Luke Buddies Up with a Twin

Several of the Minnesota Twins came to visit some of the kids at Gillette on Monday. Luke was thrilled to reunite with Kevin Slowey and get some new autographed pictures of him. Luke and Kevin became "buddies" last summer when they met for the first time during a book signing with the author of a book called "The Baseball Guy". It was during therapy at the Courage Center last summer when they came. Luke was given this book and some of the Twins signed it for him. Kevin and Luke had a long conversation about Buddy and sled dog race teams at a picnic table. Not realizing the significance of a Twins Baseball player's autograph, Luke thought he should sign Kevin's book as well since they were friends. .......So, back to the present, Kevin remembered Luke well...they had another nice visit.....and Luke casually called after Kevin as he left the gym at Gillette, "Bye, Kev!"
Balancing tall on both knees all by himself is still very challenging for Luke. He works hard to do it, but sometimes needs just a finger's worth of support. His tall kneeling is hoped to soon evolve into independent knee walking, but it seems he has a ways to go.

Luke ditched me yesterday while we were hanging out in the play room on a break. Luke was found at the nurses station chatting with with one of the nurses. Unbeknownst to me, she told me that he came to her looking for his "primary physical therapist" so he could get "the lateral support taken off his wheelchair." She was charmed by the language he used and asked me, "are you sure he's only six?"

Luke had a great visit today with Jack who is a Rhizomoty patient as well. He left Gillette right before the holidays. It was great hearing about his progress and visiting with his mom about life after the hospital.

On Wednesday, Thor and I will be having the hospital "release" meeting with all of Luke's doctors, nurses, therapists, teachers (both from Gillette and our private ones as well). We will be discussing his progress, goals and care plan for after his departure from Gillette on Friday. Although Luke has made many memories, had many new experiences and befriended lots of new people, Luke is very excited to be done at Gillette and to be back home to resume his normal life. We are preparing ourselves for a whole new type of busy. Luke starts daily physical therapy as an outpatient and starts back to school all on Monday, the 26th.