Why walk on the field when you can ride onto the field in style?

Time has been flying by - it has been weeks since we left BIR Dallas and moved back home.  Weeks since we had a structured inpatient schedule.  Weeks since we blogged.  It's funny, in the hospitals, we didn't have much to do other than PT/OT/ST/TR for Alex and the blog was a way for us both to connect to the outside world. So let's get caught up starting with Senior Night.  PS:  Lots of pollen in the air, just a warning.

Best Doctor Ever
As (I think) we said in the last entry, Dr. D is amazing and when she found out that the last home game, and Senior Night, was Friday night she immediately moved Alex's check out to Friday morning instead of Saturday so he wouldn't miss the big event.  This was some of the best therapy I have ever seen - he worked HARD the rest of the week, he was going home.

And now, coming through the left field fence...Your Alex Reilly!
Senior night is always charged with extra emotion - this year?  I think a lot of us will agree that this year, senior night wasn't just emotional for the senior families but for my family too.  We got to the game, not sure what quite to expect other than Alex knowing he would be back in the dugout, on the sidelines of a field where he is most comfortable and always has been.

According to Tom Hanks, and many others, there is no crying in baseball.  However, on Senior Night, there is A LOT of pollen in the air.  Yes, I know this blog entry is weeks late, but one of the things about writing is you simply cannot do it until you are ready to embrace the content and until now?  Well, let's just leave it to pollen - shall we?

Picture this (day dream a little, it is shown to increase productivity):

Alex rides up in a gator (glorified golf cart), helmet on his head and smile on his face.  The AD drives him through the back fence as music plays and the team stops their outfield stretching to welcome Alex back, clapping, yelling, laughing, the whole nine.   They got up and ran to the gator just to welcome him personally.  Hugs, hand slaps, smiles, trash talking.  All boy and all great. The announcer played music and welcomed him back and the fans were on their feet.  There is even a 'Welcome Back Alex' sign.  Fans were cheering for Alex, I hope his strength motivated others and showed the visiting team just how much a family Jesuit is!

His Pop Pop and coaches help him down into the dugout (women aren't allowed in the dugout but I was there making sure he didn't fall), I say help as it was hilarious.  He had his rehab belt on as he went down the stairs and his coach decided he wasn't falling so he was lifted by his belt.  HA!  It made me laugh, I am not sure Alex didn't laugh either - I mean, he was flying pretty much.  That game he had a smile as big as the sun as he sat in the back of the dugout, doing his job. Oh and did I mention the Rangers kicked ass and Alex was there with his team to be apart of it?  And it was Senior Night so the Senior parade (players and parents) were introduced to the fans tonight, we got to thank them for the great baseball and wish them luck as they moved forward.

After the game he flew up the stairs (why walk when you can fly) and enjoyed the closing meeting and cake with the team.  They had secured district and an undefeated season, 300 wins for their coach, they needed cake.

It was awesome and he was back and happy and smiling.  Sitting on his little chair, a coaches chair that they rest on outside of the dugout (watching for fly balls I hope), eating cake.  Of course he was.  It's Alex.  Did I mention the pollen?  I really should see an allergist about this - it is insane.

It is more than the physical healing
We know that all the physical work Alex has done is what is helping him physically.  It is the hours, the doctors, the braces, the treadmills that are propelling him towards walking 'like a normal boy' (his words that always make me thing of Pinocchio).  But it is more than that.  It is his team - all of his teams - rallying around him.  His school mates visiting, texting, Tweeting, SnapChatting (still don't know if that is one word or two but it looks fun as one word so it shall stay that way here).  His teachers and coaches lending a hug and a helping hand.  It is the helmet so he can sit in the dugout and run Game Changer as he has done all year.  The prayers from around the globe.  All of those things are leading Alex towards his 'normal boy' status and for all of those things?  For that I say thank you to everyone.