Sunday, September 28, 2008

Well, it has been a great weekend here. Richard and Peter arrived on Friday about noon and headed straight to see Mark. When therapy was done, he was sprung for the rest of the weekend and off we went. To avoid some of the rush hour and beach traffic we had dinner nearby at a restaurant Mark and I wanted them to try. After a wonderful meal, we headed toward the water.

The hotel was very nice and when we got to our rooms, they had a nice beach pail waiting for SGT Lalli filled with treats. We were up early on Saturday and had a great breakfast before heading off to the Clearwater Community Sailing Club where we met up with one of the Sailability of Greater Tampa volunteers and the guys got ready. Peter had to take a written test first which allowed him to take Mark out in the boat. They lifted Mark up and lowered him into his place, and then it was time for Gillian and the Skipper to take off. Rich and I were able to watch them from the top deck at the clubhouse and took photos with the telephoto lens. They were out for about an hour and really enjoyed themselves. Mark had never been in a sailboat and found it very peaceful and relaxing. I think he could be hooked despite his preference for mountains. He told Peter it was his turn to try rock climbing now.

After they returned we enjoyed lunch and then our beach adventure began. The hotel drove Mark down to the water's edge in a gator and then supplied us with a "dune buggy" wheelchair. It was fun when he insisted we take him in the water and the air wheels started floating. We thought better of it and just walked the beach instead. One little boy saw us and said "way cool" when he saw Mark's ride. Then we parked him on the lounge chair and we soaked up the atmosphere.Dinner was out at an historic Cuban restaurant here in the Tampa area, and after too much good food, it was out for the night. We started back a little earlier than planned, since it had clouded over today at the beach. We took Rich and Peter to our favorite gelateria here and enjoyed walking around a bit before coming home to the Fisher House.

Mark did so well the whole weekend. We really enjoyed being able to have him away for the hospital for the first time in almost a year. Just doing the usual family things and enjoying each other means more than ever now.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Well, it's been a week already since I've updated the blog and I had no idea. We have been busy with the usual routine of therapy, therapy, and more therapy. All of which is definitely paying off. Mark is doing so well.

He had new wheels put on his wheelchair which are easier to grip and push, then we added new bike gloves which he likes (and which work better) than the leather wheelchair gloves he had, and he is quickly becoming h*ll on wheels. He is managing up hills and ramps much better, and is starting to manuver down steeper hills better as well.

He is taking care of most of his personal needs alone, with little or no supervision now, and is transferring alone with supervision. He still has a fear of falling, but that's to be expected. He has really come leaps and bounds in the last couple of weeks. We had a team and family meeting today and the goal is for Transition around October 15th, provided the housing is finally finished and open.

Over the weekend we enjoyed a Tampa Bay Rays game where we got to meet some of the players. The Rays have secured a spot in the playoffs and are expected to win the American League Eastern Division. We were able to get photos with the players and then enjoyed the game, but unfortunately they lost to Minnesota. Pictured with Mark are Carrie, his recreational therapist who has become a good friend, and Akinori Iwamura who is the Rays second baseman. He was very nice, as were the other players who stopped to chat a bit.

We are looking forward to this weekend when Rich and Peter arrive for a long weekend, part of which we plan to spend at one of the beach resorts and where Peter and Mark hope to do a little sailing on Clearwater Bay. The weather forecast is great so we're keeping our fingers crossed that it stays that way.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

We have had a fun filled, action packed birthday weekend around here. Our best little buddy, AJ, turned ONE on Friday and the party started with the evening nursing shift from Poly Trauma. They prepared food and had a cake and we all participated. . . Moms, dads, wives and patients from 5 North. He was the most delightful birthday boy and everyone had fun watching him open presents and eat cake.

Then yesterday was his next official party given here at the house. It was attended by family, friends, hospital staff, patients and again everyone had a wonderful time. He was delighted with his cake at first, but then decided he really didn't like it as well as he did the night before.

Today he was baptized at the Catholic Mass here at the hospital and again, lots of Poly Trauma family were there to mark the occasion. He is a very special child to so many people here, not just on our unit, but throughout the Fisher House and the hospital. We appreciate the fact that his mom and dad are willing to share him with so many of us. We all feel very grateful to know and love him and his parents.

We also marked another birthday milestone today. Our Aunt Norma turned 88 and my family celebrated at her great-niece Alison's home with my cousin Irene, her husband Gary, son-in-law Rob and granddaughters, Sarah and Ashley. Mark and I enjoy being with them and we are fortunate to have such a great family here. Mark really enjoys spending time with the guys. We had a wonderful meal and birthday cake and the day flew by.

Mark has been just moving along leaps and bounds over the last week. He is getting his own clothes every evening, getting himself dressed alone in the morning and transferring alone from the bed to his chair (with someone watching for safety). I am so pleased and proud of all he has accomplished so far and know more will follow.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Yesterday marked the 10 month anniversary of Mark's crash and 8 months that we have been in Tampa. Time sure flies, even if you are not having fun!!

Things here are going well and Mark is doing remarkably. Yesterday, he attempted steps for the first time and did well under the circumstances. He did better going up than down, but it was a step in the right direction (pardon the pun). He is getting better and closer at independence. He dresses himself very well and is transferring better each time.

We had two meetings yesterday, one with the Transitional Team and one with the current acute care team. They agree that Mark should now be ready for the Transitional Program between the middle of October to the first of November. The new building will be ready then and Mark would move into an apartment in this new transitional unit with one of the other patients right here on the hospital grounds. Each will have their own bedroom and share a living room and kitchen. All of it is handicapped accessible and the guys basically live on their own, but there are nurses and doctors in attendance and they have their daily therapies. It prepares the patients to live independently when they are discharged. We are looking forward to seeing what the apartment looks like. It is a wonderful concept and although the program is new, it is staffed by folks with lots of experience in transitional programs, so our hope is that it will be beneficial to all.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Well, it's been more than a week since the last blog, and again, I'm sorry that I have been a little lax in writing. It has been a busy week with early mornings and tired evenings.

Mark continues to do better each day, but they have now added a back brace into the therapy again. Mark was not happy about this at all. The therapists felt that he needs to be straighter and that the brace was the final last resort. His back healed with a curve which we are told is common. On top of that the muscles on his right side are more toned than on the left and need to be stretched. It is a bit more comfortable (or as Mark says, more tolerable, it's never comfortable) than the old brace was, but he hates it none the less. When you add this to the new foot/ankle brace and knee brace, he feels a bit overwhelmed.

He and I had a pleasant weekend and were able to go shopping for some new sport sandals which are sturdy enough for him to transfer in, a new iPod, and an alarm clock to plug it into. He has been dressing himself in the morning and getting to therapies on his own.

Yesterday we enjoyed an outing to Sand Key where we were treated to a picnic by an avid fisherman, who had gone out early and caught grouper. There were three fish totalling 20 pounds, and they were stuffed with vegetables and grilled whole. Then they were cut up and we enjoyed the most delicious fish we ever tasted. It was fun for all those that went, and although it was HOT it wasn't as bad as it could have been.

Now we are just waiting to see if hurricane Ike arrives in Florida next week. Hopefully, it will skirt around Florida and Tampa in particular!