Sunny Sunday. So we went out for a walk. The new wheelchair is absolutely amazing. It almost rolls by itself. Unless you are a wheelchair expert, you would probably not appreciate the difference between wheelchairs. I remember that when we asked for a new wheelchair for Pádraig, even the physios in the Schön-Klinik did not immediately see the point – we were concert about the size. But it’s not just the size. This new wheelchair doesn’t just fit so much better, it also moves so much smoother.
The result: we went further then we ever went before on our walk today. Into a park. Up to a weir of the river Wandse, running through a little valley not too far away from our apartment. It was brilliant. The first time in almost two years, Pádraig saw a river, heard water running through a weir, heard the wind in the trees and bushes. It made me start planning our summer and getting really excited – I can just imagine what it did to Pádraig.
There are many many details from our visit to Boston and Cape Cod that I want to write about. It’ll take a bit of time because some of it is complex. But there are a few things we learnt that are important to know in relation to what happened to Pádraig and also so very important to know for all the thousands of students going on a J1 to the US, and for parents sending off their children to work in the US for the summer.
Not tonight, but sometime soon.
Hospi-Tales 
That will all come in time. today I wish I was out with him, tasting that river!
s
Hi Reinhard. Just a short note to fill you in on a radio interview this morning (Mon April 20, at 11:30am. Radio1 with Sean O’Rourke.) When I tuned in, he was half-way through an interview with Mary Walsh, mother of Sarah (32) who has a placement in a nursing home in Donnybrook. She was describing how her daughter spent 6 weeks in Germany and how well the daughter improved in such a short time with regard to standing, feeding and speech. The parents were told to buy her a pair of runners. On day 1 she was standing. By day two she was transferring from the peg to a normal feed. By the end of week 1 she was eating orally and working towards eating independently. She was given 4-5 hours of intensive therapy each day, including 45 mins on a Locomac machine, which is only available to someone in Ireland who is an in-patient in Dun Laoghaire. She even enjoyed some assisted horseriding in Germany. According to Mary, Sarah is the first irish person to spend this time in Germany. She compared the treatment there with the one hour of physio and OT per week available to Sarah here in Ireland. Sarah’s facial demeanour changed so much since returning home on April 4th, that she was able to stop her anti-depressants. Sadly however, her mother says that she has regressed since. The system here believes they have “saved her life” and that the family should be grateful for her placement. This mother is advocating for proper facilities to be provided in Ireland. If you are not already in contact with this lady, you might like to talk to her, as she says she has the desire to see changes in the country, and believes she has the energy to work towards better care.
Best regards to Pádraig from Dublin. We are all with him on that bridge enjoying the view!
Aileen
PS While in Germany, Sarah was brought to A&E to be treated for pneumonia. The staff were apologising profusely that she would have to wait for (a whole) 45 mins before being given a bed!!! Different world!
Hi Aileen, thank you for this note! Pat and I listened to it too here in Hamburg. In fact, Sara was in the same room with Pádraig in Beaumont. It was Sara’s situation who had spent a long time there without the proper therapy and care that got us going. A German physio based in Dublin and I had visited the facility in Pforzheim Sara went to, and Pat had told Mary about it (Mary mentioned that earlier in the interview). Pat went down to Pforzheim to meet with Mary and Sara. – Yes, there is a need for An Saol. And yes, it is unjustifiable what is being done to our children. And no, the Government will not do it.
Now why did I think I was providing you with news!!!! I’m delighted that Pádraig and Sarah have already met! Keep in touch with them. They are good people!
We will. – Keep telling the news to people. The more people hear, talk, write about what it means to live with a severe acquired brain injury in Ireland, the better. And once you have told them, tell them again. And again….
Reinhard, als Außenstehender kann man bei dem Foto ahnen, was die Ausfahrt für Pádraig bedeutet haben muss. Ich wünsche ihm weiter viel Kraft und Erfolg auf seinem Weg. Dir und Euch viele Grüße, Joseph
… und die Wege werden immer länger und weiter, Josepf! Wobei die Kraft von seinen und unseren Freunden kommt.
Und wir sind alle für euch da!
Ohne Freunde keine Freude.