Building Strong Communities

A comfort cart, sponsored by PCL Construction, has arrived at Craig Hospital. 

Coordinated by the hospital’s volunteer department and staffed by volunteers, this mobile hospital cart provides useful items—including combs, tissues, puzzles, lip balm and mood boosters—to help offer a sense of normalcy and comfort for patients and their family members.  

“We are so excited for the new comfort cart, which is geared toward making a patient’s stay as easy and convenient as possible,” explains Jill Stelley Virden, Director of Volunteer Services and Gift Shop at Craig. “Thoughtful care went into selecting each item, and the cart will circulate through the hospital with the help of our amazing volunteers.”

Albert Valenzuela, western regional Safety Manager at PCL Construction, said the company has been a long-time supporter of Craig Hospital, but he didn’t truly understand the hospital’s impact until he witnessed it first-hand. “I am thrilled to be part of a company that is committed to serving Craig Hospital—a place that was so instrumental in helping my daughter, Riley, recover from a car accident last summer.”

Pushing Forward

On Sunday, June 9, 2024, 19-year-old Riley Valenzuela was involved in a head-on collision that caused her to sustain numerous injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, two broken legs, a broken arm and wrist, and a dissected artery.

“Luckily, an off-duty paramedic was driving behind Riley’s car,” Albert recalls. “He, along with the Elk Creek Fire Department, helped save her life.”

Albert adds, “While Riley was in the ICU, we began to hear about rehab hospitals. At that time, I didn’t know a lot about Craig, but the consistent recommendation we received for Riley’s rehab was Craig—so that’s where we went.”

Riley arrived at Craig in July and spent one month in its inpatient program and several months in outpatient, participating in physical and occupational therapy as well as therapeutic recreation.

“It was an extremely stressful and uncertain time for all of us, but Craig made it so much easier on our family,” Albert says. “It felt like everyone—from therapists, nurses and doctors, to staff and other patients—was supporting us during each step of Riley’s journey. I really believe that Riley, who is back in college, is thriving today because of Craig.”

Making a Real Difference

Albert said his family’s experience inspired him to take a more active role in PCL’s long-standing support of Craig Hospital.

“PCL has supported Craig since 2009,” he says. “Recently, I took on responsibility for our relationship with the hospital. With the backing of Deron Brown, President and COO, U.S. Operations, we became the inaugural comfort cart sponsor and a Peer Mentor dinner host. We’re also creating custom wooden hedge walls to allow Craig to bring joy to patients during special occasions.”

For Albert, the experience remains both personal and profound. “Thankfully, Riley is doing well and is looking forward to the future,” he explains. “I’m grateful to work for an organization that is committed to supporting our local community, and even more grateful to Craig. I will never stop appreciating what the hospital did for my daughter—and our family. Initiatives, like the comfort cart, truly reflect PCL’s values and the positive impact we aim to make in the communities where we live and work.”

To learn how your company can collaborate with Craig, please reach out to Caroline Craven at ccraven@craighospital.org or 303.789.8578.