Thursday, April 24,2008

Mark started the day with an interesting therapy -- kickball! The recreational, occupational and physical therapists all got together and arranged an outing to the park for the guys. They had a ball field reserved and they all played kickball and had a picnic lunch. Mark was the pitcher for his team and when it was his turn to be up, they remove the foot rest on the wheelchair and he kicked the ball. Then one of the therapists rolls him around the bases. He had a triple!

They all had a great time from what we heard. Jess and I opted to have a girls day and went to the fancy mall here in Tampa and out to lunch. That was great fun also.

Tonight Jess and I took a turn and made dinner for our group of friends, so we made an Italian stir fry which Mark enjoyed a lot more than hospital food. Some of us here have grown quite close and so we often have dinner together. One of the fellas grandmother has been visiting and she has made dinner several nights here, taking all of us under her wing. She enjoyed sitting down tonight as well as one of the dads who came to send his wife home for a few days. Fortunately, the long term group here gets along well and we enjoy each other's company. All our boys are in Mark's unit so we have a bond. It's amazing how you turn to each other and become friends quickly under the circumstances. I believe I've mentioned "our" baby, AJ, in previous blogs. He is here with his mom and his dad is one of the patients here. He is now seven months old and is every one's therapy, including the doctors and nurses! He is the happiest little guy with the biggest blue eyes and chubby cheeks. I am delighted that I am one of his favorites. Mark has nicknamed him the unit "commander". These are truly remarkable women here and I am proud to be friends with them.