Visitation at
HealthSouth Wesley Rehab Hospital, Wichita, Ks
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Visitation at
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 Upon rolling in to Wichita, Kansas, we were met by James Thayer (AAA 2004 alumni) and the Oz Bike Club. Our ride into the Wesley Rehabilitation Hospital was met by heavy head winds but we made it safe and sound. Our prodigal leader, Joe, also returned to the group as he and Abel are switching places as our fearless drivers.
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Quintin and his wife listen intently to Abel tell of all the horrors of being cooped up in a car with Luke and AJ. Quintin, a new above-knee amputee, is readying himself for a shiny, new leg.
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 Everyone has obviously heard of AJ's wonderful singing voice. Here, she is seen singing How Much is That Doggy in the Window to an enraptured audience. Notice how they lean in and seem so very happy to listen.
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 Luke's fan club has expanded and now he's including a free dance for all his admirers. Everyone is particularly fond of his version of the Texas Two-Step.
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 Wichita's Vice Mayor, Sue Schlapp, and Wesley's CEO, Pam Stanberry, discuss the rules of today's visit with the riders: #1 No popping wheelies in the building #2 No water gun fights #3 No nudity #4 No poking the patients #5 No impromptu hockey games using the physical therapy equipment #6 No silly string in the building
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 James chats with Quintin about the ins and outs of all things stump-related. AJ turns away in disgust while Abel cannot believe that James tells Quintin that girls think stumps are sexy.
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 Abel begins today's speech by telling the audience that everything they've read on our journal is completely 100% true. He then proceeded to tell them that the sky is green and he has a trained hamster that can juggle tiny little knives.
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 AJ is beside herself when she thinks someone has stolen her sunglasses again. She pleads with the audience to assist her in finding them.
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 In his best yankee accent, Luke asks the crowd "Whadda ya think your lookin' at?" He then realizes that they're looking at him.
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 Luke and AJ thought that Abel's last visiting day should not be ended without fanfare. That being said, they called him to the front, made a sappy speech, and covered him with silly string. Taint be same without Abel.
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 The three amigos ride in together for their last visit before the changing of the guards (or gimps).
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 Joe, rested and refreshed from a month of leisure (while the rest of the riders suffered in the heat), has returned to us in rare form: wearing two different shoes. It brings back Sesame Street memories like the song One of These Things is Not Like the Other. See how many differences you can find.
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 Prior to this picture being taken, AJ was overheard saying "I bet yall that I can fit at least 4 of these here chicken fingers in my mouth at one time." Knowing how big a mouth she has, Abel and Luke agree.
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 We are whisked away to the inner sanctum of the Wesley Rehab Hospital where we see videos that show physical therapists how to torture patients, skulls of former patients, and one patient looking for her leg that disappeared last night. Are prosthetic legs hot on Ebay?
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 Deb hugs James only because she knows he won't be back until next year. She's overheard mumbling that once a year is more than enough.
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 If only Luke and AJ would use their powers for good and not evil. Joe seems to have grown horns and a goatee and is now wearing glasses.
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 Francisco is the only one who is not amused when Luke tries to demonstrate how to ride a horse using an old broom. A few minutes later, he was asked to leave when he challenged two patients to an obviously fixed walker speed race down the hall.
Our thanks to Pam Stanberry, CEO and Deb Wetta, DMO for all of their efforts and the innumerable efforts of their staffs to make us feel very much at home. It was a great visitation and their generous support and patience in putting up with Abel, Luke, and particularly AJ, shows. This being the fifth visit, Wesley Rehab Hospital is always the highlight of our ride each and every year.
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