I don’t know if my hairstyles reflect that, but I am someone who enjoys change.
Cobi Jones

Let’s forget about all those New Year resolutions we all had not just once, but nearly every year. Yes, there were slight variations, but, in essence, they were the same year after year. We knew what we wanted and needed to do and then swiftly forgot about it as the busy days took over again from the more reflective times between the years.

You know what I am talking about.

Like the little girl in the picture above, I am excited. Like Cobi Jones, I like change, even if my hairstyle doesn’t reflect it.

Following years of really hard efforts, we now have total agreement with all relevant parties, that those with a severe Acquired Brain Injury can no longer be left behind, locked away and be forgotten about. Not from a clinical point of view and not from a human rights point of view.

Amazingly, not only do we have total agreement on the need to do something, but total agreement on what it is that needs to be done, by whom it should be done, and who should pay for it.

And all has been summarised, written up, and recommended not by me, not by the An Saol Foundation, but by the Irish Health Service Executive, HSE, itself – all brought together in the Teach An Saol project which will kick off next year.

The stars are aligning and I feel the wind blowing from the right direction. The Universe just needs a little bit of determined encouragement, direction, and focus, to make Teach An Saol a reality: Sustainable enhanced services; a purpose-built campus with Social, Activity, Respite, and Transitional Living Hubs; and Satellite Centres across the Country.

We will create that focus on the back of a campaign that will put the rights of those left behind, mis-diagnosed as lost ‘cases’, and subsequently written off, at the Centre of Attention.

Live of those with sABI will change.

Pádraig has been busy over the last week.

He became Godfather of his first nephew. There was a really nice baptism ceremony in the church, followed by a family get-together with some of the best pizza, totally home-made, I’ve had in a very long time. I didn’t think about it at the time, but Godfather and Pizza go well together as themes.

The baptism made Stephen’s Day even more special. It was a fabulous day and made us all so happy.

Over the Christmas Days, one of Pádraig’s best friends sent him a Sunday Playlist with some new Irish music. We listened to it while doing our Sunday Morning Workout. It must have been a bit of a relief for Pádraig not having to listen to my auld playlist of which he must by now be sick and tired. And such a great way to hear what is current, what it is that people are listening to, and to move with the times. At the end, even one of Pádraig’s carers (who is not from Ireland) asked whether I would share the list with her so she could learn more about modern Irish music.

The same friend also shared a picture of one of the huge billboard advertisements around the country featuring Pádraig promoting the Decision Support Service (DSS) and the new (!) 2015 (sic!) Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act.

So, in case you’re looking for a change too, here are a few new things you could do in 2024:

  • Help us to promote the Teach An Saol project (2024-2027). How? Tell everybody about it (easy) or help us in very practical ways (a bit more involved), for example by helping us to run a social media campaign, by making appointments with politicians, or by putting us in touch with journalists. Or by whatever other stuff makes sense to you.
  • Spend time with Pádraig who is always looking for good company. You could visit, go out with him, tell him about your life (that could be a one-to-one:), or fill him in on new music, films, books, or podcasts.

Pádraig himself told us yesterday, that what he most misses since his accident is his voice. We promised him to do what we can to help him recover his voice as much as possible.

I hope you had a good Christmas and time to look at life from a distance which might have offered you a different perspective on what is really important in your life. Make the change. Not the same old but something really new and exciting.

Thank you to you all who have supported and helped Pádraig in his new life over the past year in so many different ways. He, and us, would not be where we are would it not be for you. I cannot thank you enough. It is truly uplifting to see and experience so much goodness in a world that is struggling so hard.

I wish you all a very Happy 2024 and may all your wishes become true.