Update from Kevin

Hi Everyone,

          I will begin with a sincere apology

for the delay in making an update

for so long.  We are currently

working on a plan to ensure that

we keep everyone up to date with

what is going on with the Pacman

in a much more timely manner.

          Well it is February and Pat

has been home for about ten months

 now.  The addition is completely

finished and has made all of our lives

much easier.  We are able to spend

more time with Pat and we have also

returned to more normal routines. 

For that, we are grateful.  (I won’t

be upset if I never have to drive up to New Hampshire in some snow storm to visit Pat at Crotched Mountain again!)

It is amazing how great the addition came out.  Pat’s place has a huge amount of space, giving him ample room for therapies and treatments and also privacy when needed.  He is much more comfortable and we are able to do more with him now that there is space to move around and store all the different pieces of equipment my mom has acquired.  Other families we have met during our experience who are in similar situations have actually come to our house to look at the addition so they can model changes to their own homes after ours.  It is a testament to all of the work that everyone put into the project.  The house is perfect and has removed so many struggles and issues we faced in the house before it was done.  For everyone that helped out, thank you.

We have recognized many positive changes in Pat since he has come home and we are sure to continue seeing great gains.  He is recognizably happier and more comfortable now that he is living in the comfort of his own home.  He sleeps soundly and has benefited from a flexible schedule.  One great challenge with acute care facilities is that it is incredibly difficult to run a rehab program for a large number of patients whose bodies won’t adhere to strict schedules.  Now that Pat is home it is easier to make changes to schedules to suit how Pat is feeling or anything else that may come up.  He goes for treatments to different places and receives other therapies at the house.  Everything from massage to his weekly bike workout with Breeze has helped Pat grow stronger.  We are grateful for the help of Pat’s aid, Chrissy, who works with him all day and pushes him to improve.  This has been truly beneficial to his recovery and we are saddened to know that because Chrissy is such a talented young nurse, we will not be able to retain her services for the rest of Pat’s recovery.  Pat has an unimaginable amount of support and you can be sure he wants, as he always has, to please his fans.

Those who are able to watch him laugh get to feel the hope and confidence that increases our own certainty of Pat’s recovery.  Pat’s humor hasn’t changed since his accident, which may be a good or a bad thing, and he still finds “inappropriate” humor to be the most amusing.  Pac still loves getting visitors and though he isn’t talking yet, we know he seems comfortable sitting around a group of friends who are in conversation.  (If you haven’t gotten a chance to come by, it is a great time to come and see the finished addition).  Brett is usually around cooking up something fabulous in the kitchen or giving Pat something interesting to watch on his computer.  You don’t want to miss either.

The upstairs apartment, which will be Pacman’s down the road, once he becomes more independent, is now being occupied by our good friend Lauren Geibel and her dog Tawney.  It is great having an extra nurse around the house and she has been an asset to the family and the soccer team (she is a sniper from anywhere around the box).  Tawney, a therapy dog by nature, has been a new friend for Pat and the Brady Boy.

As usual, Marianne has not stopped investigating possible treatment and therapy opportunities for Pat.  Her dedication and efforts to find new studies is truly incredible.  Her newest plan has recently been cemented.  Pat will be going to New Orleans at the end of March to participate in a program that utilizes decompression chamber therapy to improve brain function.  Pat will go for 4 weeks and we are expecting to see some positive results from the trip.  Brett, Meg and her boyfriend, Jimmy, will go to help out my Mom and Chrissy on the adventure.  (It is my hope that Jim and Brett steal Pacman for a trip to the French Quarter and hopefully help him watch girls earn beads.)

Things are certainly moving forward.  We are so proud of Pat for how far he has come and we are expecting great gains in the future.  Pat is a fighter and we know he is going to keep pushing himself every day to get better and make this ordeal a thing of the past.  We thank everyone for giving so much support throughout this journey.  It has been instrumental in getting us to the point we are at today and will always remind Pat of how many people care about his recovery.  The support we have had defines the goodness in people that make great things possible.  Pat is going to be a case to remember and will make all of our efforts worthwhile.

 

Thanks from all the Killeleas,

 

 

Kev