Crane lifts hospital patient’s spirits

(WOOD) When you’re forced to spend day after day inside a hospital room, finding something to make you smile can mean everything.

John Bowen knows that. Tuesday marked his 14th straight day at the Spectrum Health Heart Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He’s had several health problems since receiving a lung transplant in 2012.

This particular visit, John found that ‘something.’

“When I came up two weeks ago, I was not in good shape,” Bowen explained from his hospital room. “But looking out my window here, I’m interested in the crane.”

The crane sits across the way. Pioneer Construction is using it at the site of a new Grand Valley State University medical building.

Having worked some in construction in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, Bowen’s interest in the equipment quickly turned to fascination. Every morning for the past two weeks, he has watched the sun rise and the crane spin. He even has binoculars to watch the worker closely.

“When you’re in a hospital and you’re in serious trouble, you have to keep the right frame of mind to get through it. That’s my attitude,” Bowen said. “(The crane) takes your mind off the problems.”

Little did Bowen know that the worker in the crane, Rob Jernberg, found out he’s been watching.

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