When the economy went down the tubes, there was a famous sketch on Irish radio with the then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern (well, it wasn’t really him) who was giving out to some of his colleagues about what was going on. Nobody seemed to be able to do anything right, nobody was going to fix the broken economy. Bertie was really getting annoyed, so annoyed that he finally exploded and shouted “well, if nobody can do anything about this mess, I’ll ring up Joe Duffy meself!” – that is what Liveline and Joe Duffy are about. If nothing else helps, you just ring Joe and he’ll fix it.
Well, today it was Joe (or rather one of his researchers) who rang me.
Joe had heard about Pádraig’s story and thought it was worthwhile sharing with the country. For our friends who are not familiar with Joe and his programme: it is probably the programme with the highest number of listeners in the country, and Joe is one of the highest paid radio presenters. To be completely honest, I looked at this as an opportunity to tell not so much Pádraig’s story, but to highlight the empty promises made by insurance companies and the broken health system that does not care when care is most needed. Both look at victims like an investment. You make them pay, and when they need your help, you bail out.
It was good to hear Pádraig’s friends ringing in to tell Joe and the nation about their support for Pádraig and the events they have organized for him – one of the more unusual one being the swim in every county of Ireland with a coast.
I hope that many heard the story and many are going to ask their insurers and their TDs (members of parliament) about it. There is a question that will be put to the Taoiseach tomorrow afternoon at Leader’s Question time – and we can’t wait to hear whether he will take it and how he will answer it. Since he asked the Department of Health to get in touch with us “without delay”, 14 days have passed.
Today, Pádraig had another visitor from Ireland, a good friend who had basically moved in to Cape Cod Hospital with two other friends, when the accident had just happened. If I look back to that time, we stayed day and night with him by his bedside, because we did not want him to be alone, we wanted to be beside him all the time, he was so frail, so injured, in such a bad shape from this hit by the van to his head, that he could have died at any time. Today, he is reacting to us, he was moving his hand and arms for his friend who had come to visit. Yes, it has taken an awful long time, but we can wait, we have become very modest in our expectations as to the time it will take, but we know that he will make a good recovery, that the clouds will move and let the sunshine in.
His friends and family are his liveline. He is a liveline for us. And he will do wonders, not just for himself, but for all who need treatment and care, and are denied it by “this broken health system”.
Today’s German Music Tip
Elaiza, Is it right (2004). Germany’s entry into the 2004 Eurovision. How did they make it?
What’s hot
Liveline
What’s cold
Resignation
The German word/phrase/verse of the day
Et küt wie et küt (Es kommt wie es kommt – From Karneval in Köln)
Twitter: @forPadraig
#caringforPadraig
http://www.caringforPadraig.org
Hospi-Tales 
Hello, Reinhard. I look forward to hearing you on Liveline. A friend texted me immediately you came on air, but as I was at work I couldn’t listen in real time. I’m sure you could never have imagined you would have so much to so with the media. But of course it’s just a drop in the ocean of what you would do for Pádraig. If you don’t mind my repeating myself (and you surely don’t) – he could not have a better family. With best wishes, Louise.
No, Louise, I never imagined. And my body, never mind my mind, finds it difficult to cope. It’s physical. Incredibly.
Hello, Reinhard. I’ve just listened to Liveline. As always, you spoke eloquently and movingly in equal measure. Meanwhile, another friend contacted me all the way from Bahrain to say she had been listening to you from there. With best wishes, Louise.
Thank you, Louise. Our main concern is Pádraig’s welfare, of course. I would never ever have known about the outrageous lack of care and treatment available in Ireland for patients like him had it not been for the terrible brain injury he suffered last year. The more people hear about it, and what it means in real, concrete terms for patients like Pádraig and families like ours, the better – who knows, the ‘system’ might be able to change when faced with enough outrage?
Hello again, Reinhard. I can only begin to imagine the difficulties you have to bear – it would be impertinent of me to suggest that I actually could understand properly. That’s why all your friends are with you. With best wishes,Louise.
F.S.S. stands for “Feidhmeannacht na Seirbhise Slainte” which means H.S.E.
Reinhard, heard you yesterday during my lunch break – you are also the reason that I was late back to work!!!! You spoke so clearly and lovingly about Pádraig and nobody can be in any doubt about the shocking state of our ‘health care’ system. I follow your blogs and I’m just so glad that Padraig is making wonderful breakthroughs. Give him a big hug from his old Rúnaí! Mind each other and we are all channelling strength to you all – but especially to Padraig. Siobhan x
Siobhán, thank you so much for your message. The hug was delivered, to the best of my ability and a far second in comparison:) We feel the strength from all of Pádraig’s family and friends – we’d be utterly lost without it. It’s what keeps Pádraig going (apart to his own stubbornness!).