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Bob and Linda represent a population of riders who suddenly and emergently find themselves in need of transport, and Prairie Hills Transit is there for them. These are generally seniors who have, at some point earlier in their lives, decided to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and live just on the outskirts of town to enjoy the peace and quiet. They love seeing the deer and other wildlife frolicking in their front yard, and they put food out for the many varieties of birds they’re able to appreciate due to the rural lifestyle they’ve chosen. It’s all beautiful and wonderful, until it isn’t. You see, one day last winter, Linda took a bad fall. The ambulance was summoned, and Linda was rushed to the emergency room. The news wasn’t good; she had broken her hip. Not only that, but she was also found to have lung cancer and a gastrointestinal issue. Talk about a 1-2-3 punch! After a lengthy stay in the hospital in Rapid City, Prairie Hills Transit transported her home. Well, now what? How would she make it to her 1-week hospital follow-up, her multiple and routine Physical Therapy appointments, and what about her cancer diagnosis? They didn’t own a wheelchair-equipped vehicle to get Linda to all her follow-up care. When Bob called the Prairie Hills Transit Dispatch office, he was in a panic, stating how desperate they were for help. He was calmly told that Prairie Hills Transit was there for them and they began to schedule her rides. He couldn’t thank us enough. This lifted a huge weight from this couple who certainly didn’t plan for life events to take that kind of twist.