I spent this morning writing an open letter to our Taoiseach, Enda Kenny. I had read the Irish Times’ reports on the Fianna Gael’s Ardh Feis in the RDS yesterday. In his address to the Ard Fheis, he said that he was looking forward to the publication of the White Paper on Universal Health Insurance (UHI), which will outline how he will “tear down the barriers“ to access. “So for a change, when implemented, a new health service will be ready and waiting if you and your family need it.“ – I just felt this man should not let get away with such a statement. You can read the letter here. I emailed it to him and posted it. I also sent it on to a journalists and newspapers. You will have seen on http://www.caringforpadraig.org/similar-experiences/ that there are other young people like Pádraig, all of them in a similar situation regarding neuro-rehab. Why on earth does the State not look after its citizens when they most need being looked after? I just don’t get it.

Pádraig was good today. He had two lovely visitors from Dublin with him yesterday and today. It’s amazing what a difference the faces and voices from friends can make to the whole atmosphere in Pádraig’s room and on the whole ward. Saturday is a quiet day, not much is happening. – But…, I am not sure whether I mentioned before that Pádraig’s better hand and arm are on his right hand side. The left hand and arm had usually not been involved in much activity. However, tonight when I was leaving and when I took his left hand, he moved his left lower arm way up into the air. Another ‘first’, and we talked about it all evening.

I am not sure whether you have been in Germany and have seen the “Stolpersteine”, put into the ground to remember a person or a family taken from their home, deported and then killed by the nazis during the 2nd world war. Their purpose is to make you stop in your tracks, and to think.

Stop and think. What moved you when you got up this morning? Did you do today what you believe in? If today had been your last day, would you have been happy with it? Have you been kind and generous to others?

I am going to take an ‘early’ night tonight and stop right here.

Keep including Pádraig in your thoughts.