It’s late, heading towards the midnight hour in Hamburg. Just finished having a 2-hour call with a colleague and friend in the US, mostly about work, but, inevitably, also about Pádraig and how he is doing.

During that conversation I realised how complicated and complex this whole situation is. What do you answer if someone asks you “and how is Pádraig doing”?

There is the short answer. For some reason, I’m not a man for short answers. (In my first job, when I had been in Ireland for just a short time, someone asked me “how are you”. I grabbed a chair, sat down, and told him. He never asked me that question again:)

Well, how is Pádraig?

He is getting better. All the time. He has setbacks but gets over these, as he does at the moment get over the operation he had last Friday. He has made tremendous progress, really, compared to where he was after the accident. One day, I will get back to those days when doctors were confronting us with the most difficult questions you could ask a parent. When they were completely and utterly out of line. Not today. Pádraig can eat (small quantities and mashed and very smooth like stewed apple or yoghurt); he can communicate (moving his tongue, most of the time); we have heard him saying words (very few and very simple words which were very ‘breathed’, with a very low and weak ‘breathed’ voice); he can breathe by himself and without additional oxygen (most of the time); he can sit in a wheelchair for several hours without a problem; he can ‘stand’ on a tilt table for 30 minutes; he can ‘cycle’ the MOTOMed (the  machine moves his legs); he squeezes our hands at appropriate times; he smiles and (sometimes) cries at the appropriate times. All very basic things. But he is with us. And he is improving in very small steps all the time.

While he himself cannot move or control most of his body, he has been moving hundreds and thousands of people around the world. Many have been doing things they had never ever even had dreamt of – until they launched the Dreamboat and got on board.

But, above all, there have been so many people, countless, who have expressed their love in a way that must have changed them forever. In a way that they will never forget. In their lifetime. They will pass this on to their children and grandchildren. And together, they will make the world a better place.

I got a call this morning. It took a while until I realised who I was talking to. It was Pádraig’s orthodontist. He asked me to send him “Amhrán do Pádraig” posters for his practice; and he offered to look after Pádraig’s teeth, visit him, make sure they were ok. Imagine that. Think about it. That was another Dreamboater, just like yourself!

I wish I could be with you tomorrow night in person. In spirit, I will be. Pádraig will be there too. Right bang in the middle. Sticking out heads above everyone else. One of his arms high up in the air. Smiling. Sailing down the stream. Having fun. On the Dreamboat.

Nothing is impossible if you believe in it.

When I rang the UKE this morning, just to see how Pádraig had been during the night, they told me he was fine.

Then they said that if we wanted to talk to an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist about Pádraig’s tracheostomy, we’d better come over immediately, because he was on his way.

When we got there after a drive that was just a tiny bit too fast, we just made it for the meeting with the ENT specialist. Turned out that we also just made to be with Pádraig when he was getting ready to be transferred back to the Schön-Klinik.

Tonight he is back in his ‘old’ room, in his ‘old’ bed. The idea of having lived in a hospital, the same hospital, for over a year. Can you imagine that?

I have decided to get onto this Dreamboat. Not because it’s trending in Dublin, but because it’s just amazing. Don’t worry if you don’t know what ‘trending’ is. I didn’t know either – just that one of Pádraig’s friends tweeted that THE DREAMBOAT IS TRENDING TONIGHT IN DUBLIN. Just behind the “jungle”.  What’s the “jungle”? Sure it wouldn’t float!?

I had doubts it would swim, I thought it would sink. Just shows you – if you believe you’re limited, you are. If you believe that anything is possible as long as you try hard enough, as long as you believe, then there won’t be any doubts, no limits!

Basically, it means that there were so many tweets about the “Dreamboat” tonight that it got into second place, just behind the jungle-get-me-out-of-here! The #Dreamboat is afloat. No doubt!

There has been another article about the launch of the #dreamboat in a national newspaper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No matter what. No matter where we’ll be.

We will all be in the Grand Social on Wednesday Night. In 48 hours.

And it floated like a dream
On those waves just you and me
Is it a sign of things to come
Lets just sail and have some fun

In 48 hours.

 

 

 

 

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Wednesday, 03 December 2014, 20:00h
Grand Social, Dublin

Launch of Amhrán do Phádraig

 

Please join the Dreamboaters at the Launch of the fantastic album they put together for Pádraig. Bring your friends and family with you for a brilliant night of songs, music, and poetry.

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When you read this, please do two things:

(1) Mark the date and time (Wednesday, 03 Dec., 20h00, Grand Social) in your diary, and be there for a night of really brilliant songs, music, and poetry.

(2) Flood your social networks with news about the launch. Make this the night not to be missed! Point your friends to TheJournal.ie article about the Dreamboat and the event Facebook page. As of tonight, 178 people have signed up to be there. We can do better than this!

There is one more thing: tell The Irish Times, The Independent, The Herald, The Daily Mail, all the radio stations from RTE to Raidio na Life and Raidio RiRa, as well as the TV stations about the launch. Tell you local politicians to be there and declare their support for neuro rehab services in Ireland!

Pádraig was much better today and is clearly recovering well from the very long and tiring operations he had just two days ago. He is very stable and is becoming more aware of what is going on around him. His tracheostomy is blocked again because of the operation and he cannot use his voice – but that will change again over the next few days. They took this precautionary measure to ensure that his breathing tubes were kept clear for the operation.

I would like to write so much, tell you about Pádraig, how he is at the moment, what our hopes are for him, how we envisage life, what needs to be done, from my perspective, to help Pádraig and others in his position – and, I’m sure, one day I will.

But tonight, I am too exhausted to continue. Just too exhausted.

Below is a message from Andrew to the Dreamboaters. Although the point on tonight’s meeting comes too late for anyone who wanted to join in the rehearsals, I thought it would still be worthwhile reading it because I think it is such a wonderful testament to what Pádraig’s friends are doing for him – and, in case you were hesitating, it’ll give you 1,001 reasons to forget whatever you had planned to do on Wednesday night and join the coolest launch of the most brilliant CD in the Grand Social.

Be there and bring your family, your friends, your neighbours, anyone that crosses your way between now and Wednesday. Don’t forget to tweet, tweet, tweet about the #Dreamboat and #AmhranDoPhadraig or #SongForPadraig. “Like” the event of Facebook and send invites to all – yes, ALL – of your friends!!!

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ENGLISH BELOW

Dia dhaoibh a chairde,

Tá muid shroichte. Deireadh turais fada . Críoch bhrionglóid álainn. Tús nua! Tá seoladh oifigiúil an albaim, libh go léir ag canadh air, dar ndóigh, ag teacht an chéadaoin beag seo. Níl ach seachtain againn! Toisc gur tamaill fada é ó a bhíomar ag seinm agus ag canadh le chéile tá cleachtadh amháin eile le bheith againn ionas go mbeimid in ann an slua a WOWáil ar an gcéadaoin… agus leis an fhírinne a rá airím uaim sibh! An gcuimhníonn sibh an spraoi dochreidte ‘s banter álainn a bhí againn ag tús mí iúil? Ní dhéanfaidh mé dearmad riamh air! Seo ár ndeis é a bheith againn don uair deirneach riamh … sa Chonradh ag 7.30 an domhnach beag seo. Le bhur dtoill bígí ann! Tá níos mó ná cleachtadh i gceist leis. Tá sé tábhachtach go mbuaileann muid le chéile leis an spiorad ceart a cruthú, an fuinneamh a fháil ar ais, agus muid fhéin a dhíriú isteach ar an bhfeachtas poiblíochta atáimid chun cur i idir an deireadh seachtain ‘s oíche chéadaoin.

Mar sin, seo plean na crinnithe. Breathnaigh air, bí ag smaoineamh agus bí réidh le do smaoineamh a roinnt ar an oíche, má tá aon agat.

1: Cleachtadh amhráin – Ní thógfaidh sé seo ró-fhada. Chaitheamar go leor ama air cheanna féin. ach bheadh sé go deas é a bheith go maith ar an oíche. Aon smaointí agaibh snas a chur leis!?

2: Beidh ceoil eile ar an oíche (na hamhráin eile atá ar an albam agus amhráinithe ó éinne eile atá ag iarraidh – grúpa traid) Má tá tú ag iarraidh rud éigin a sheinm ar an oíche, nó má tá tú ag iarraidh trad a sheinm le na ceoilteoirí ar an dlúthdhiosca is féidir é a phlé agus cleachtadh beag a dhéanamh!

3: Labhairt faoi feachtas poiblíocht. Tá muid anois ag fáil poiblíocht. Beidh alt sa Herald amárach faoi liom fhéin ag labhairt (bfhéidir Aoine). Tá alt ó Maitiú agus Reinhard ag teacht amach sa Journal.ie. Tá alt san Irish Times website faoi ag teacht ar an deireadh seachtaine. Tá an Daily Mail ag scríobh faoi. Agus tá súil againn go mbeidh rud éigin san Indo chomh maith.

Tá roinnt ard tagtha air ar Raidio na Gaeltachta, Raidio na Life agus Tá Maitiú le bheith ag labhairt faoi ar cúpla clár eile. Ach tá níos mó ag teastáil . Le ard a tharaingt air, agus ar an launch táimid ag iarraidh go ndírfidh gach éinne isteach air ar líne (ach go háirithe Twitter) ag aon am amháin – Deirim Oíche / Tráthnóna Luain – ionas go mbeidh sé trending. Ansin piocfaidh na meáin suas air níos mó. Chomh maith le sin cabhróidh sé má táimid ag roinnt links ó na haltanna a bheidh thuas ar líne.

Chomh maith le seo – tá níos mó poiblíocht ag teastáil le chinntiú go mbeidh slua an-mhór ag an seoladh oíche chéadaoin… a thógann mé go dtí mo phointe dheirneach

4: Oíche Chéadaoin. Más féidir linn brú an-mhór a chur ar dhaoine teacht bheadh sé go hálainn. Má thógann gach dream-boater beirt, sin 60 ar a laghad cheanna féin. Táimid ag iarraidh send-off ceart a dhéanamh agus an deis is fearr a thabhairt dúinn fhéin ar son Phádraig! Smaoinigh ar an bhfuinneamh atá curtha isteach againn go léir faoin am seo! Caithfimid seoladh ceart a bheith againn. Scaip an scéal, cuir fáilte roimh bhur gcairde ó obair / scoil / ón sráid!

Seo muid réigh.

Feicfimid sibh ar an Domhnach, tá súil agam.

Roinn. Samhlaigh. Déan do dhícheal ar son ár gcara nach bhfuil ann go fóill. Pádraig abú

http://www.amhrandophadraig.com

Andrew

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Hello all, again…

We have finally arrived. The end of a very long journey is here. The end of a beautiful dream. And a new beginning is coming. The official launch of the album, with all of you singing on it of course, is coming up next Wednesday. We only have a week. Seeing as it has been such a long time since we all sang together we have decided to have one last practice, for the good old times, and so that we can WOW the crowd on Wednesday… and to be honest, I miss you all. Do you remember the incredible fun and amazing banter we had at the beginning of July. I will never forget it. This is our opportunity to dream it all up again as Bono himself said once. … So … for the last time, in the Conradh at 7.30 this Sunday, we will meet. Please Please be there. There is much more than practice on the agenda. It is important that we all meet up to create and re-find our spirit, to re-energise and to focus in on a publicity campaign that we are going unleash on the nation from the weekend to Wednesday .

And so, the meeting plan – Please look at it, think about it and be ready with any suggestions

1:Practice the song – This will not take too long. We spent a lot of time on it already, but that said it’d be nice to have it down on the night . Any ideas on polishing it?

2: There will be more music on the night (the other songs from the album and songs from anyone else that would like) – perhaps trad players would like to play a few tunes together. If you would like to play anything on the night let us know, or get together and practice on Sunday.

3: Talk about Publicity Campaign . We are now getting attention in the media. There will be an article in the Herald tomorrow or on Friday.. Maitú and Reinhard have pieces for the Irish times online coming out at the weekend. There is a piece coming out in the journal. There is going to be a piece in the Daily Mail. We hope the Indo are going to cover it also. .

It has received a lot of attention on Raidio na Gaeltachta and Raidio na Life and Maitiu is going to be speaking on a few other programmes. . But we need more. In order to draw attention to it, and the Launch… we need to focus in on it online and on the English language media also (especially on Twitter) at the same time. This is going to be a coordinated effort, now. probably Monday Evening.. we need to get the launch and the song trending. Then, the media will pick up on it more.

We need to ensure that there will be a big crowd at the launch on Wednesday… which takes me to my last point

4: Wednesday night. If we can all put huge pressure on everyone we know, that’d be amazing. . If every dream-boater were to bring two people, that is 60 already at least. We want a proper send off for this. We want to give ourselves, and thus – Pádraig the best opportunity. Think about all the effort and energy you have already put in. We must launch this big shtyle. Spread the word, invite your mates from school / work / the street.

Here we go.

We will see you Sunday, I hope.

Share. Imagine. Do your utmost for our friend who isn’t here, yet. Up Pádraig!!

http://www.amhrandophadraig.com

Andrew

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Pádraig had three visitors over from Dublin tonight – well, two from Dublin and one who had travelled overnight on the long distance bus Marseilles – Oslo from Brussels (going back tonight). I really can’t find words to express my admiration for what Pádraig’s friends are doing for him. It is just amazing.

Talking about amazing things – the journal.ie tonight posted an update on Pádraig, the Dreamboat, and the launch of the album. It was posted just about two hours ago. A few minutes ago, when I checked, it had 10.444 views.

When we left Pádraig tonight, he was doing well. He is breathing on his own again, and while there was still some bleeding following the operation the day before yesterday, the doctors in the UKE say that they are not worried about it, and that it will stop. He is still in ICU and will remain there at least for the weekend which is good – he really is being look after there very well. We know that if anything unforeseen should happen, he’ll get the best of care provided by whatever specialist doctor might be needed.

Tomorrow is going to be the first of advent: four weeks of hope and expectation.

From around the world, people connected by their friendship and love for Pádraig have been sending their best wishes and prayers to him over the past few days. He knows that he is in the best company anybody could ever wish and hope for, in the company of so many people, especially so many amazing young people, who are offering him their strong, strong support – the kind that is like water under the keel of his dreamboat.

Please invite your friends and family to next Wednesday’s launch of the song, Dreamboat, and the CD, Amhrán do Phádraig, in Dublin’s Grand Social Club at 8pm!

Here is the (very rough) line-up for the launch:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Thank you to Eoin for the poster!)

Today, they had started before we even knew. He is always last in the operating theatre, normally. Not today. They brought him down to the operating theatre by 11:30am. It took a long time for him to come back at around 4:30. A long time.

The operation was a success, just a small issue with a catheter they fixed. He is on a respirator but they have already started to wean him off. He has opened his eye and so far is keeping well.

It was a long day, with loads of flash backs from the days of almost a year ago.

I am feeling emptied, drained physically. But it’s over and done.

This was his last big operation. It’ll take him some days to get fully over it. But Pádraig has taken the first big step. He’ll get through his, no bother. I told him that this morning I signed the rental agreement for the bigger apartment he’ll be moving into with us in just a few weeks time. Really, none of us can wait for the day.

Thank you for all your thoughts, good wishes, tweets, messages, prayers, and candles. Thank you.