Things were always coming in three, that way they are easier to remember. Today was different. Today, things came in four…

It was one of those days to remember, because of four things: (1) The incredibly helpful and friendly people looking after Pádraig today showed us that it is possible to sit him out in his wheelchair even on a Sunday, with reduced staff and no therapists helping out. It was so good to see how well he was able to take what for him is quite a bit of an exercise – sitting out for a number of hours in a wheelchair. (2) Then his doctor decided that he was able to take the speech valve for 2 hours twice a day (rather than just 1 hour); and it’s amazingly true: what should be stressful on him, the use of the speech valve, seems to be more natural for him, getting him to breather really well and bringing up his oxygen levels a few percentage points. (3) Pat wanted to put a towel under his arm and told him that she was going to lift up his right arm – and, as she did so, Pádraig, all by himself, lifted up his right arm including his elbow, to allow her to put a the towel in place. (4) And it got better even than this: when two of his good friends from Dublin who were visiting him this weekend asked him to give them a ‘thumbs up’, he did! – If he keeps going like this, there won’t be anything or anybody stopping him…

The O’Malley’s Table Quiz on Friday night was a huge success. The O’Malley Clan (Pádraig’s grandmother was Brenda O’Malley) really went all out. Hundreds of people gathered in Crokers of Murroe (Limerick) from all over the country to support the event. On behalf of Pádraig and of his family: a very heartfelt ‘thank you’ for an amazing night and the incredible support shown! More details to come…

Today’s (German) Music Tip
Die fantastischen Vier, 25 (2014). The 25 year anniversary single of one of Germany’s longest-running hip-hop-bands from Stuttgart!
What’s hot
Four
What’s cold
Three
The German word/phrase/verse of the day
Daumen im Wind