Minnesota Prairie Roots

Writing and photography by Audrey Kletscher Helbling

A meeting reminder & my Allina Health story July 28, 2026

Filed under: Uncategorized — Audrey Kletscher Helbling @ 9:41 AM
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I’ve had physical and occupational therapy at Courage Kenny in Faribault multiple times, most recently in 2023. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted file photo 2026)

FOR SIX MONTHS in 2023, once a week, my husband, Randy, drove me across the bridge to therapy at Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute in Faribault for vestibular rehab therapy. Without that intense weekly therapy, I doubt I would have reclaimed my ability to function in daily life.

Early in that year, I developed debilitating neurological symptoms following a virus, likely COVID, although I never tested positive for it. There was no other explanation for my sensory overload issues which kept me unable to handle light, motion, sound, anything really entering my brain.

I stayed inside the house, curtains drawn, shutting out sensory input. I couldn’t tolerate watching TV. I couldn’t read. I could hardly handle a phone call or conversation. I felt anxious, overstimulated by even the smallest external stimuli. I barely ate because of hyper-sensitive taste buds. I lost weight. I couldn’t tolerate toothpaste. I couldn’t sleep. I struggled to maintain. Managing daily living seemed nearly impossible. Basically, I was confined to my house, unable to function outside of it.

And then my family doctor, Dr. Todd Sykora of Allina Health in Faribault, referred me to Allina’s Courage Kenny. Sykora had seen me multiple times, determined to find a way to help me. I’d gone through a battery of tests to rule out causes like a brain tumor. I’ll always feel grateful for my doctor’s genuine care and compassion, for not giving up and for admitting that he didn’t have the answers. He eventually suggested vestibular rehab therapy to treat my long COVID.

That therapy would put me on the road back to good health. I was ready to try anything at that point.

Some of the exercises I did in vestibular rehab therapy. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted file photo)

Enter Courage Kenny therapist Ryan Iverson, who’s trained in vestibular rehab therapy. From the get-go, Iverson assured me he could help. He validated my traumatic brain injury type symptoms. And then we set to work at those weekly sessions with homework exercises assigned each week. I worked hard, experienced some setbacks, but, eventually graduated after six months. I’d reclaimed my life.

Today I am doing well, although minor sensory issues linger. But now I know how to cope, how to manage. I am living my life, doing the things I love, being with people, out and about. And I owe that to my Allina Health primary care doctor and my vestibular rehab therapist. If not for this great local care, I would still be struggling.

This sign on the Allina Health Faribault campus directs patients and visitors to the hospital, pharmacy and clinic. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2026)

I share all of this again three years later because the Allina Health system, which serves Minnesota and western Wisconsin with 12 hospitals, 60 primary care clinics, 20 urgent care centers and more than 100 specialty care clinics, has signed an agreement with California-based Sutter Health to buy Allina. And that affects me given I get my care through Allina.

From 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, the Minnesota State Attorney General’s office will host a listening session in Faribault on that proposed acquisition. I’ll be there. You can attend also, but only if you pre-register. And, if you wish to speak, you must complete a form in advance. Only then will you be notified of the community forum location.

This is an important meeting. Important because this is about healthcare. Local healthcare. I’m thankful I could get my vestibular rehab therapy in Faribault. I can’t imagine traveling out of town once a week for six months to access care. It would have been difficult and draining for me, taxing for my brain. Plus, the time and travel expense would have added to an already challenging situation.

I don’t know what will happen if Sutter assumes ownership of Allina Health in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. I expect this acquisition will happen. But I hope safeguards are put in place to continue services, to keep clinics and hospitals open, to protect the jobs of 27,000 employees.

There’s a lot at stake here for any community served by Allina Health.

FYI: Click here for more information about the proposed Allina-Sutter acquisition and the upcoming meeting. That includes links to register to attend and/or to speak.

© Copyright 2026 Audrey Kletscher Helbling

 

Community forum set on planned acquisition of Allina Health by Sutter Health July 25, 2026

Filed under: Uncategorized — Audrey Kletscher Helbling @ 4:58 PM
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Signage directs patients, visitors and others to various sites on the Allina Health Faribault Medical Center campus. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2026)

ACCESS TO LOCAL HEALTHCARE ranks high on my list of necessities. I expect it does for almost everyone, especially seniors like me.

This building on the Faribault campus houses the clinic and urgent care. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2026)

I appreciate that I can go across town to see my family doctor, specialists and other medical professionals in our local clinics and hospital.

As someone who grew up in rural southwestern Minnesota with only a few doctors to serve the entire county decades ago, I deeply value living in a city with multiple clinics, a hospital, numerous therapists and more. I value local.

That all said, the future of healthcare in Faribault could change. Why do I say that? Because my healthcare provider, Allina Health, and California-based Sutter Health have signed a “definitive agreement” that would make Allina the Upper Midwest Division of Sutter Health.

This sign directs patients to some of the services provided on the Allina Health Faribault Medical Center campus. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2026)

The proposed acquisition will be the focus of a community forum from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, in Faribault, location to be determined. Allina Health has hospitals and clinics throughout Minnesota so this planned acquisition affects people across the state.

The Minnesota State Attorney General’s office is hosting the meeting to lay out details about the proposal and to get public input. It’s a process required by state law.

I care enough about local healthcare to attend. I need to learn more, to begin to understand what this could mean for me, my family and others in my community and area. Locally, Allina owns the hospital, a general clinic, specialty clinics and a sports rehab/therapy center. I’ve been a patient at these clinics, gone to therapy, used the emergency room and been hospitalized many times locally. Likewise family members have accessed Allina health services.

This shows the entrance to the hospital, left, and the space linking the clinic to the hospital. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2026)

I don’t know much about the proposed acquisition, only that I grow concerned when ownership is assumed by an out-of-state nonprofit that is massive in size. My local hospital was once community-owned, until it became part of the Allina system in 2015.

Much-needed improvements were made to the surgical and emergency departments by Allina Health. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2026)

Allina invested in the former District One Hospital with improvements to the emergency and surgical departments and more. But recently we lost our birthing center and hospital pediatric care. That’s a loss to parents and families who must now travel out of town to have their babies and get hospital care for their kids.

Talk of change always sparks questions. And it should. I encourage anyone who cares about the future of healthcare in Faribault to attend Wednesday’s public forum. This offers an opportunity to listen and to be heard.

More specialty care on the Allina Health Faribault Medical Center campus. This is located across the street from the main clinic and hospital. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2026)

However, there are some guidelines. To even attend, and that includes media, you must register in advance online. It’s not difficult to do. But requiring online registration could easily discourage people, especially those without computer access or skills, from attending. Then, the location of the hearing in Faribault will not be disclosed until 48 hours before the meeting.

If you wish to speak at the forum, you must also register in advance. That requirement seems more reasonable. Still, it’s another obstacle.

No matter, please, if you live in the Faribault area, make attending the community forum on the proposed acquisition of Allina Health by Sutter Health a priority on Wednesday evening. Come. Listen. Learn. Become informed. Be seen. And let your voice be heard if you choose to speak.

FYI: Click here to read the media release from the Minnesota state attorney general’s office on this community forum. The release includes links to register to attend and also a form to complete if you wish to speak.

Click here to read a media release from Allina Health about the “definitive agreement” with Sutter Health.

UPDATE, Sunday, July 26: Please click here to complete a survey by Sam Temple, a Faribault resident, documentary filmmaker, local historian, candidate for Rice County commissioner and more. Temple plans to share concerns and stories at the July 29 forum. You can complete his survey, “Share Your Allina Story,” anonymously if you wish.

© Copyright 2026 Audrey Kletscher Helbling

 

Council chat focuses on housing in Faribault March 9, 2026

Filed under: Uncategorized — Audrey Kletscher Helbling @ 11:07 AM
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Straight River Apartments under construction in 2022. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted file photo March 2022)

IN RECENT YEARS, Faribault has experienced a boon in apartment building construction, especially in the downtown area. Hillside Apartments, Straight River Apartments and Riverchase Apartments have all opened with Riverchase II coming soon.

Additionally space in downtown historic buildings has been, or will be, rehabbed into more apartments.

At the former Farmer Seed & Nursery site along Minnesota State Highway 60, Midwest Flats Apartments are under construction.

And on the south end of town are the new Elmview Apartments.

That’s a whole lot of apartments added to already long-standing apartment complexes and other rental units in the city. But apparently the need and demand are there based on discussions among local government officials.

Housing will focus a monthly City Council Chat slated for 5 pm Wednesday, March 11, at Viaduct Park. Specifically, Maxfield Research will present results of a housing needs analysis done for the Faribault Housing and Redevelopment Authority. That will include demographic trends, market demand, affordability challenges and projected housing needs over the coming years, according to the city of Faribault.

I’m curious about the results of that study. As an aging Baby Boomer, I hold a different outlook on local housing needs than a young person or young family just settling into the community or looking to buy a home.

What I appreciate about the monthly Council Chats are the focused topics, the informality of the gatherings, and opportunities for the public to ask questions, comment and mingle with city employees and elected officials. This is about as grassroots as it gets in local government. Listen. Learn. Discuss. Make informed decisions.

© Copyright 2026 Audrey Kletscher Helbling