We've Moved!

Loved Caringbridge but as Mark gets older and we are sharing pictures and video to family and friends miles away, I think this site may be better for that.

Welcome to our new home here, hope you will continue to follow Mark Henry's progress its been quite a journey so far. Be sure to leave a comment so I know who is still visting!


We are doing well getting settled here in Minnesota.
We managed to make it to the Great State Minnesota Fair- the largest get together in the land!
It was a lot of fun with rides, food, farm animals and all kinds of people. Mark Henry had fun!




See the video of Mark Henry riding his special tricycle down our big driveway between the townhome buildings. We are renting the townhome behind him on the right hand side.
He is doing so well.

We have started pre-school. Mark is going one morning a week to a toddler class, along with 5 other kids with various special needs. There is a special ed teacher and aide and PT, OT and Speech therapists. The program integrates fun with therapy. I just wish it was more than one
day a week. He also gets some home visits from the teacher and therapists. And we have set up pool PT privately. We are looking into some other programs for him to get some more inclusive social time with other typical kids and additional therapies.

Here is a pic from the first day of school and one on the bus wish it showed the bus or his backpack or something but will try to get some of those. The first day was hectic. Yes there is a bus that he can ride. The first time I rode with him but he rode home alone. School is not far but since the class is only an hour and a half by the time you drop him off its time to pick him up. He likes the bus we will use it some of the time.

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He is getting a wheelchair soon, which he will ride in on the bus and then use the walker or chair at school. It's been approved by the insurance and we should have it in a few weeks. I was hesitant about the chair but he amazed us all at the fitting where he tried one and wheeled himself down the hallway! He is too big to carry and too big for the stroller and can be much more independent with the chair when
he is tired from walking with the walker. He will also need the chair after his surgery next year.

We are scheduling appointments for January to begin the assessments and final approval and prep for his big surgery at Mayo. It will likely be done early in the year and he will be recovering and in rehab therapy for up to 12 months after. It is a major surgery but gives him the best hopes of walking more independently.