Saturday, January 31, 2009

Well, getting up and getting out at 6:30 this morning turned out to be worth it. Mark and about eight other patients were taken to the Super Bowl Breakfast which was sponsored by the Athletes In Action organization. This breakfast takes place every year the morning before the game where the Bart Starr Award is given to one of three candidates who exemplify leadership and philanthropy. The nominees this year were Warrick Dunn of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kurt Warner of the Arizona Cardinals, and Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints. This year the award was given to Warrick Dunn.

Mark, as you can see, met Bart Starr and added his signature to his growing list of autographs. He said the food was okay but the breakfast as a whole was "awesome". Some of the other NFL notables there were Tony Dungy and Lee Roy Selmon. The Hall of Famers made the guys feel very welcome and were very supportive.

Mark called us from the bus on the way back to the hospital and was very excited about having met and heard such good speakers. I have to say that the NFL has gone above and beyond in including our soldiers in the Super Bowl festivities. The visits and the appearances have been great. It means a lot to these boys who sometimes feel frustrated and forgotten during the long months spent in a hospital. It's nice to see them recognized for the heroes they are.

Friday, January 30, 2009

When we talked to Mark last night we could see the smiles even without "phonovision". The patients have had a good week with lots of high profile visitors thanks to the Super Bowl being held in Tampa on Sunday. Franco Harris, Pete Shaw, Lydell Mitchell all visited one day and yesterday, Mike Ditka came back to see the guys and brought along Rocky Bleier. One of the patients, Kevin, is a die-hard Steeler fan and Coach Ditka remembered that from his last visit a couple of months ago. Mark was priviledged to try on Bleier's four Super Bowl rings. All at once I might add!

He also had a chat with David Haugh, one of the sports columnists from the Chicago Tribune. One of Rich's colleagues in Chicago called this morning when he read Mark's name in the column. It's a nice story about what took place yesterday at the Fisher House and I have added the link below.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-30-haugh-super-bowljan30,0,5360504.column

Tomorrow the patients have been invited to a Super Bowl breakfast at the University of South Florida which is across the street from the hospital. Mark wasn't sure what it entailed only that they had to be ready to go by 6:30 a.m, but we will keep you all posted when we talk to him tomorrow.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Well, just a short note tonight to let everyone know that the laundry is clean! Mark got assistance taking it up to 5North and one of the certified nursing assistants, Enrique, who was one of Mark's favorites, very early on, was kind enough to bring it down to Mark after it was dry. He called Mark on the phone when it was done and Mark met him at Transitional housing and let him in. Talk about fabulous cooperation. Enrique is a wonderful person and has such a great relationship with the guys and the moms!

Mark is planning on going sailing tomorrow with his recreational therapist, Jamie and is really looking forward to it. He only hopes it won't be too cold. He hasn't been since Peter took him in September.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Things have been going fairly well for Mark now that he's alone. Jess returned to Australia safely last week and is diligently working on getting a new visa that will allow her to stay longer and be able to work and study. We are keeping our fingers crossed!!

Some new patients have finally joined Mark in the Transitional program. He called today and was a bit frustrated over the fact that the clothes washer for their unit does not work. Seems it was dropped when it was delivered weeks and weeks ago and has not been repaired. I guess from what Mark tells me there is sub-contractor involved that doesn't respond to phone calls and has not been there to repair or replace the unit. Now they have a washer and dryer on the 5 North unit, but Mark cannot get up the hill to the main hospital and carry a laundry basket at the same time. Getting help hasn't been easy and he is frustrated. While Jess was there, they were able to do the laundry at the Fisher House, and after she left last week, the girls at the house invited Mark over and helped him with his laundry. They have been told he cannot come to use the machines there. Needless to say he was a bit frustrated and vented to me.

All in all, he is doing very well on his own, which is wonderful. He continues to improve, although he has been having some back pain lately. He did get a new brace and says it is somewhat more comfortable but wearing for long periods of time have made him sore, so they have cut down on his time in it for now. Meanwhile, he bought himself a mandolin and is attempting to learn how to play it. He hopes to get help from his speech pathologist who plays and got him interested in the first place.

Rich is doing fabulous in the shoulder department. He has rehab twice a week and does exercises every day. The doctor was very pleased with his recovery so far. He has much more range of movement and much less pain than he had before the surgery. We are very encouraged. We will be visiting Mark when his round of therapy is done and are looking forward to seeing him and enjoying warmer weather.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Welcome to the world of ice and snow...and minus temperatures! Cleveland has been in the deep freeze for several days now, and yesterday never made it out of the minus numbers, with -2 being the high! Now, why did I leave Florida?????

Mark called last night and told us it was chilly there too, but 40s and 50s seem downright balmy to us about now. We had not talked to him for two evenings because he was "too busy." Jess left on Tuesday and arrived back home in Sydney on Wednesday safe and sound. Mark misses everyone but is doing well. His therapies have been going well and his spirits are great. He has been spending a lot of time in the weight room at his little complex and since he is the only patient currently, he has the place to himself. They are expecting to add a couple of more patients this week. He is looking forward to some company, but admitted that he was perfectly content being the only one there with the nurses and therapists! He was planning on going to the park with the nurses today to do some sketching, if the temps warm up a bit. I guess he has a backload of laundry to do because the washer in the Transitional unit is on the blink, so his nurse was going to take him back to the fifth floor and help him use the washer there.

Rich is doing very well with the shoulder rehab. He had his first formal session with the physical therapist on Thursday and found out she had trained at the Tampa VA. Small world. He is not having any pain (in fact, it's much better than before the surgery) and is doing his exercises faithfully two to three times a day. He does not have to wear the sling in the house and with the exception of a particular movement because of the tendon repair, he can move his arm just about every way so far. The staples come out on Monday, so we will know more then.

We are hoping all continues to go well so that once he is done with rehab we can go to visit Mark. And enjoy some warmer weather!

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Mark's week back went well. He had not lost too much without therapy for two weeks. He had been doing his exercises and had been walking with his walker around our first floor, so that helped. They have measured him for a new back brace, which they hope he will find more comfortable. He currently hates to wear the one he has, but really needs to in order to keep his muscles from tightening up and keeping his back straight.

He was weighed when he got back and he put on 13 (yes, 13) pounds while he was home. That means about a pound a day was gained eating Mom's home cooking, cookies, pie, wings, and just about anything else put in front of him! I was absolutely amazed. Rich kept saying it was probably about 10 pounds, but even though I knew he had gained some weight, I never expected quite that much. Of course, there was the fact that he did not have the intense therapy he gets at the hospital, which burns so many calories. Nevertheless, we were so happy to see him eat and recover a few more pounds that he lost on what he calls the "coma weight loss program." (Frankly, I think I need someone to just put me to sleep for a few weeks!)

Friday was a year that Mark has been in Tampa and fourteen months since the day of the crash. Even though that seems like such a long time, in terms of his recovery and what he has accomplished, it's really very short. We are very proud that his dedication and determination to be back to all he was before has never waivered and that he keeps on striving for bigger and better things. At a meeting this week to set goals, he told the therapist that his six month goal was to get back to climbing, maybe not on a mountain, but on a wall. She told him she would help him reach that. Quite a goal in my opinion.

We are currently in the midst of a big snow storm here in Cleveland, as is most of the Northeastern United States. Unfortunately, the timing is not good, since I have to pick up Richard at the hospital this afternoon. He had his partial shoulder replacement yesterday and they kept him overnight. He did very well but it was a long day. We were there at 9 a.m., his surgery was scheduled for 10:30 and I spoke to the doctor when it was over at 11:45 , but we had to wait until 4 p.m. before they put him in a room. Part of the drive home was a little slippery, but I made it just fine. Now I just have to wait until they plow our street and our plow driver does my driveway for the second time early this afternoon. The real work on this shoulder replacement will start next week when the therapy begins. It will continue for six to eight weeks so wish me luck dealing with my new patient, as well as Rich!

Who ever expected that two years in a row, January 9th would be the day I became a healthcare provider. It was the day I became a mom as Peter celebrated his 28th birthday yesterday. Unfortunately, he developed a bad cold and had to stay away from the hospital and us, so it wasn't much of a celebration. We plan to do something a little more festive when he can come over and not put Rich in danger of catching it.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Well, all good things must come to an end, so today we go back to reality. Mark and Jess left on Saturday after two glorious weeks for us, and I hope, for them. Mark really enjoyed having all his favorite foods and sweets and it will be interesting to see how much weight he has gained during his visit. Jess loved Strongsville and the area, loved meeting Mark's friends, and even enjoyed the snow.

They left from Cleveland with very nice assistance from TSA and the USO. We were met by the Duty Manager for TSA and he escorted us to the Continental counter and we were given security passes so that we could accompany Mark and Jess to the gate. Continental was extremely helpful and had upgraded their seats to first class for the return trip also. Mark was welcomed by the pilot when he arrived and they had a nice discussion about Aviano, where this pilot had been based while in the Air Force.

They returned to the Fisher House and this morning Mark was readmitted to the hospital. He had the day off from therapy to unpack and get resettled. While they were doing this, they came to hook up his television set. He turned it on and to quote him, " I looked up and saw my ugly mug on the screen." The episode of The American Veteran that featured Mark was airing on the Pentagon Channel. You can view it at the link below, just click on the Lokomat episode:

http://www1.va.gov/opa/feature/amervet/index.asp

The story turned out very well and the doctor featured is Dr. Steven Scott, who is the director of the Poly Trauma Rehabilitation Unit and is Mark's doctor. I think I have said before that he is a wonderful man whose ministry in life is getting these young men back to where they were before their injuries.

We think our fifteen minutes of fame, that stretched to forty-five, are finally over and we promise not to bore you any longer!

January 1, 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We wish each of you a wonderful 2009 full of love, hope, peace and prosperity.

Yesterday Mark and Jess along with PJ and Shelley (Mark's closest friend and his girlfriend) had gone to the movies to see "Marley and Me" and came home with great reviews! Mark came home, took a nap and then it was out to PJs for a small party. Rich and I were also invited by PJs parents, but took advantage of the quiet and stayed home to ring in the new year by watching a "Big Bang" marathon (funny show for those who haven't seen it). The kids called about 12:05 and asked to be picked up. Mark was so funny when he told me they would call to come over for breakfast when he got up this afternoon!

He has been doing so well while he has been home. He has been using his walker to get from room to room and he is improving before our eyes. His appetite is enormous and Rich swears he has gained 10 pounds since he's been here (but haven't we all?). Today we are going to lay low and probably take down the tree. Mark plans to supervise. We'll let you know how that goes. I'll bet he'll do it with his eyes closed!