APPRECIATION-Norman McBride, Christus Spohn Hospital Kleberg administrator, read letters praising the services they received at the Colston Family Physical Rehabilitation Wellness Center at Christus Spohn Hospital Kleberg at the facility’s first anniversary celebration held Thursday. Words of gratitude were shared from former patients of the Colston Family Physical Rehabilitation and Wellness Center and an update on the facility’s services was also presented at the one-year celebration held Thursday.

Norman McBride, Christus Spohn Hospital Kleberg administrator, addressed the guests present during the celebration. He expressed gratitude to the Colston family for their kindness and generosity that has helped many people locally and in the surrounding areas. McBride said the wellness side has 65 patients a day. The Colston Fitness Center has increased its membership from 70 to 300 members in one year.

COLSTON SIBLINGS- Family members attended the one year celebration of the Colston Family Rehabilitation and Wellness Center Thursday. Pictured from left are Sue Ann Lawrence, Bill Colston Jr., Kay Bruce and Leslie Colston. McBride read excerpts from letters from former patients whose lives improved because of the health services they received at the Colston Family Physical Rehabilitation and Wellness Center. He read excerpts from a letter he received from an amputee who stated that the rehabilitation services: “helped me get my strength, hope and life back.” Another person thanked staff members because he had been able “to get a new lease on life and we are so fortunate to have a state of the art facility.”

He cited another letter from a man who was able to recover from a vehicle accident, and he was able to pursue traveling ventures.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY-A cake with one candle was served at the one-year celebration of the opening of the Colston Physical Rehabilitation and Wellness Center. McBride also cited people who had lost weight because of the wellness center. Many of the letters praised staff members who helped them. McBride showed 20 letters but shared excerpts from a few.

The rehabilitation program has helped many people with big medical problems that have been able to achieve a higher level of well being and health, according to McBride.

“This facility is part of the revitalization of the whole hospital campus that has really pushed us forward,” McBride said.

Bill Colston Jr., the family representative, spoke of the idea of having a facility like this in Kingsville.

“This was a vision started a long time ago trying to get something people could use,” he related to the guests. The vision and rehab idea began when his father had cardiac problems. “Dad refused to go to Corpus Christi,” Colston said.

It was then they realized loved ones needed to get rehabilitation services. The Colston family started the ball rolling. “Sometimes it was a square ball and wouldn’t start rolling but it did and was built in record time,” Colston said.

People do not have to go to Corpus anymore. “It’s changed lives,” he said.

The Colston siblings and other family members were present at the event. Three of the siblings live in Riviera. One of the sisters, Kay Bruce, traveled from Edmond, Oklahoma, to attend the event.

“It’s wonderful to hear about the difference it has made in people’s lives,” she said.

The Colston Family Rehabilitation and Wellness Center is a $3.1 million two facility made possible by a generous gift from the Colston family.

The Colston family are long time Kleberg County resident. They are owners of the Riviera Telephone Company, a privately owned telephone company in the nation. The Colston family has been described as champions of health care.

They are known as hard working humble people.

The premier rehabilitation and wellness center at Christus Spohn Hospital Kleberg features modern and innovative physical rehabilitation and wellness services. The rehab center has modern amenities such as an aquatic therapy area and state of the art rehabilitation and fitness equipment. The physical rehab team includes licensed and specially certified physical, occupational and speech therapists and technicians who assist the patients for a speedy recovery.

The Colston Center offers wellness services that range from weight management to various specialized exercise classes.