The sun was shining, the weather was perfect, and the White Sox were preparing to take on the Seattle Mariners. Sounds like many a summer day at Sox Park, but this one was different in a very special way. May 4, 2006 was "Seniors Run the Bases" day, and some very special orthopaedic patients took in the game and rounded the bases afterward. Each patient in attendance has a special story on how MOR doctors have changed their lives.

The news could not have been worse for Alan Levine in the summer of 2003. What he originally thought to be arthritis was diagnosed by Dr. Steven Gitelis as a malignant chondrosarcoma. Dr. Walter Virkus excised the tumor and performed a bone graft on Mr. Levine's right leg. Levine regained almost complete use of his leg after a lengthy recovery. He also reports that his golf game has improved significantly since his surgery. Nearly three years later, he was able to jog around the bases and says, "Although it sounds like a cliché, I owe my recovery and my life to the doctors. I am a lucky guy to have been introduced to the Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush group and I do not take it for granted."

Long-time Sox fans Barbara and Ed Kuske, a husband and wife team who have each received artificial hip replacements from Dr. Craig Della Valle, watched the game and circled the bases together. Barbara Kuske reports, "The game was three weeks after my hip replacement surgery and I'm pretty proud of myself. I'm walking without a cane and am doing exceptionally well."

In fact, Barbara is doing so well she loaned her cane to another MOR patient, Wilma Majcen, when Majcen decided to walk the bases. It was not an easy decision for Majcen to make. She states, "I didn't think I'd be able to do it, but I did!" Majcen has been treated by both Drs.Nikhil Verma and Mark Cohen for multiple orthopaedic issues, and even discussed orthopaedics with Dr. Verma during the game.

Each patient had a favorite moment during the Sox outing. Five-time World Series champ Moose Skowron's visit surprised everyone, and was a particular treat for long time Sox fan Ed Kuske. The Kuskes attended school at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and Ed "used to go over there and watch him play," according to his wife, Barbara.

Majcen received a Sox hat at the game. She adamantly reports, "Everyone wants my hat. Nobody gets my hat!" In addition to the Sox win, Alan Levine's top moments included rounding the bases, "It was an unexpected treat to go on the field and run the bases. It was a pleasure meeting and hearing other success stories from Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush. It is great to be recognized, even if it was for recovering from cancer."

Camaraderie developed quickly among the patients both during the game and after, as they proceeded to the field for their turn around the bases. Each has a unique orthopaedic story to tell, and each was able to touch the bases at the end of the game due to their determination, positive attitude, and the care they received from their doctors at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush.