(There was a problem with yesterday’s and the previous day’s blog which is now fixed – so they should be there. Not sure what exactly happened…)

Pádraig has been quite alert again today. He sat out almost 7 hours in the viva-la Thekla today – a record! His eyes were following pictures, Pat showed him from The Journal. He keeps moving his hands, arms, feet, and it trying really hard with his legs too. These are not huge movement, they are small and you can see how hard it is for him to make them. The other encouraging experience has been that I could really feel that he was with me when I was talking to him, telling him about all the great things his friends are doing and planning to do for him – not a few inspired by his incredible determination to get better and to join them again having fun and great company. I did not tell him about the letter that finally arrived from the Department of Health. It’s just too depressing.

This week has been a week of excitement building up for last night’s big “Swim a Mile” event in the National Aquatic Centre (NAC) in Dublin, where Lynn and Irene swam, for the first time in their life, a mile in a competition. In the event, they both finished up with a fantastic under 52 minutes! There are pictures before, during and after later in the blog. Next weekend is another huge event, this time over two days: Snámh Phádraig is going to take place on 12-13 April. It’s not too late to sign up and although the bus is nearly full! 44 swimmers and 2 stewards have signed up so far! Together, the group has already raised an unbelievable €15,000. So, if you decide to join the fun and swim in every county of Ireland with a coast over two days, you can find all the details on how to register here. If you want to support those mad lads, check out there fundraising pages here.

On Thursday, we received a letter by the private secretary to the Minister of Health starts by saying that he is writing because of “the Taoiseach’s request that the Department of Health follow up on specific matters raised by you in relation to Pádraig’s care.” The second paragraph says that the Department is aware of the “significant challenges in the years ahead” and wants “to ensure that all of the resources available (…) are used in the most efficient and effective manner possible.” The third paragraph is a statement of facts: we were concerned that Pádraig was not admitted to the NRH in time, that he is now in Germany, that we should stay in close contact with the NRH, and that an Irish rehab consultant might come for a visit to Germany “as part of a process of international service delivery comparison”. The letter finishes up by saying that “the Department regrets that the Health Services were not better able to meet Pádraig’s needs. The Minister extends every best wish to Pádraig during his ongoing treatment and to you and your family as you continue to care for him.”

I find it difficult to describe my reaction to the letter.

In a way, it was what I expected. But on the other hand, I had hoped against hope it would not have been a letter saying, in short, “it is as it is”. Sad. Where is the care? Where is the vision? Where is the energy? Where does it get “specific”? Where is the action?

If you wanted to see action and feel the energy, the place to be last night was the National Aquatic Centre (NAC). I’ve often thought that older people (sorry Lynn and Irene) are almost a lost cause, and that our future really is with the young people, those with the convictions and energy to affect change. – Well, I was wrong. Lynn and Irene are young at heart, energetic, and very determined. So, after weeks and months of early morning training, last night was their big night. And it was big. Not only did they finish, both finished in under 52 minutes, and they are still counting the vey significant funding they raised for Pádraig. Here are the pictures (listen to today’s “German Music Tip” while watching the pictures:):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today’s German Music Tip Ulf und Zwölf, Heute geh’n wir schwimmen. For all the brave swimmers!

What’s hot Swimming
What’s cold The Water, especially in the sea

The German word/phrase/verse of the day
Wasserscheu

Twitter: @forPadraig
http://www.caringforPadraig.org