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.