Update from Megan

Hi Everyone,

 

Once again, we apologize for taking so

long to write another update.  The good

 news is, since it’s been a while since

our last update, we have twice as much

exciting news to share!

 

Our journey to New Orleans was a

success.  My mom and Pat were there

for four weeks!  Jimmy and I were there

for the first two weeks, and Brett and

Chrissy were there for the remainder. 

With the help of our family and friends

we were able to stay comfortably

in corporate housing where not only were we able to easily accommodate all of Pat’s needs, but we were also able to get some sunbathing in by an outdoor pool!  Pat got some rays and enjoyed the smells and tastes of Jimmy’s barbequing in the gorgeous 80 degree weather of Louisiana.  Yes, you read that correctly.  While Pat is not yet eating, we are constantly having him taste different foods, beverages, and ice creams (some he makes it very clear through facial expressions he is not a huge fan of)!

 

We were lucky enough to also have visits from my Dad, Uncle Breeze, Kevin and our Cousin Rachel.  The extra help made it that much easier to take Pat into the city, walk down Bourbon Street, and let him experience New Orleans for the first time the same as us!  While we tried to get Pat to goof off and have as much fun as possible, our trip to New Orleans was also a lot of work on his part.

 

Pat spent two hours a day in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber at a clinic about thirty minutes from our apartment.  We all give him a lot of credit for doing so well because the chamber is relatively small and he can’t verbalize his comfort level.  When in the chamber, he gave the techs and doctor a pretty great smile while tapping his arms and legs to the beat of the music in his headphones (a sure sign that he really is with us).  And to all of Pat’s friends who know how much he loved going to Country Fest every summer, let’s just say it’s now even more obvious he was not there for the music, because during every country song he closed his eyes and napped. :)

 

As we knew going into this new treatment, it is going to be another long road before we see big improvements. But, like my Mom has always said, we are thankful to have that road.  After this first round of treatments we have once again seen a tremendous improvement in Pat’s overall comfort level.  The movement in his arms and legs is much more fluid and the circulation to his feet has finally, after three and a half years, gone almost back to normal!  Although we are extremely happy to see these improvements, because we all know that every little bit counts, we know that continuing this treatment will do amazing things for Pat’s recovery.  Our hope, and Marianne’s newest objective, is to purchase a hyperbaric oxygen chamber for our home.  For all of you who have been keeping up with Pat’s recovery over the past three years, you understand that when my mom sets forth a goal, she meets that goal, no question about it.  Having a chamber in our home would allow us to be much more consistent with Pat’s treatments, leading us to even greater results…. This leads us to our next project.

 

Many of you are probably familiar with Jim Plunkett (Jimmy’s dad).  Yes, everyone, The Jim Plunkett, Cape Cod entertainer, Improper Bostonian, you got it.  If you aren’t familiar with him, which means you’ve probably been living under a rock for the past 35 years, you can learn more about him by visiting his website at www.jimplunkett-music.com  If you’ve ever been to one of his shows you know they are extremely fun, and if you haven’t, well here is your chance! He is kind enough to put on a fundraiser to raise money for Pat’s hyperbaric oxygen chamber.  This won’t be your average fundraiser.  He is going to have it on a Boston Harbor Cruise ship.  Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased at http://www.baystatecruisecompany.com/summer_music.html.  The cruise is September 25th at 8pm.  Boarding begins at 7:30 so feel free to get there a little early.

 

 

Love and thanks from all the Killelea’s!

 

- Meg

 

Click here for some recent photos