Mark had another eventful day. After early PT, he was dressed and up in his "chariot" for breakfast out of his room. It was wonderful. While he was having breakfast his grandparents arrived and he even had a hug and kiss for Grammie. She was delighted.
He was able to be up for quite a longer time before he complained about his butt getting numb! He was also upgraded to "soft" food from pureed and had salmon and mashed potatoes for lunch. After a time in bed, he was bored and wanted to be wheeled around again. We rolled him into the family room they have on the floor and he watched football on the big screen TV. We were able to visit with other families there as well.
Meeting the other families has been very good for us. There are soldiers here who have been shot, stepped on mines, and met with IED blasts. It is heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time. These young men are so resilient it is amazing. They are in all stages of recuperation and they are impatient to get back to normal. All are delighted when they can eat real food, which is the first big step.
Mark has mentioned to the therapists and nurses that he knows why he is here. He told them his helicopter went down or that he was in a "hard landing" as they call a crash. He has had some flashbacks, but not when we have been around. The staff here handles it well, as they have dealt with many of these situations. He has some agitation, but that too, is getting better and not as often. His speech improves every day and there is some emotion showing up.
The visits over the last week or so have been amazing. There have been all kinds of groups and individuals with cards and gifts, and all are appreciated. Today the NFL referee team officiating at the Redskins/Cowboys game tomorrow showed up with autographed footballs for all the patients. They were wonderful with these kids. Of course, they only hold second place after the Baltimore Raven cheerleaders who showed up last weekend. Can you guess why?
As we head into the new year, our outlook is much brighter for him. He will need lots of perseverance and tenacity to get back to normal, but he's never been a quitter and we're certainly hoping he won't start now.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
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2 comments:
Dear Mark and Family,
Each time I check this blog spot I am more encouraged by what I read. Everything takes time Mark! The first time around you had to learn to cruise, take steps and then run. Trust me, I have every reason to believe you can come back from this. Hang in and be as patient as you can. It is gonna take time. Stay positive. There are lots of people praying for you and wishing you well. The New Year is coming and it will bring more improvement. always, Mrs. Pusti
To Mark (one of my favorite crewchiefs EVER) and his family;
I served with Mark from the time he reported to Fort Hood until he moved on to bigger and better things in Italy. He was a young private when I met him, and I can tell you that the one thing I remember most about Mark is how contagious his smile was and still is. Serving alongside him in Iraq was a great pleasure because he always kept our spirits high with his positive attitude and great sense of humor. Please let Mark know that his other family, 3/4 Aviation "COMMANCHE AIR ASSAULT" miss him a great deal and have him in our prayers. Mark will always be a Commanche, and he'll pull through this. God bless you buddy....I sure miss seein' your smile in my hangar. I hope to see you again real soon :)
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