Gown up, Glove up, but Don't Give up!

I have just contributed to Patty's request today (see previous post) and strongly encourage everybody who reads this blog to do so as well.

Here's the deal at St. Mary's: Park in the Parking Garage because it's free and secure. You'll enter the facility through a door from the garage, and go to the first floor. Walk down the long corridor (don't veer off to the Bishop Kearney suite). You'll need to sign-in at the reception desk and get a pass. They'll buzz you in and Walt is on the 5th floor (if I remember correctly). As you come off the elevator, keep bearing right and he's at the end of the hall (sorry I don't remember the room number).

You'll have to put on a gown and a pair of latex gloves, which you'll find conveniently located on a cart outside his room. That's the policy right now at least. The upside is that there is a game room on the floor with all sorts of board/card games like checkers, Boggle, Scrabble, etc. etc. and a couple of computer screens which look they have internet access. Some of the other residents patients hang out in the hallways - it ain't Disneyland, but it's a bit more lively and upbeat than the hospital.

Corinne and I visited Walt Saturday while Linsday was there. We stayed for a good while, and accompanied Lindsay and Walt to the dining room where he ate, along with other residents and memebers of their families and friends. If you want to eat though, you have to bring your own.

Like anything, the experience at St. Mary's is what we make it. Walt needs our help to make his experience at St. Mary's comforting, loving and supportive. All of the physical therapy, occ. thereapy, speech therapy and cognitive therapy that the staff delivers will have so much more of an impact if Walt has people he loves around him day by day. Loving, emotional support cannot be purchased through health insurance or delivered through institutions.

So let's gown-up, glove-up, and go up to St. Mary's and give back to Walt what Walt has so freely given to all of us.

Things to do with your used latex gloves:

• Draw a face on the palm and blow it up. Glue it to the end of a popsicle stick. Pop it up and down over the wall in your cubicle and see how long it takes to drive your office mate to notice.
• Have a contest with the family to see who can make the most disgusting sound by letting the air out of the blown-up latex glove.
• Fill them with water and have a water balloon toss. Why not save several pair for a festive 4th of July with the kiddies!

Things to do with your used gown:

• Write your initials on the tag with a Sharpie and see if you get the same gown the next time you visit.
• Cut two small holes in middle and use it as a halloween costume - be the first on your block to be a yellow ghost!