Alumni Focus - Ben Bloomer ('07)
From Facebook
Ben Bloomer (‘07) went to Christ Lutheran School in North St. Paul, Minnesota from kindergarten through 8th grade, and sports were always a huge part of his life. Bloomer remembers, “At that time, we had quite the rivalry in basketball with Bloomington Lutheran. We were able to beat them in the championship in 6th and 7th grade, but they got the best of us in 8th grade.”
Bloomer went on to attend high school at St. Croix Lutheran from 2003-2007 and played football, basketball, and track. After suffering a knee injury during track season, he was sent to physical therapy for several weeks to do some rehab. He became very interested in physical therapy as a career and decided to go to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse for its excellent PT program. Bloomer graduated from UW-L in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Sport Science, and then went on to graduate from the Doctorate of Physical Therapy program in 2014.
After PT school, he moved back to the Twin Cities and met his wife Amanda. They married in 2016 and were blessed with a daughter, Ashlynn Kelly Bloomer, on October 10, 2019. They currently live in Carver, MN and own a physical therapy clinic in Chanhassen.
“We started Thrive Physical Therapy in August 2017 with a mission to provide a more personalized, faith-based, and family-focused physical therapy experience. We specialize in knee pain, back pain, sports injuries, concussions, and chronic pain; however, we treat any age and diagnosis. Every appointment is one-on-one with a PT, which allows us to really get to know our patients. We love watching our patients achieve their goals, whether it’s playing with grandchildren or returning to the athletic field. We also love being involved in the community with various volunteer experiences and job shadows for high school and college students. We are in-network with all health insurances, and you don’t need a doctor referral to be able to see us. Give us a call at 952-491-4700 to set up a free consultation, or visit our website www.thriveptmn.com!”
Despite their status as an essential healthcare provider, the Bloomers decided to close the clinic for a couple of weeks to focus on the health and safety of their patients and staff. They conducted one-on-one virtual telehealth appointments as a way to still evaluate injuries, provide expert advice, and perform an exercise routine together. The clinic has now re-opened for in-person appointments.
As a family, the coronavirus has also allowed the Bloomers to spend more time getting into God’s Word, as well as enjoying the extra time with Ashlynn and watching her grow.
Ben Bloomer looks back at his experiences at SCL and is thankful for what he learned and where God led, even through a painful injury. “I made many memories and lifelong friendships, and the Christian education was invaluable! If I were to pick a favorite memory at SCL, it would be going to the state tournament in football for the first time in school history. Many of us ‘06 and ‘07 grads like to say that we built the football dynasty at SCL.”