Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Tomorrow is D-Day. After 600 days at the James A. Haley Veterans Administration Hospital in Tampa, Mark is being discharged. It is truly our dream come true. He is healthy, active, cognitive, re-learning to drive, walking, and ready to face the new phase of his life or second life as the case may be.

His household goods arrived in Tampa yesterday from storage, and some new furniture will be delivered on Thursday. Everything went smoothly with the movers who were very nice and very helpful. The new apartment is great and he and Jess are looking forward to being on their own.

There are so many people to thank from the VA Transitional Team who helped Mark during the second phase of his recovery. Jay, Marsha, Lisa, Dr. McCarthy, Lisa P., Cindy, Barb, Norma, Terri, Jim, Bernadette, Dr. Duchnik, Lee Ann, Todd, Barb, Becky, Carrie, Jamie, Tami, Judy, Freddie, Juan, Karen, Amy, Tammy and Robert. Your guidance and expertise helped Mark gain back his independence and confidence. Your professionalism and kindness are unmatched. Thank you for everything.

We leave the Fisher House tomorrow too. Jess and I want to thank Paula and Sheila for their kindness and understanding. And to our Florida family, Ivonne, Anthony, AJ, Meredith, Mike, Veronica, Brad, RyAnne, Scot, Maritza, Jose, and Joel. Although we leave the house, we are just up the road whether we are in Tampa or Cleveland. You will always be family and the bonds we have shared will never be broken. We love you all and wish you God's blessings as your journeys go on.

Mark will continue to go to the VA for outpatient therapy three days a week and signed up today for a photography class at the University of South Florida. He is looking forward to two weeks leave before starting the new regiment. We are all excited about the future.