{Karlton Bontrager}

Wednesday, September 4th was Karlton’s 23rd birthday. He was looking forward to going out to lunch in the center of town with his friends, but first, he had to complete his physio work out before being released from the center.

The PTs spread out plastic cones with a ball on top of each one and had them placed about four feet apart. They also placed obstacles between the cones. Karlton had to walk between two cones and at the same time could not step on the obstacles. Once his left foot kicked a cone and the ball fell down. He had to stop, bend and pick it up. It wasn’t quite that easy. While he bent his left knee on the floor, his left knee gave and he ended in a funny posture causing a lot of pain to his left thighs. The PTs helped him to get on the floor and he picked up the ball but he now had to figure out how to get up by himself. It took some doing – the PT telling him what position to get into – but eventually he was able to pull himself up. He then had to step onto a three inch high foam cushion and still maintain his balance as he finished walking between the cones. He walked about 36 feet of this obstacle course.

Afterwards, he had to sit on a Swiss ball and stay balanced. He had a little difficulty maintaining his left knee in position but after a while he sat for a wee bit by himself!

At noon Karlton, Vailoa (one of the nurses), and I got into a car and followed his friends Sam and Nina to “Minami,” a Japanese restaurant on lower Stuart Street, just off the Octagon. There we met six more friends and celebrated Karlton’s birthday. The food was good and reasonably priced and we had a good time. Nina had baked a fantastic apple/nut/chocolate cake and had placed 23 thin sparkler candles on it. Karlton had trouble blowing out three candles that kept lighting up as soon as he would blow them out, but soon he had them out.

Since it was a very warm day (for Dunedin) we decided to go for a drive down to the beach. I was following Aidan, but as soon as I got past the Octagon, there were too many cars between us and I lost him so I turned around and went back to ISIS. Karlton, Vailoa, and Aidan did eventually come back and said they had a great time!

All in all, it was good for Karlton to have been able to leave the hospital grounds and celebrate! In the evening he received many phones calls, opened presents, and was quite content.

Thanks everyone!!