to helping return to good health and achieve their respective goals. She has an amazing sense of humor and comedic timing, is forever upbeat despite whatever issue is present, and is willing to attack the therapy tasks before her
“Just the greatest attitude toward getting better,” Mueller said of Peasley. “We have a lot of patients like that – maybe it’s a Dewitt thing – but she is attentive, she works extremely hard, she asks questions, and she is engaging. Share cares about everyone in our building – maybe another Dewitt thing – and they all care about her. The bonus for me is when she stops in just to check up on us/me. That is appreciated. I love being around her.’’
For Mueller and Rock Valley Physical Therapy, the hope is to have Peasley as a trusted ally and stop-in presence when the urge strikes. She is always welcome. If the need arises for great physical therapy, she knows there is help just down the street from her DeWitt home.
“It’s a bonus any time I get to see Renae,” Mueller said. “That’s what this is all about.’’
Relationships…
By: Johnny Marx, Rock Valley Storyteller