By Mike Weland
Did I write last about Mikey that it’s hard to keep a good man down? Well, he’s up and moved again. I may have mentioned that on the day after he was hospitalized after being hit by a car while crossing Highway 95 going to the Liberty Qwik Stop I drew and mailed a doodle to him, telling him we loved him too much.
I thought he’d received it, because he mentioned it in our phone conversation December 18, but alas, it came back undeliverable last Saturday. Mikey had moved on too quickly, and it appears he has done so again. My picture is on its way to Post Falls, and I’ll be dogged if Mikey hasn’t skipped off for Spokane!
Connie Mieryteran paid him a visit today at Providence St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Medical Center, the largest freestanding medical rehabilitation hospital in the inland northwest. Where he walked.
“People thought I was going to be a vegetable,” he told his dear friend. “Nuh uh, I don’t think so!”
“He looks wonderful,” Connie said. The last of his life support apparatus, ventilation and feeding tubes kept in place only as a precaution, are expected to be removed in the next day or two.
He walked.
Not on his own but held in balance by staff. Not with his usual lean-into-it vigor he’s known for, but haltingly, working hard, pushing himself. And as Connie describes him, I remember watching him train, winter and summer, as a Special Olympian. Dave Kramer pushing, laughing, encouraging.
Eliciting that spark of fire in Mikey — “I’ll show you!” And did he ever … and isn’t he now?
I ‘ve decided that I’m not wasting any more stamps on that silly picture. Connie said she doesn’t know where Mikey goes next, only that if he keeps showing us what he can do, he could be off to his next round of “finishing” rehab within a couple three weeks … and from there home.
Nah. When it comes back this time, I’ll just tuck it away and give it to him when he comes home … along with a nice, cold Dr. Pepper! Make it quick, Mikey — we love you too much!