Community Highlights: Meet Eric Goodman of MVS, Inc.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Goodman

Hi Eric, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was Forest when I was a kid, physically. From the age of 3-5 I had leg braces like Forest. I can see him running down the driveway on the long county road. My childhood memories are different but this is how it started. By society standards, I was disabled.

Physical disabilities followed me through my life until I was 15 years old, when everything changed. I was diagnosed with Scheuermann’s Kyphosis. Which is according to Wikipedia is: “a skeletal disorder. The Vertebrae grow unevenly, causing kyphosis.” In layman’s terms “excessive convex of the spine” Most people have heard of scoliosis because they would check kids for it in elementary school. Scheuermann’s is similar but much more severe.

After I was diagnosed my parents were told that I would need to wear a back brace. We started to do research and make a plan for the care I needed. We went to Children’s Hospital in Los Angelas to see a special orthopedic surgeon who ran test and referred us to Loma Linda Children’s Hospital for surgery immediately. My condition was putting pressure on my internal organs and without surgery I was not expected to live a full life. This news was devastating to me, my parents and my family.

I had a nine hour operation that included opening my entire back (550 stitches) to insert metal rods connected from my shoulder to my hips. Portions of my rib bones were fused with my vertebra to support my body. I was in ICU for 11 days and the hospital for 31 days. After the surgery I was in a body cast for 9 months. I had to have physical therapy to learn how to walk again.

I was in 9th grade when I went in the hospital and in 10th grade when I was recovered. I was home schooled during those 9 months. I had to wear a body cast while I healed. It was like an arm or leg cast molded on my body and cut so I could get in and out of it at night. It had metal latches on the side. One I was out of it, I was immobile and bound to bed. When I was wearing it, I could walk and do things. You can imagine what it was like being 15 years old in a body cast. Other kids were not kind to me and even after my major operation, I was still different (disabled).

I had a lot to overcome and learn how to adapt to my “new” body and what others thought of me. I knew this was not going to define me or make me different. I matured at a very young age and decide to make the best of situation. This was going to be with me for life.

Looking back on this now, over 30 years later and retelling this story, I have learned two things. One, I think this experience gave me empathy towards others with disabilities and gave me compassion to help those in need. Two, I have devoted my life since to charities and my business supports developmental disabled adults and children with our services daily.

Today I feel like Forrest Gump running down that driveway, the braces falling off and that setting the corse for the rest of my life… Helping others, my purpose and the strength of my leadership and never giving up. I share my story to motivate others and stand up for people everywhere with disabilities. You never know who they are and how it will change their life.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
COVID related supply chain and staffing shortages as most other companies during the pandemic which still persist, but are improving. This was the most challenging, biggest obstacle I have ever had to overcome in my career as a leader and business owner. We service care homes with food, medical supplies and PPE items, the pandemic was a time when are service was essential and much needed. We had to learn how to operate a large distribution company during a pandemic. You can imagine what this time was like for or team. I am happy yo share we did not miss one delivery and continued to supply all our customers during the entire pandemic.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Mountain View Services, Inc. (MVS, Inc.) mission is to provide the highest quality products and services available to their customers, so they, in turn, can provide the highest quality service to the residents they serve. MVS, Inc. is a leading Healthcare supply and distribution company, serving more than 500 Care Facilities for the Developmentally Disabled Adults and Children, Home Care Facilities, Hospice Care Companies, Nonprofits, Schools, Care Centers and Homeless Shelters.

In 2022, MVS, Inc. was recognized as one of the top 50 community-minded companies in Orange County and awarded by the Orange County Business Journal as Medium-Sized Family Business of the Year in 2023.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://MVScorp.com
• Other: https://ShopMVS.com