I am beginning to feel at home here. Isn’t that sick? It’s very likely a new kind of syndrome I’m developing. HHS (Hamburg Hospital Syndrome) or HIQA (Hamburg in Quality Accommodation) or HSE (Hamburg Service Engagement) – if you’re familiar with the Irish health system (the WHAT? I hear you asking) you know what I’m talking about. I’ve learned to read the signs. Like: the caterers take pity on you and give you an extra slice of Wurst. Or they bring in his meal first and then mine half an hour later, so that mine doesn’t get cold while I’m helping Pádraig with his.

The honest truth is that I can’t wait to get out of here. And although Pádraig has not made his opinion clear yet – luckily, I’d say (and, if you know him, I see you nodding, knowingly) – I am sure he is just tolerating this because it’s temporary. Most likely Monday, Tuesday at the latest, followed by a few days of recovery. The average is 5 days we were told.

They haven’t figured out yet, that Pádraig is anything but average.

Today, we made sure that, finally, the request for logo therapy went through, along with a request to see an orthodontist. Who did come was the gastroenterologist (don’t worry, I had to look that up too). Like so often, when we talked to him we wondered why on earth we had never talked to a gastroenterologist before??????

He immediately canceled the smaller of the two procedures planned for next week, i.e. to replace Pádraig’s PEG. Apparently you don’t have to change a PEG for 5 or even 10 years – or until it gets porous. Yes, his words. To me it sounded a bit like a motor vehicle sales person talking about the warranty for the car he is selling: 30,000km or 3 years – whatever comes first.

More importantly almost, he told us that stomach’s, if you don’t use them, shrink. Stomach’s also don’t tolerate too much ‘normal’ food if they have been conditioned over many months to just take in easy to digest tube feed, or Sondenkost. Therefore, even though Pádraig wants to get lots of tasteful, nice smelling, full-of-texture food, he will have to hold back a little and only slowly increase the amounts he is eating. How will that have to be done, we asked — and were told that they will send a nutrionist to advice us.

Yes, you’re absolutely right. We will make sure that, while we are here, we will get the absolute maximum out of every day. We are getting expert advice from a gastroenterology, a urology, a neurology (he checked Pádraig’s bone flap replacement), and an orthodontic consultant, from a dietician, and from therapists while we are waiting for Pádraig’s procedure. Considering what we’re getting out of it, the wait has been worthwhile so far. No doubt.

(Seos – I was trying to keep writing as long as I can to be able to listen a bit longer to Daniel Barenboim, but I won’t make the full 02:19:33 tonight. Should have started earlier:)

Today, it’s one year and nine months since the accident. And there are so many convincing signs that Pádraig is hanging in there, that he never has stopped trying, and that he has achieved so many things that others said would never happen.

Tonight, I tell them: this is just the beginning. Watch out!!!