HEALTH
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Treasure Coast Medical Report
declining health on the social platform which then connected
him to James Crocker.
“From the moment that I saw John’s text, I felt an inner
sense that God was in this. I felt it was a kind of divine appointment,”
Crocker explains.
Without thinking twice, Crocker and his wife drove to Orlando
within hours after reading Stemberger’s text, to meet
the Rathel family.
“James shows up at our house, and we hug each other. We
had never met this man before, but it felt so natural,” Stacie
Rathel recalls. “Even after he left that night, my kids said,
‘Mom, it was like getting a visit from your uncle.’ ”
To qualify for donating convalescent plasma, Crocker
needed to have a compatible blood type, be fully recovered
from COVID-19 and test negative for the virus. He met the
first two requirements, and his next big challenge would be
to produce a negative test result on the following day.
ON A MISSION
Finding a rapid COVID-19 test in early April was almost
next to impossible. A man on a mission, Crocker went to
numerous places in Orlando to search for such a test. He
found the testing sites, but the results would not be available
for at least a week or more — precious time that Kevin Rathel
didn’t have.
“Neither James nor I are red tape kind of people,” Stacie
Rathel says. “So, you can imagine how incredibly frustrating
this is. We got the approval and I have a donor. Why is this
that hard? I’m like at this point, ‘People, time is ticking — I’m
hearing this clock in the back of my head.’ It’s like James and
I are the only ones who are hearing that clock. Everyone else >>
Here to Serve You
When You Need Us
Coral Shores Behavioral Health offers a continuum of mental
health and addiction services for adolescents, adults and
older adults in a confidential, caring environment.
We offer no-cost assessments, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Visit coralshoresbehavioral.com or call 772-403-4000 or
844-507-9654 today.
5995 SE Community Drive / Stuart, FL 34997
772-403-4000 / Fax: 772-361-6213 / coralshoresbehavioral.com
Coral Shores Behavioral Health is a Baker Act receiving facility. With limited exceptions, physicians are not employees or agents
of this hospital. Model representations of real patients are shown. Actual patients cannot be divulged due to HIPAA regulations.
For language assistance, disability accommodations and the non-discrimination notice, visit our website. 195311-7523 11/19
HOG TECHNOLOGIES
Crocker, founder and president of Hog Technologies in Stuart, urges others
to donate plasma to help fight COVID-19.
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