# Santo Rugger (RIP Santo Rugger) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 6, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579 "2009-05-06T19:54:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 21
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/401 "2009-08-07T03:59:01Z")
Well that certainly rocks that he can now be upright. May you all be blessed with a rapid recovery. Thanks for keeping us posted. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2009, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/402 "2009-08-07T14:38:32Z")
Good news, indeed! Thanks for the continued updates. ---
**Author:** ![SantoRuggersMom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@SantoRuggersMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SantoRuggersMom)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/403 "2009-08-08T04:24:22Z")
Santo gave a “thumb’s up” to the speech therapist today. He was looking very handsome in his Bronco colors (when in Denver… but it was purely coincidental). He has three hours of therapy Monday through Friday, so it looks like he has the weekend off. Here’s to more good reports next week! ---
**Author:** ![keturah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e95f7d/32.png) [@keturah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keturah)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/404 "2009-08-08T04:46:40Z")
SR’s mom–you are an amazing mother and I am sure that Pat is plotting the best mothers day and birthday gifts that he will give you for the next couple of decades. Stay strong and know that prayers are being said around the world for the day that he can do it. Remember to take care of yourself as well. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/405 "2009-08-08T05:03:27Z")
I apologize if I’m asking too many questions but I feel it’s still not clear to me from what you’ve said whether or not he is capable of speech. You said he gave a thumbs-up to the speech instructor, from which I was assuming that he had to resort to use of his hand to communicate because he was unable to vocalize. But earlier you had said that he spoke words, such as “easy now” to his nurses. So can he only talk some of the time, or what? Can you communicate with him via a yes-or-no system? Like, tell him to blink his eyes once for “yes” and twice for “no,” and then ask him a series of questions? ---
**Author:** ![SantoRuggersMom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@SantoRuggersMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SantoRuggersMom)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/406 "2009-08-09T04:53:58Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I apologize if I’m asking too many questions but I feel it’s still not clear to me from what you’ve said whether or not he is capable of speech. You said he gave a thumbs-up to the speech instructor, from which I was assuming that he had to resort to use of his hand to communicate because he was unable to vocalize. But earlier you had said that he spoke words, such as “easy now” to his nurses. So can he only talk some of the time, or what? > > Can you communicate with him via a yes-or-no system? Like, tell him to blink his eyes once for “yes” and twice for “no,” and then ask him a series of questions? Because recovery from a TBI is not linear, we have seen different responses at different times. Once he repeated the word yawn after I said it to him; he has not done that again for me. He follows commands when he darn well feels like it. We have not yet established a form of communication with him. The speech therapist asked him to give her a thumbs up and he did it twice for her. I have to tell you, this was an emotional moment for us. She asked him to point at me and he did so. He was tired by the end of the session and refused to do anything further. Besides the business of rehab, he is still dealing with several medical issues that take a tremendous amount of energy. It is a long grueling process and we are learning that you can’t judge progress by what happens each day. He does vocalize however, so when he’s ready to speak he has the ability. The last few days he’s been humming. Not sure what that’s about. ---
**Author:** ![Total\_Lost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e56c9b/32.png) [@Total\_Lost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Total_Lost)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/407 "2009-08-09T14:48:53Z")
> [@SantoRuggersMom](#): > > Santo gave a “thumb’s up” to the speech therapist today. He was looking very handsome in his Bronco colors (when in Denver… but it was purely coincidental). He has three hours of therapy Monday through Friday, so it looks like he has the weekend off. Here’s to more good reports next week! I like this!!! Reminds me about the feature on facebook. If you like a comment or a status, you can post a “I like this”-remark. The symbol is a “thumb’s up”. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2009, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/408 "2009-08-15T14:43:16Z")
Are there any updates, **SR Mom**? StG ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/409 "2009-08-16T01:55:08Z")
I look forward to when you tell us he’s flipped off someone who’s ticked all of you off. 🙂 Thank you for the updates! ---
**Author:** ![SantoRuggersMom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@SantoRuggersMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SantoRuggersMom)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/410 "2009-08-16T05:02:40Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > I look forward to when you tell us he’s flipped off someone who’s ticked all of you off. > 🙂 > Thank you for the updates! I’m waiting for that day too! I can’t say enough about Craig Rehab Hospital. The entire staff is wonderful. They are taking care of several medical issues that weren’t detected in New Mexico. He is responding well to therapy. They are fast-tracking the removal of his trach; maybe a few weeks. We still have lots of hope. It is estimated that he will be there until the end of October. ---
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/411 "2009-08-18T04:32:45Z")
Glad to hear things are going well, and that the staff has made you so comfortable with Pat’s care. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/412 "2009-08-18T21:51:30Z")
that sounds like pat is in gread hands. it must be a big relief for y’all, like you can stop holding your breath, and take a nice deep breath. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/413 "2009-08-19T03:02:12Z")
Apologies if this is a sensitive subject (okay, that’s a stupid qualifier- of course it’s a sensitive subject), but would you mind sharing his overall prognosis? In other words, is it possible for him to recover completely? Will he be able to play rugby again, etc.? I totally understand if you don’t want to discuss it. ---
**Author:** ![SantoRuggersMom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@SantoRuggersMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SantoRuggersMom)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/414 "2009-08-24T00:13:07Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Apologies if this is a sensitive subject (okay, that’s a stupid qualifier- of course it’s a sensitive subject), but would you mind sharing his overall prognosis? > > In other words, is it possible for him to recover completely? Will he be able to play rugby again, etc.? > > I totally understand if you don’t want to discuss it. The difficulty with a TBI is that each one is different. Santo will have to write his own story. The MRI’s show that he can recover. We are still extremely hopeful and this week he’s improved. The trach was removed Thursday; a big milestone. On Friday he was in bed turned to his right side. I told him that I would read to him, but he would have to turn to his left. He quickly turned his head toward me. It’s apparent that he is in a lot less pain, which frees his brain up for more important stuff. All in all, a very good week indeed! ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/415 "2009-08-24T00:26:25Z")
Yay! That is good news indeed! Thanks so much for continuing with these updates – Pat is lucky to have such a great mom. (I hope you’ve got people in your life who are doing some nurturing on you – this has got to be a brutal ordeal for you as well.) ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/416 "2009-08-24T00:28:52Z")
Whoa! Excellent news! Glad to hear he’s improving. Continued good thoughts for the whole family. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/417 "2009-08-24T00:30:40Z")
**Santo Ruggers Mom** , That’s awesome. I took a video of an explosive shot we did, and if you think he’d like a copy, I can email it to you. PM me, if you think he’d like it. Tripler I’m pullin’ for my explosive bretheren. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/418 "2009-08-24T00:49:38Z")
It’s so encouraging to hear about the continued progress. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/419 "2009-08-24T01:06:25Z")
It’s great to hear that Pat is healing up, hopefully once his body is done healing his mind won’t be far behind. Thanks for keeping us updated. ---
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/420 "2009-08-24T02:22:04Z")
Is there an address in Denver we can send cards and whatnot to? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579.md?page=22)