At a meeting this morning, the HSE confirmed that the An Saol Project we proposed to them will be funded and that we will start with its implementation straight away.
About an hour later, the Irish Minister of Health, Simon Harris, T.D., confirmed this during his opening address at the National Carers’ Conference. He caught me a little bit off guard as I had not expected the announcement by him, so I lost the first few seconds of his speech. Here is what I managed to record, the Minister talking about An Saol:
I have been assured that we will receive an official letter from the HSE by the end of the week.
It’ll take a little time to sink in. But if this is all true, and there is no reason to suspect it ain’t, then we’re about to embark on some really good and exciting work here that will change the way how people think about those who have survived a very severe acquired brain injury, as well as the way they and their families are being treated by the health system.
A big thank you to all who have helped us to make this happen!
Hospi-Tales 
Winderful news. Well done to All the family and friends who supported this initiative.
It is hard to believe but gives you hope that some level of change is possible, Grainne – and you were part of this support you refer to:)
Amazing! This is all your hard work starting to pay off. Congrats reinhard this is really brilliant news!
It is brilliant news, Oisín – it’s the beginning though… although that is hard to believe too:)
This is GREAT news. You showed great presence of mind to film this. I’m sure you nearly fell off the chair when the announcement was made. Well done and well deserved to you all. What a ‘red letter day’.
I found it hard to believe that he even remembered, never mind announcing the pilot… I’ve got this feeling though that getting where we are today might have been the easy part of the project! -:)
Sceál iontach.very timely at Cares conference-it is very challenging breaking down barriers that should never have existed in the first instant. Keep the determination going Reinhard,it’s contagious and that’s good for all the supporters of An Saol and ABI Ireland.
The real surprise, Norma, might be that the abandonment of survivors had not been highlighted before as a scandal we’ll be looking back in some time wondering how we could have allowed this to happen. Contagious is the energy you’re sharing and the encouragement you’re giving – without that we’d never have got where we are today!
Congratulations! 🍾 Such great news. At last! 🙂
Pádraig’s decision not to give up and, instead, to show to the world that he has the same rights to a life as anybody else are starting to show results beyond his own life, Diane. I’m telling him every day how proud of him I am!
Huge congratulations to you all and to An Saol! What a thing to achieve. Absolutely wonderful news!
We need to bring this news to others not just in Ireland but around the world. This is about the right to a decent life, way beyond a ‘mere’ health issue. You are playing a role in this, Ting!
What an amazing milestone to achieve, Reinhard! I am very happy to see that the long fight for justice is starting to pay off.
Great !
No other word to describe this development.
Im absolutely stunned. The beginning of an incredible journey. Maith sibh.
It’s a sea-change. Inspired by Pádraig’s incredible perseverance and with the support of the Dreamboaters, we will change the hearts and minds of people about their treatment of survivors of severe acquired brain injury. Ahoy!
Fantastic news Reinhard. Really really fantastic. Go hiontach!
Congratulations to you,Pat, the girls,all the other incredible people involved for all you have done to make this happen and, especially to Padraig. He’s a true inspiration to so many-and certainly to me.
Warmest best wishes
Raphael 👍🌟🌟
Nothing of what we’ve been doing gets anywhere near to Pádraig’s will to live and to have a life, Raphael! And isn’t that what our life is all about – having a meaningful life, in the company of our family and our friends? He certainly makes me feel very humble every day.