# Santo Rugger (RIP Santo Rugger)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579>\
**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:** 24

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**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/461 "2009-09-16T02:35:34Z")

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I’ll keep you and **Pat** in my prayers.

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**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/462 "2009-09-16T03:02:55Z")

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Sending good, healing thoughts to all of you. We’re all pulling for Pat (and his family!). Thanks, **SantoRuggersMom** , for keeping us updated even during the stressful times.

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**Author:** ![dotchan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@dotchan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dotchan)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/463 "2009-09-16T03:55:37Z")

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Tell Rugger that we’re readying a chorus line of zombie cheerleaders for him. 😃

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**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/464 "2009-09-16T03:57:32Z")

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I’m very sorry to hear about the setback. I hope he’s over it soon!

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**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/465 "2009-09-16T04:55:15Z")

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From our family to yours, many healthy thoughts and hopes for a speedy recovery.

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**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:** [September 16, 2009, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/466 "2009-09-16T11:23:17Z")

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I am keeping Pat and your family in my thoughts.  
Get Better PDQ!

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**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 17, 2009, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/467 "2009-09-17T14:14:29Z")

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C’mon **Santo** , you can beat this!

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**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 17, 2009, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/468 "2009-09-17T14:33:31Z")

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It’s cliche time!

It’s just a small speed bump on the road to recovery.

😃

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**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/469 "2009-09-17T14:57:45Z")

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I’ve avoided posting because nothing ever seems adequate. I’m sure Santo doesn’t know me but I’ve always enjoyed his posts. I was horrified to read about the accident.  
Sending good thoughts your way, Santo–hope this, too, passes, and the news keeps getting better and better 🙂

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**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/470 "2009-09-17T16:41:35Z")

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I’m in Najas shoes ------- Santo, this tired old hooker may not have ever written to you before but I always liked your stuff. From Monroeville PA, zombie capital of the world, direct to Gods ear - all the prayers and love we can send.

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**Author:** ![gurujulp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba9def/32.png) [@gurujulp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gurujulp)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/471 "2009-09-17T16:54:39Z")

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He still owes me a beer!

I need to take a drive down south when he his back up on his feet- I didn’t make it earlier this year…

Keeping an earnest smile lit for you, man!

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**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/472 "2009-09-17T18:40:53Z")

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> [@runner pat](#):
>
> It’s cliche time!
> 
> It’s just a small speed bump on the road to recovery.
> 
> 😃

Indeed!  
While I’ve never been seriously injured the way **Santo** has, I’ve been pretty seriously sick a few times, and had two brushes with death, and I can say this: the road to recovery _never_ seems to be entirely smooth. You make some progress, you have a setback, you make some more progress. . .lather, rinse, repeat.

Meantime, **SantoRugger** and his whole family will stay in my prayers!

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**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/473 "2009-09-17T21:54:05Z")

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Sending more good thoughts Santo’s way.

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**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/474 "2009-09-18T02:27:43Z")

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C’mon, **Santo** , don’t make us…uh…uh…

…have to blow something up to get your attention…and…and…and…uh…come over here and do something about it…  
…yeah, that’s the ticket…😃

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**Author:** ![SantoRuggersMom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@SantoRuggersMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SantoRuggersMom)\
**Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/475 "2009-09-19T03:57:50Z")

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Hi Straight Dopers,

We get excited each day when Pat gets a card from someone in his on-line family. We explain to his nurses and techs that his far-reaching charm enables him to receive cards from people he’s never even met! That really helps keep us going!

Also hard to explain is the fact that Pat has not even spoken a word in almost 5 months and his team thinks so much of them that they each came to visit him while he was in the ICU. He is well loved by so many!!!

Here’s some really good news:

Pat came back to Craig on Thursday. By Friday he was back to his many therapy appointments and doing extremely well! The shunt is doing its job and he is more alert and responsive than ever before. And this is just one day out of ICU! We can’t wait to see what next week brings!!!

Tomorrow Craig Hospital has a Quad Rugby Clinic. We plan to wheel Pat down there so he can check it out. They have so many great activities here. There are even plans for an outing to attend a rugby game in the area. We are looking forward to that!

Anyway it’s good to give you all some GOOD news! Thanks for all the positive thoughts - we can certainly feel them. Santo Rugger gets wide-eyed when I mention the “dopers”!

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**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:** [September 19, 2009, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/476 "2009-09-19T03:59:45Z")

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I’m glad to hear this. So when you say he gets wide-eyed when you mention “the dopers,” I assume that he has the capability to process and understand what is being said to him even though he cannot speak? Are you working out some kind of system where he might be able to communicate without speaking?

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**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 19, 2009, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/477 "2009-09-19T04:28:53Z")

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I’m so glad he’s recovering from his surgery! Post-op pneumonia is scary. I look forward to your report for the coming week.

StG

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**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\
**Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/478 "2009-09-19T04:48:39Z")

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So glad to hear the most recent good news! I’m certain there will be more and more good news in the weeks and months to come!

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**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\
**Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/479 "2009-09-19T05:26:05Z")

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Most excellent news. Thank you again for sharing. The rugby clinic and outing sound like a great time for everyone.

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**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\
**Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santo-rugger-rip-santo-rugger/495579/480 "2009-09-19T17:44:34Z")

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**SantoRuggersMom** , thank you for the update. Good news is always welcome!

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