Mercy to sponsor Saturday FSCC baseball

Mercy Rehabilitation Services will sponsor Saturday's Fort Scott Community College baseball doubleheader against Labette. The first pitch for the first game is scheduled for 1 p.m. This is the second year Mercy has been the sponsor of an FSCC baseball contest as it also sponsored a game last season.

Mercy Rehab Center and Mercy Health for Life will honor special guest Mr. Eric Baldonado during the games. Baldonado is no stranger to Mercy or to the community of Fort Scott. He grew up here, attended Fort High School and the University of Kansas Medical Center, earning a Master's of Science degree in Physical Therapy in 1999. He has been employed at Mercy for over 11 years serving in many roles. Today Baldonado is the Director of Rehabilitation Services for Mercy Health Center.

On February 23, 2009, Baldonado suffered a stroke while on a family vacation. Within hours, Eric became a patient -- coincidently, a patient with the same diagnosis which he and the staff he supervises and rehabilitates on a daily basis.

Baldonado's stroke required surgery to relieve pressure off his brain so that his heart and lungs would function on their own.

Within four weeks, Baldonado returned home to Fort Scott and to outpatient therapy, but not from a therapist perspective. This time, he was a patient instead.

Baldonado's persistence would not allow for his condition to hold him back. He was determined to get back to his normal way of life as soon as possible. His fight to recover has not been an easy one.

"I recall a conversation with Eric where he said he felt blessed to even be able to come to therapy," Mercy Physical Therapist Cheryl Ogran said. "And despite being our supervisor, he was a very good patient too."

Today Mercy Physical Therapist says about his journey, "It gave me a differing perspective, it is definitely much different being the patient. But whether patient or therapist, it all boils down to desire, hard work and the blessings of God for recovery.

"I would like to thank the community and Mercy co-workers with special thanks to the rehabilitation staff. For their prayers, support, concern, gifts, visits ... well everything!

"A special, special thanks goes to my wife, Darcy, for putting up with me before, during and after the stroke; to Eric Ammons and Lisa Shelton for the ongoing vigilance in staying at my side during recovery. And finally, to my mom and dad who had to watch their 'baby' go through it all, they were very strong and always there for me."

Baldanado is an avid supporter of athletics, and he can often be seen at various high school and Fort Scott Community College sporting events.

Eric and his wife, Darcy, reside in Fort Scott with their daughters Anna, 6, and Elena, 2 months. Elena was born one week shy of a year after his stroke.

Baldanado will throw out the first pitch prior to the first game of the doubleheader

Children's activities include standing with the Greyhounds in front of the first-base dugout for the playing of the National Anthem. Children who wish to do this need to arrive at the field no later than 12:40 p.m.

Children will be allowed to run the bases immediately after the first game of the doubleheader

There will be a raffle during the first game for the privilege of throwing out the first pitch for the second game

Mercy and FSCC baseball apparel with be raffled off during the game. Hot dogs and water will be provided by Mercy.