Our First Ride

A story by Allen Baynes

OUR WHY

Not only did we recognize the need for reliable wheelchair-accessible transportation for our community, but we also understood it personally. My sister, Mary Lynn Baynes, was battling a neurological disease that had taken away her ability to walk. During her two-year journey she became wheelchair-bound and did not have a vehicle to get to doctor’s appointments, church, family events, or her favorite pastime—watching her nieces and nephews at their dance competitions and sporting events. She hated to miss these occasions but would follow along from home on online.

In November 2024, LCS On The Move was open for business. We were eager to get started but wanted to make sure everything was in place to provide a first-class experience for our clients. We knew we had a win-win opportunity, because we could take Mary Lynn to do the things she loved while we learned how to deliver the best service for our riders.  Our first ride was taking Mary Lynn to see her nephew, Mason, play his last junior varsity football game at Mountain Brook. It was a great evening for our family! The game didn’t turn out the way we wanted, but that didn’t matter. Our family had an opportunity to share this special time with Mary Lynn. She loved every minute of it as she cheered on Mason and all his teammates—many who she had watched for many years. Over the next few weeks, she was able to go and do the things she loved. This included a day at the lake and her opportunity to vote in the November election.

What we didn’t know the night of the game was that this would be Mary Lynn’s last ride to see Mason play. Mary Lynn lost her battle with the progressive disease on November 23, 2024. Gone was a great daughter, sister, friend, and without a doubt, the favorite aunt of the family. Gone was the favorite aesthetician in town, who not only gave teenagers great skincare service but also someone they could talk to as they dealt with the ups and downs of being a teenager. Gone was the person who would beat you in a board game and made you like it.

As we mourned our loss, we reflected on what she taught us: We should cherish the time we have with those we love. As a company, we also realized this is a lot bigger than just getting someone from point A to point B. We know each ride can hold profound significance—whether it’s a trip to a doctor’s appointment, or a chance to attend a special family event or an activity. We strive to provide the highest level of care and comfort with every journey, ensuring our passengers feel supported, valued, and safe, no matter the purpose of their ride. In other words, we will run our business just as Mary Lynn cared for her clients, friends, and family—by excelling at what we do while also offering compassion.

HOW WE GOT STARTED

It is funny how ideas for expansion come to you. At LifeCare Solutions (LCS), we often receive calls for services helping seniors in the Central Alabama area. Most calls are for our primary service, Care Management, where we consult with families and help them navigate the challenges of complex care and aging. We also assist with other issues, such as making home safety changes or providing meaningful interaction and companionship through our Bridge team. Sometimes, we get calls for services that we do not provide. One of these is caregiving. We prefer to refer caregiving services to many of our great partners throughout Central Alabama.

Another service frequently requested by our community was wheelchair transportation. As we brainstormed to meet this need, our nephew, Will Baynes, a recent Auburn University graduate, was helping us with client moves while looking for his first job. This got us thinking…How could we find a way to use his skill set to help us on a permanent basis? That is when we decided to start our sister company—LCS On The Move. Our mission is to provide safe, reliable, and compassionate non-emergency medical transportation services for for both wheelchair and ambulatory individuals!

LCS On The Move also provides senior moving services, assisting families as they transition their loved one from their home to a retirement community or as they downsize. We handle every detail. All our clients need to do is show up.

Pictured above is Mary Lynn Baynes and her family at Mason’s last Junior Varsity Football Game.