Birmingham Trip '08'

Confederate Flag in front of school

Cotton Fields

Every summer, we make a 5 hour trip to Birmingham, Alabama to see Kaitlyn's Cleft Team at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Children's Hospital for a check in and re-evaluation. UAB is a huge complex of medical centers that dominates the entire south end of the city of Birmingham. It is rated among the top 3 hospitals in the nation, second only to the Mayo Clinic, and is a leader in Craniofacial research. In addition to its impeccable credentials, UAB Childrens has some of the kindest Dr's and nurses any parent could ask for. The hospital is built with children in mind, with paintings hung at a child's height and waiting rooms full of interactive toys, bright colors, and Dora the Explorer cartoons. When you go to Cleft Clinic, the waiting room is packed with dozens of other families and children waiting to see Dr. Grant and his team for their yearly check in or for post or pre-op appointments. Kids play and run around at will while parents meet and chat and share pictures and stories. All in all, it is one of the most enjoyable Dr. visits one could ever make.

For us, the 5 hour drive necessitates that we arrive a day early and leave a day after the appointment. This year and last year we decided to extend our stay by a few days and have a mini-vacation. So of course, Kaitlyn now thinks that Dr. Grant visits are the best because they include vacation time!:) Unlike the Northwest, the Southeast does not have well planned freeways and interstates that take you from one destination to the next simply by knowing the appropriate on ramps or exit numbers. Our drive to Birmingham takes us through the panhandle of Florida, winding through small towns like Florala and Crestview until we hit the Alabama state line and cross into Andalusia and a host of other tiny towns. We pass pastures of cows and horses, endless fields of cotton and old brick homes, tiny Main Streets, roadside stands of boiled or roasted peanuts, and huge trees with Spanish Moss climbing the trunks. It really is a beautiful drive that reminds you fo our country's history. Of course, we also pass a few uniquely Southern sights: A Confederate flag flying large and proud in front of the town school and my favorite from this year's drive, a huge sign reading "Go to Church or the Devil will Get you!!!" compelte with a little red devil and pitchfork. There are certain sights that you really only see in the not so politically correct South. After winding through the many sights along Route 55, we finally hit our first Interstate, I-65 near Montgomery, Alabama. Right inside of Montgomery, we take a break and stop at Priester's Pecans, a nearly 100 year old Pecan Candy factory where you can watch them make the candies and sample plenty of Pecan infused delights. Once we have stuffed ourselves and bought some pecans to ship to Mom, we head back to I-65 and begin working our way towards Selma, Alabama..............