Visitation HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Albuquerque
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As we prepare to embark on today's visitation, we are met up by several El Paso employees at the assembly area. What a wonderful surprise it was to see so many here to offer up their support for the group. They instantly form a line and we begin a game of Red Rover, Red Rover, send Bill right over!
We all pose, proudly displaying the El Paso banner. Shown here from El Paso Corporation are Linda Abernathy, Susy Gomez, Dina Duran, Hortencia Semeniuk, Debbie Wolfe, Jerry Culwell, Jack Ledingham, Buddy Henley, Kerry Mc Donald, Bryan Green, his wife, Julie, Andrew Green (son) and Zachary (son). Bill and Joe anchor the banner in the front while Andrew Johnson (back row on left), Mandi (with one i), and Trisha round out the AAA crew. Also shown is Randy Torbett, DMO of HealthSouth. What a motley looking crew we all made.
Just prior to leaving the assembly area, 6 year old Andrew Green shows of his form for the whole gang. Shortly afterwards, our El Paso escort in place, we take over the street and trek the two miles into HealthSouth. With our good friend and blocker John Keating now off vacationing with his boys at the Grand Canyon, Joe fills in admirably and gets us through a left hand turn at a traffic light without incident. No Artie Johnson action today and the folks from El Paso were impressed with his prowess on his recumbent!
AAA and El Paso riders are greeted with balloons and cheers from the staff and several patients of the HealthSouth facility.
HealthSouth CEO, Sylvia Kelly gives the riders a warm welcome and reads a proclamation from the mayor proclaiming June 16th as Amputees Across America Day. 18 year old Andrew Johnson (not the former president), joins us today and tells his own story of courage and inspiration. Here he speaks of how he has overcome cancer and has continued to live his life to the fullest. He plays baseball, climbs mountains and pretty much does anything he wants to do, despite being an above knee amputee. In fact, Andrew is going to be making his first skydive with Joe on Sunday. Bill is shown here impersonating Elvis during Karaoke time. It is all Joe and Andrew can do to keep from crying as he woos and awes the crowd with his curling lip and shaky leg.
Joe pretends to pose with Marvin while carefully slipping his wallet out of his back pocket. He's overheard to exclaim, "We got A&W Root beer float money, now!!!" Bill and Andrew smile broadly upon hearing the news about the ice cream and are able to sneak an autograph from Owen McCloud who just happens to be a former player for the NFL's Oakland Raiders. Bill had his eyes set on snatching Owen's toboggan until he found out that he still bench presses 480 pounds!!
Joe and Andrew visit with Anthony and his physical therapist (otherwise known as a PT, a.k.a. Pain and TORTURE). They do such a great job, though and we don't know what we'd ever do without them.
Andrew schmoozes with a staff doctor and Josephine Raczkowski from a local amputee support group. After making a few suggestions to the staff, Andrew asks if they plan on doing any hiring soon!
Thanks to Sylvia Kelly and her staff and also to Randy Torbett for his prodigious efforts to organize the Albuquerque event and for making us feel so welcome. We would also like to thank all the HealthSouth patients who talked with us and provides us with the inspiration to continue our ride. Thanks also to Josephine Raczkowski for allowing us to participate in the amputee support group meeting..