Yesterday, I had picked up a tweet with a link to the programme Rónán Beo@3 on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta in which Rónán interviewed Marcus Mac Conghail earlier this week about Pádraig and the poem he wrote about him.  Today, I received a copy of this week’s edition of Seachtain, the Irish language supplement that comes with the Irish Independent. It’s a short article on Pádraig with Marcus Mac Conghail’s poem “Pádraig”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Marcus said on the programme and the poem he wrote and read, had quite an effect on Pat and myself. It really made us aware of the inspiration that Pádraig is for so many people. It also made it clear to us that we need to put our energy into helping and caring for Pádraig, but also to try and do a bit more: to continue working on the three issues I promised I would work on months ago: the insurance issue for students going on a J1 to the US; the terrible lack of neuro-rehab facilities in Ireland, especially for severe ‘cases’; and the way that cyclists are perceived by many drivers in the US. We have made some progress, but not enough by a long shot.

Pádraig today continued with the Giro d’Schön – he is close to getting the pink jersey, so well is he doing! Same with the speech valve. We would never have thought this possible just a few weeks back. He is swallowing really well most of the time as well – an important prerequisite when considering the removal of the tracheostomy. Today, he also moved his tongue, hands, and feet following a request to do so. Compared to not so long ago, there is quite a bit of communication going on. The next big thing we would like to see is a way for Pádraig to let us know, in some way, whether he agrees or disagrees with something. It would make such a big difference. While this is not possible yet, the day will come; and I have the feeling that this day is not too far away.

 

The Leinster Open Sea Swimming website today have a very kind note about Pádraig on their home page. In that note they highlight that both Pádraig and myself participated actively in Open Sea Swimming – what they did not say is that Pádraig, at least once, won as a newcomer an Open Sea Swimming event (to the horror of the established senior swimmers:) while I did not quite as well (we won’t go into details here:). By the way, if you think that picture looks a bit frightening (just imagine you’d be one of the swimmers) you are right! Swimming in the Irish Sea is no joke – as the 50 ‘Snamhs’ can vouch for. Thank you to the Leinster Open Sea Swimming Committee for their support!

Don’t forget: the next event on the calendar is the Dublin Women’s Mini Marathon at the beginning of June, followed just a few days later by the Mountain Flag Challenge.

If you’re looking for good music: Try the 1991 full recording of the San Francisco concert by Crosby, Stills, and Nash (I am yours, you are mine, you are what you are). They sang in Woodstock, and they are still going strong! Another one, slightly different style, is the Moody Blues in the Royal Albert Hall. The first four minutes are a bit slow, orchestral, but then… excellent music, way beyond Nights in White Satin… Watch 19:30: The Story in Your Eyes –

Listen to the tide slowly turning
Wash all our heartaches away
We’re part of the fire that is burning
And from the ashes we can build another day

Today’s German Music Tip
Revolverheld – Ich werd’ die Welt verändern (2009)
Ich werd die Welt verändern
Werd endlich alles besser machen
Werd anfangen wieder klarzukommen
und mal über mich selber lachen
http://lyricstranslate.com/en/ich-werd-die-welt-veraendern-i-will-change-world.html
What’s hot
Change where you can
What’s cold
Trying to change the world

The German word/phrase/verse of the day
“Bayern München feiert das Double” (Bayern won the German Cup Final against Dortmund tonight but only in extra time and following a bad decision by the referee.)