Senior athlete is impatient as a patient

12/9/2000

At age 68, Dale Badyna of Temperance plays basketball and golf five days a week. He has switched from a Detroit basketball team to the Holy Toledo team that will play in the National Senior Olympics.

But a sore shoulder that he could hardly lift led him to orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tony Frogameni, who operated to repair the joint.

“He told me it would be six more weeks before I could play either golf or basketball,” Dale said.

But after one visit, a physical therapist gave the green light for a little “chipping and putting.”

Dale went further, playing 18 holes only nine days after surgery.

He shot a hole in one on the 125-yard par 3 hole at Giant Oak.

It was his sixth ace. “But it was the best one,” Dale said.

“I told them at Dr. Frogameni's office. He said he's had quick recoveries but none that quick.”

Hats off to the Toledo Bowsher High School Latin Club of teacher Marcia Nauts, whose members always ring the bell for the Salvation Army at Christmas time and are doing it today at the Glendale and Detroit Kroger store.

And a special tip of the Mud Hens cap to Emily Meagher, who has urged Toledoans to donate to that worthy cause for all four of her years at Bowsher.

In 1954, Shirley Baginski of Toledo carried a silver and crystal rosary when she married Ted. “I can't begin to count the rosaries that have been said with it in 46 years,” she says.

But the rosary was lost, likely “in the vicinity of Alexis Road, probably near H.J.'s Prime Cut restaurant,” Shirley said.

“If someone found it, calls me (536-6641), and if I get it back by Christmas I'll be the happiest person in the world.”

``She is numb from her toes down.''

That's a note written by a doctor on a patient's chart. Here are more, passed on by Dan Meyer of Sylvania and other readers:

``The patient has been depressed ever since she began seeing me in 1993.''

``The skin was moist and dry.''

``The patient has two teenage children. No other abnormalities.''

``On the second day, the knee was better, and on the third day, it disappeared completely.''

``The patient has pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.''

``Occasional, constant, infrequent headaches ...''

“This is a lonely time of year for our vets and it would be nice for readers to address a Christmas card to `Dear Veteran, Ohio Veterans Home, 3416 Columbus Ave., Sandusky, O. 44870-5598,'” says Sam Sloan of the home.

“They did a lot for us, let's do something for them.”

“When I was offered the job, I asked the Toledo School Board if I could hit the ground running. They said, yes, I could. I had no idea they meant it should be an all-out sprint.”

Dr. Eugene Sanders, new school superintendent, telling an Old Newsboys banquet audience how he went right to work for the city's public school children.

Mike Tressler is a Blade columnist. E-mail him at mtressler@theblade.com, call 1-419-724-6107, or mail an item at The Blade, Box 921, Toledo, O. 43660.