A few strands to update . . .

First, and most importantly, Walter continues a slow but steady progress, with the various therapies increasingly bearing fruit. He pronounces a few more words, or at least syllables. His left leg continues to strengthen. Big news on that front occurred yesterday. Brenda, Jessica's mother, told me this morning that, at therapy yesterday, Walter, with the help of two therapists, "walked" 60 feet with the aid of parallel walking bars. That accomplishment impressed the therapists. One therapist also recently mentioned that she discovered more strength in his left arm than she knew was there. So, the left arm is also improving, although its progress seems to be behind that of his left leg. This lag is not surprising, we've learned. A therapist friend recently informed us that speech and the arm typically recover more slowly. Walter's right side is strong, which enables him to help much more now transporting from one place to another, such as between wheelchair and bed. I understand that he eats and drinks almost all his food and liquids now, so there is optimism that the peg will shortly be removed from his abdomen.

Walter continues therapies at Pathways, an affiliate of Shepherd Center, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. Brenda, Jessica's mom, typically drives him. A team supports Walter at home. Jessica, Brenda (Jessica's mom) and Dad Romine bear the lion's share of the work. Samantha Peterson, a friend of Brenda's, is here this week and was also here earlier for a week to help out. Samantha, among other things, has attended family training at Pathways and helped Brenda in the yard, which, of course, has not been a priority. Mark and Katy Houseman, Jessica's aunt and uncle, have come several weekends to help out. Lyn and Pat, Walter's sisters, visit periodically. Pat recently took Lexi, her daughter, to visit Walter. Lexi helped Walter spell some words and otherwise had a good visit. Josh Romine has visited. John and Nancy Romine are visiting today.

Some have contributed funds to Walter's medical account, for which we are grateful. We anticipate that the first priority for the funds will be the continuation of Walter's therapy, to which he is responding so well. Brenda recently mentioned to me an article in the July 12 edition of the Atlanta Constitution regarding the recovery of Bob Woodruff from severe brain injuries he suffered while reporting from Iraq. He and his wife attribute his strong recovery largely to the therapy he received. I will try to find that article and upload it to this blog. Their story reemphasizes the importance of Walter's continuing therapy. We are hopeful that he will soon be eligible for the next level of therapy, which will be more time every week for only an incremental increase in cost. I recall that insurance coverage for the therapy is only one or two more weeks, so the influx of funds is timely.

As a reminder, any contributions may be mailed to this address:

Walter Romine Medical Fund

Citizens National Bank of Quitman

P. O. BOX 270

QUITMAN, GA 31643

 

Please make checks payable to "Special Needs Trust for Benefit of Benjamin Walter Romine, Jr." Or, just "Walter Romine Special Needs Trust". The documentation for the trust account is now completed so as to avoid gift tax surprises for anyone.

 

Plans for the benefit golf tournament continue. Here again are the details:

As a reminder, here are the current details for the golf tournament:

• When - August 22, 2009, at 1 PM
  
• Where - Kinderlou Golf Club, Valdosta, Georgia
  
• Format - 4-man scramble, flighted
  
• Fee - $400 per team; mulligans also available
  
• Prizes - 1^st and 2^nd in each flight; longest putt; closest to hole on part 3's
  

Kim Goolsby, the Catering Sales manager for the Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Center in Valdosta, has arranged for a block of rooms at the hotel at $79 per night for the tournament. Anyone wanting a room should call the hotel at 229-244-1111 and ask for a room in the block for the Walter Romine tournament. Ads have started to run on the local radio stations. I believe that 15 to 20 teams have committed so far. Hopefully the fees from those will shortly come in, and others will sign up. Members of the family are also working on another possible golf event. More on that as it develops.

Quick update in light of some exciting things happening:

THE GOLF TOURNAMENT

As a reminder, here are the current details for the golf tournament:

• When - August 22, 2009, at 1 PM
  
• Where - Kinderlou Golf Club, Valdosta, Georgia
  
• Format - 4-man scramble, flighted
  
• Fee - $400 per team; mulligans also available
  
• Prizes - 1^st and 2^nd in each flight; longest putt; closest to hole on part 3's
  

Kim Goolsby, the Catering Sales manager for the Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Center in Valdosta, has arranged for a block of rooms at the hotel at $79 per night for the tournament. Anyone wanting a room should call the hotel at 229-244-1111 and ask for a room in the block for the Walter Romine tournament. Kim also lined up some radio advertising. News/talk radio WVGA 105.9 has started talking up the tournament, and Kim tells me that ads should start running tomorrow on 99.5, 95.7, 108, 105.9, 102.7, 105.3 and 106.9. Kim also reports that the owner of those stations, Black Crow Media, will be giving away two free dinners to Charlie Trippers, four movie tickets and a $1,000.00 gift certificate for radio ads. Don't know the logistics on that yet, but will update as I know. The Citizens National Bank of Quitman plans to sponsor two teams in the tournament.

CONTRIBUTIONS

We are close to formalizing the arrangements and structure for the "Walter Romine Medical Trust" to, among other things, allow donors to qualify their gifts for the annual gift tax exclusion. We anticipate that the paperwork will be complete this next week. Anyone wishing to make contributions before all that is final, please make all checks payable to "Trustees of the 2009 Special Needs Trust for the Primary Benefit of Benjamin Walter Romine, Jr., U/A dated July __, 2009" AND LEAVE THE CHECKS UNDATED. Once the paperwork is finished, we'll date the checks as of that date. I'll update this blog once the paperwork is done and all the final dates are in place.

For the time being, please send all checks to one of the following addresses:

John Romine

702 Pine Circle

Quitman, GA 31643

Or

John Taylor

728 North River Forest Court

Marietta, GA 30068.

Once the final paperwork is done, I anticipate that checks may be sent directly to the bank; will confirm.

WALTER

Of course, this is the most important part: Walter's rehab. Pathways, the rehab center, has cleared him to ride in an automobile, so transportation expense is greatly reduced, which is a blessing. I am told that, with his eating and drinking more and more on his own, the doctors believe that they may remove the peg (i.e., line into his stomach through the abdomen wall) within the next couple of weeks. That will be another milestone.

More later as becomes available.

Happy 4^th to all.

Walter is heading to therapy at Pathways this afternoon. He has therapy Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. I'm not sure of the times, but I think it's something like 2 to 5:30. One of the issues has been transportation to and from therapy. Jessica lined up a company that provides a wheelchair-enabled van. That works but it is expensive. Hopefully Walter is only a couple of weeks away (may be longer, though) from being approved to ride in an automobile. Pathways is working with him to learn to transfer to and from a car. The Presbyterian Home in Quitman has offered up a wheelchair-friendly van to use in the interim. Much gratitude for that.

Jim Wahl from Tifton, Walter's partner in NameDroppers, sent a chair for Walter in which he can be in any position from lying down, to sitting up to being raised to a near-standing position. It is great now, but it will be even more so as Walter progresses to standing and walking. Jim also sent a seat for Walter to use in the shower, and Bill Dodd ingeniously assembled a shower for Walter on the back patio. I haven't seen it yet, but I hear that Bill connected a hose to the sink in the upstairs bathroom using valves that allow someone to get the right temperature and direct the water to the showerhead down on the patio. Walter now has an accessible shower, which is huge.

Brenda, Jessica's mother, has been here the past week or so, and is here again this week. She is of invaluable help. She and Dad are with Walter during the weekdays while Jessica is working, and Jessica takes over from Dad the other times. A routine seems slowly to be developing, which is helpful.

Here are the facts for the benefit golf tournament as we currently know them:

• When        -    August 22, 2009, at 1 PM
  
• Where         -    Kinderlou Golf Club
  
• Format        -    4-man scramble, flighted
  
• Fee        -    $400 per team; mulligans also available
  
• Prizes        -    1^st and 2^nd in each flight; longest putt; closest to hole on part 3's
  

More details may follow as the tournament plans solidify. For example, we've received a possible offer of special room rates for those coming out of town and some giveaways.

Anyone wishing to put a team in the tournament: Please send the name of the team captain plus handicaps for all 4 team members, together with the $400 check made payable to the Walter Romine Medical Trust, to either John Romine, 702 Pine Circle, Quitman, GA 31643, or John Taylor, 728 North River Forest Court, Marietta, GA 30068.

Thanks to all for your continuing prayers and support.