# 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:** 22
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/421 "2009-08-24T12:49:04Z")
> [@SantoRuggersMom](#): > > 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. So the question now is, what did you read to him? Was it the Dope? or was it just dopey? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/422 "2009-08-24T13:17:01Z")
I haven’t looked at this thread for a while, it’s so good to see that **Santo’s** making such good progress. He’ll be owing you all kinds of favours after this! ---
**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 24, 2009, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/423 "2009-08-24T15:58:53Z")
> [@SantoRuggersMom](#): > > 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. Thank you for answering, though I think I speak for everyone when I say you should feel free to tell us to piss off when we get _too_ nosy. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/424 "2009-08-24T16:10:30Z")
Awesome, the trach coming out is a very good thing. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/425 "2009-08-24T17:04:35Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Awesome, the trach coming out is a very good thing. And the MRI results, too. ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/426 "2009-08-24T18:04:01Z")
Huzzah Santo! Good news is scarce in our world, but welcome indeed. We’re still in your corner Santo and family! ---
**Author:** ![SantoRuggersMom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@SantoRuggersMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SantoRuggersMom)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/427 "2009-08-26T18:37:19Z")
> [@BlueKangaroo](#): > > Is there an address in Denver we can send cards and whatnot to? That would be great! You can send cards to: Craig Hospital Patrick Garcia 3425 South Clarkson Street Englewood, CO 80113 ---
**Author:** ![SantoRuggersMom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@SantoRuggersMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SantoRuggersMom)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/428 "2009-08-26T18:46:07Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Thank you for answering, though I think I speak for everyone when I say you should feel free to tell us to piss off when we get _too_ nosy. 😉 Far from it! I wish I knew what the prognosis is… I would definitely sleep better at night. I wish the doctor’s knew! I try to put it in perspective - I think of when he left the trauma center; he could only open his left eye! Now he is responding to commands and is starting to have more control over moving his legs and arms. The speech therapist is working to establish a form of communication with him. People have told me to only worry about today. Only deal with what’s happening now. I try to do that, otherwise I would drive myself crazy. We are blessed with good friends and family who help keep us on track. We have good days and bad days. Lately, they are mostly good! ---
**Author:** ![SantoRuggersMom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@SantoRuggersMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SantoRuggersMom)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/429 "2009-08-26T18:49:38Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > So the question now is, what did you read to him? Was it the Dope? or was it just dopey? 😛 We have been reading a book that he was reading prior to the accident - Guns, Germs & Steel (or some such thing). I chose to read an excert from the Ken Follet novel I was reading - Jackdaws. I told him it was an historical novel about female resistance fighters in France during WWII. I think that’s what did the trick. It does have some violent parts including things being blown up! ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/430 "2009-08-26T18:51:22Z")
> [@SantoRuggersMom](#): > > We are blessed with good friends and family who help keep us on track. We have good days and bad days. Lately, they are mostly good! That’s great news. I miss Pat and hope that he will someday be able to come back here, but in the mean time it’s good to know that he is making steady progress. And the rehab facility sounds great. Thanks so much for keeping us updated. ---
**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 27, 2009, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/431 "2009-08-27T19:23:55Z")
To be able to follow his journey through all this by the up-dates in here… it really means a lot to me. I keep hoping for good news - and we really have been getting a lot of them lately. ---
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/432 "2009-08-29T21:24:47Z")
Thank you for the address and updates. I’m glad to hear Pat’s progressing well. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/433 "2009-08-29T21:32:07Z")
This is awesome news, SRM, and also a great way to keep my trivial (by comparison) problems in perspective. Vamonos Senor Garcia! ---
**Author:** ![SantoRuggersMom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@SantoRuggersMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SantoRuggersMom)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/434 "2009-09-07T05:06:02Z")
Santo had such a good weekend and is making good progress! He continues to respond and follow commands more consistently. He has weekends off from therapy so we try to help him stretch out. This a.m. I asked him if he was tired and wanted to quit stretching, to raise his eyebrows. He didn’t hesitate to raise them! He was also able to give a thumbs up and point his finger for his little brother. We continue to be very hopeful. Thanks for your continued prayers and positive thoughts! ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/435 "2009-09-07T05:23:39Z")
Outstanding! ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/436 "2009-09-07T05:27:30Z")
Great news. If you haven’t already told him, make sure you tell him that the power of the straight dope is pulling for him. We all do care he is one of ours and nobody gets left behind. ---
**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:** [September 7, 2009, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/437 "2009-09-07T05:28:44Z")
That’s _great_ news. He’s still in there. **SRMom** , let me tell you a little story about my mother and her massive hemorraghic stroke. The day after her stroke, the neurologist told us to find a good care facility to put her in, because she was never going to recover. The damage was just too severe. After she got out of intensive care and was able to start therapy, she was dogged. She’d do everything the therapists would give her and have us bring pre-K flashcards and workbooks so she could regain a sense of colours and numbers and the alphabet. After she got out of a week or two oin in-patient, they sent her home and she did out-patient therapy for months. Pretty much every waking hour was spent working in some way. Although she didn’t come through it totally unscathed, this woman who the doctors wanted to write off was able to regain almost all aspects of her former life. They therapists said that most people get frustrated when they don’t see immediate improvement, then give up on therapy. You have to be strong, be bull-headed, and fight for every inch you can take. Ignore the therapists saying that most of the improvement will be made the first month, three months, or whatever. As long as she kept working, she kept improving. Good luck, stay tough, and don’t let him lose heart. If a 70 year old woman can recover from a strove that should’ve easily killed her, your son can do the same. StG ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/438 "2009-09-07T12:55:03Z")
More communication is great news! ---
**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:** [September 7, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/439 "2009-09-07T13:51:51Z")
Thanks for the update. I was just thinking about Pat yesterday when I was down at a rugby tournament in Santa Fe. Hopefully He’ll at least be able to come out and watch us next year if not jump in and play. I’m glad to hear things are still improving. ---
**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:** [September 7, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/440 "2009-09-07T14:26:12Z")
You just can’t keep a good man down. This is all kinds of awesome. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579.md?page=21) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579.md?page=23)