Pádraig put one foot in front of the other, straightened his leg, stood up, moved forward and did the same with his other leg. Slowly but surely he moved himself, he walked from one side of the pool to the other. I was supporting his back and was holding his head and could not see what was going on. But I was feeling it and obviously noticed how Pádraig was moving forward, lifting himself out of the water. But the carer who accompanies us saw it all happening. None of us could believe it. It was truly extraordinary. “Christmas has come early, eh?” said the pool manager who had been watching Pádraig, when we were getting out of the water.

I struggle with the concept of ‘miracles’. But today, in my mind, Pádraig could have walked on water. It was that good.