If I am more fortunate than others I need to build a longer table not a taller fence.
Tamlyn Tomita

I had never heard of Tamlyn Tomita. Turns out she is an actress, quite respectable but not too famous. She must be a very wise woman. There is no other way I could think of that could have expressed better what I have felt and thought over the past few weeks.

The PdD student from UCD came back last week. This time, he brought along an engineering researcher who knows all about designing and making structures. The two were experimenting with the Handscupe, a device very generously donated to Pádraig by its medical device manufacturer. They developed the Handscupe as an innovative, therapeutic positioning device especially designed for the hands. The use of Handscupe in physiotherapy or occupational therapy can have a sustained positive impact on therapy outcome. Over the past months, we have re-purposed it somewhat to help Pádraig along.

Here are the videos with Pádraig using it to communicate and to have some fun playing electronic instruments.

Last week, Pádraig told us that he felt fortunate. To be with his family, to have his friends around, and to be able to go to the An Saol Centre. Of course, he didn’t feel lucky for having had the accident ten years ago. Who would. He could have done without it and still feel fortunate.

This is hard to fathom for me and, I guess, for any of us. We couldn’t even get close to understanding Pádraig’s life and the situation he finds himself in since that day in June of 2013. That split second when the driver of the pickup truck didn’t watch the cyclist he was overtaking – but, most likely, the other car that had just pulled out of a side street and was now, all of a sudden, heading straight towards him. The driver that was never prosecuted. The insurance that never paid. The doctors who were pushing us to donate his organs. The health system that badly failed him.

While Pádraig is right that he is fortunate to have so many people around to help, support, and encourage him. To crack jokes, enjoy concerts, and discover new worlds with him. It is extraordinary for him to see his life this way.

There are no words I can think of that could even get close to capture or describe his forgiving, generous, resilient, and beautiful mind. It is that mind that has allowed us to build a longer table, instead of higher fences.

There is so much Pádraig could teach the world.

If it would only listen.