Sheltering Arms Foundation Campaign Newsletter

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coming soon final stage

The Bridge Garden

A Place Between Hospital and Home

“I cried when I heard that the new outdoor space was named the Bridge Garden,” says Beth Flippo Hutchins whose family has a long history with Sheltering Arms. After her husband Bill suffered a stroke in 2017, Beth recognized the need for a greenspace for patients like him to reconnect with themselves, family, and coworkers. Thanks to a gift from the Flippo Foundation, ‘the place between hospital and home’ will become a reality with this beautiful new outdoor sanctuary. The Bridge Garden, explains Beth, is meant to be a lovely special natural setting for everyone to enjoy.

Cynthia (Cindee) Rolston, PhD, SAI’s Director of Psychology Services, says, “We want to maximize people’s joy and positivity with this outdoor space. We brought in former patients and their families, community engagement groups like United Spinal Association of Virginia and our therapists to help determine how the greenspace would function best and how it would feel in different situations.”

“Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.”

Representing Flippo Foundation Board Members: (Left to Right) Chris Acors, Corine Barber, Flippo Family members – Beth Flippo Hutchins and Bill Hutchins, and representing Flippo Board Members Joseph Jones

– John Muir, Father of National Parks

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Armed with support from the Flippo Foundation, the design process began with team collaboration. Cindee explains, “Ideas were born from our patients and their diverse experiences. We also allowed our therapists to have opinions on the design.” One important structural aspect of these spaces will be a variety of surfaces such as brick, concrete, pebbles, stepping-stones and grass. A patient with limited mobility would have an opportunity to navigate the various pavements which can’t be done indoors. These angles and textures mirror outdoor spaces in the community.

Years of planning have culminated in the final design. The garden rooms will all be interconnected and yet provide optimal usage. There will be smaller more intimate spaces to enjoy nature along with larger outdoor rooms where a rousing game of cornhole could take place. According to Cindee “We have even created a space that would allow a patient in a hospital bed to get outside and drink in nature.”

The Sheltering Arms experience has been an integral part of Beth’s life. She was a sponsor for the Bal du Bois in 1990. Fast forward a few years, Beth and Bill purchased a home on 2300 Grace Street which was once owned by Sheltering Arms. When her great-uncle Arthur Flippo suffered a stroke, he received excellent care at Sheltering Arms. “Sheltering Arms gave us the ability to get to know Uncle Arthur in a new way.” Her brother, who once suffered liver and kidney failure, recovered thanks to the physical rehabilitation he received at the hospital. “For me, Sheltering Arms was magical.”

Her husband Bill’s stroke came as a complete surprise. “Sheltering Arms was there to catch me again. Through his seven-week stay, I made friends with the people there and we still stay in touch.” Our neighbors, Julie Rautio and Robert Baratta, were absolutely incredible; they helped with our two boys and came to the hospital every single evening to check on us. To pay tribute to this special experience, there are two benches located outside at SAI appropriately named ‘Bill’s Bench’ and the ‘Neighbors Bench.’ Beth also recalls rolling Bill’s wheelchair through the parking lots, thinking there had to be a better way to get patients’ fresh air.

Sylvia Acors, who wears many hats as Director, Secretary and Treasurer of the Flippo Foundation, vividly recalls Beth’s experiences of wheeling Bill around in a parking lot when he was recovering from a stroke. For over 30 years, Sylvia worked for Flippo Lumber along with Franklin Jones and Norman Long. This trusted group became Foundation directors at the request of Arthur Flippo. She says, “To me, it’s a very special place to work. We have all very much tried to follow Arthur’s wishes. Just seeing Beth go through this struggle pushed all of us to want to do something for Sheltering Arms Institute.”

Beth is ever grateful to Sheltering Arms and the genesis of the garden. “I love the smaller conversation spaces which was something that meant so much to Bill. I remember watching how visitors would spark a memory in him. The garden also helps patients in relating to normal situations.” In short, the design is the culmination of an extraordinary team effort to maximize and create a one-of-a-kind greenspace that encourages everything from quiet personal introspection in nature to family gatherings and fun activities.

Beth concludes, “We’ve been so blessed by the care we received at Sheltering Arms. So many people gave Bill the opportunity to be Bill again. That was a gift we can never repay. The power of others who gave their time and talent gave Bill the Power to Overcome.”

The Bridge Garden is slated to be completed by Fall 2021!

To learn more about recognition opportunities in the Bridge Garden, please contact, 804.342.4141.