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Z&Z Medical Thanksgiving Traditions:

One of our Thanksgiving traditions is getting together as a family the weekend BEFORE Thanksgiving somewhere in the mountains. This allows us to have an extended weekend together with no stress of having to rush to get to somewhere else. We rent a cabin in the woods, enjoy nature, eat lots of good food, and enjoy spending time with each other. This year was extra special as we got to spend it with our grandson who just turned 2. I got to start a NEW tradition - baking cookies! with him. We had so much fun and was covered in flour from head to toe. Truly blessed this year!

~Teresa Quirante

Each year for Thanksgiving we gather as family at my parent’s home in New Hampton, Iowa to give thanks for all our blessings, eat way too much, watch football, share memories, and make new ones. After which my two sons and I take part in another tradition, the annual Thanksgiving Waterloo Blackhawks hockey game and teddy bear toss. After the Blackhawks score their first goal of the game the fans rain teddy bears and other plush animals onto the ice which are given to Toys for Tots, local hospitals, and first responders to give to children in need.

Looking back, I remember taking part in this when the boys were so little, I had to carry them on my shoulders down to the glass so they could reach the ice. Those days are long behind us, but we still enjoy the tradition to this day.

Our Thanksgiving tradition involves gathering with the family to eat a good meal, watch a little football and play some games together. This year was a little different as our kids had some commitments to work around. I attached pics for each and a brief explanation below.

Our youngest Nathan, is a Residential Officer at the Correctional facility in our town and he had to work at 4pm on Thanksgiving. We had him over for a big lunch along with some fun stories and laughs before he had to go to work.

Our oldest Bryson and his wife Ashley serve and deliver Thanksgiving meals from a church in Ashley’s home town to families and elderly people in need. After their work was done they came over for dinner, fun times together and some football watching.

We missed having everyone together at the same time but we are very thankful that we were able to see all of them on such a wonderful day.

~Craig Zabel

It’s a great feeling to know that the efforts you put into a new product idea – WORKS and CHANGES LIVES!   This is Tony’s Story…

Z&Z Medical was approached by personal trainer Jim Evans asking if we could help design a “stand-up” walker for a client of his who was 82 years old. His client Tony had been in a horrific car accident more than 10 years ago and had just recently recovered enough to be able to stand and take a few steps. Jim was needing a walker that would allow Tony to stand and walk, but have a seat behind him as he tires very quickly. “His muscles are so severely atrophied that he is unable to stand very long and is just beginning to regain his ability to walk, albeit very haltingly”. Jim indicated that Tony cannot turn around to sit on a seat, and he cannot walk around to the front of the walker either to sit down. It was imperative that the seat be mounted immediately behind him so that he could sit down quickly if needed and there was no walker on the market that provided this. Jim went on to say that this type of “stand-up” walker would be great for clients with similar issues of disability such as accidents (like Tony), MS, polio, strokes, etc. “They NEED to be walking asap, but without the safety of a seat behind them, they cannot regain the independence they need and will be relegated to a wheelchair for the rest of their lives without it. There are thousands of people throughout the country with needs that are similar to Tony.  I work with them every day.” said Jim. 

Z&Z Medical got right to work and worked with a supplier to create the much needed “Stand-Up” Walker. We received an update from personal trainer Jim Evans that Tony managed to walk a total of 100 yards yesterday on his newly named walker – the Rig-a-Tony!  Jim said, “I’m working with Tony 3 days a week in the gym to learn how to walk again and some of his neighbors are working with him at home on the opposite days. The walker fits nicely into his specialized van for easy transport. We have already introduced the walker to another person who has a permanent degenerative disease that will eventually cause him to be entirely bedridden. Having a walker similar to Tony's will enable him to enjoy a better quality of life for several more years.  He tried Tony's walker and found it to be a good fit and will be buying one soon. Thanks again for your help and cooperation in putting this together.  

Jim Evans is a 51-year veteran of the health and fitness industry and an internationally recognized industry consultant specializing in fitness for seniors. For seven years he was host of the popular radio talk show "Forever Young" on San Diego's KCBQ 1170 AM focusing on issues of health, fitness, and quality of life for older adults. Z&Z Medical enjoyed the opportunity to work with Jim and his client Tony and especially enjoyed the feedback and updates of Tony’s progress.

To learn more about this amazing Stand up Walker, Click Here.

National Boss’s Day is a day dedicated to appreciating our bosses and thank them for being kind and fair throughout the year. Its an opportunity to celebrate the people who keep us gainfully employed. We are privileged to recognize Kevin and Craig Zabel – Senior Partners of Z&Z Medical and Vice President Brian Kramme as outstanding bosses and leaders of the company.  We appreciate all you do!