It’s good to hear the progress, SRM! As usual, Pat and the whole Rugger family remain in my thoughts.
Not too many questions at all. Pat is very contracted on the left side, but has more movement on that side usually - i.e. he moves his left foot, leg and toes extensively. When I ask him to wiggle his toes, he always moves the left toes. He moves his left arm up, down and across his chest. He doesn’t move the fingers on this hand, but uses his thumb a lot. He will give a thumbs up and can touch his chin and lip on command if he is positioned correctly-meaning he can’t always reach if his arm isn’t bent just right. He can grasp things with his left thumb as well. We have a stuffed, 2-inch soccer ball he plays with and will follow around his chest with his left hand, trying to get it back in his grasp. He will put his lips together after we put lip balm on them. In the beginning, I asked him to do this - now he does it automatically. Over time, I’ve asked him to wiggle his right toe. He could do it ever so slightly. I asked the other day and he wiggled the entire right foot! I was surprised!
When I ask Pat questions, I find it difficult for me to discern one or two blinks. I always ask him to close his eyes and keep them closed if he is comfortable, etc. It seems to be reliable most of the time. We are working on additional ways to communicate with Pat’s speech therapist. She thinks that we may be able to put something on his headset that he could activate by moving his head to the left/right.
Hope this helps… Pat definitely hears us and responds. Sometimes he blinks several times in what I interpret as agreement. It could be disagreement, but that’s even better.
I am in awe at the never-give-up in the whole Rugger family.
This is all wonderful news! Hey, maybe five years from now, he’ll have a spot on I Shouldn’t Be Alive and get rich or something! 
Seriously, though, I can’t believe it’s been two years since the accident, but I can’t tell you how happy I am that he’s progressing!
Hey, let him know that a few of my (female) friends saw the picture from his facebook page a few weeks ago (I don’t even remember the context), and they universally expressed a desire to, and I quote, “velcro themselves to those biceps”.
I’m sure he will appreciate that!
Some days are way tougher than others. But something always happens to lift us up and help us continue in the fight to help Pat recover. We appreciate the continued support from the SDMB.
Pat had a great week! He was at 90 degrees in the standing frame for 20 minutes without any issues. He is also able to push the keys on a small musical keyboard with his left thumb. After a song finishes, he pushes the next key to hear another one. This is phenomenal! He is also able to push the spacebar on his laptop. Just a matter of time before he gets back on-line!!
We are taking him to an osteopath this week and are really looking forward to finding out how Pat might benefit from this type of treatment. I really don’t quite understand how it works, but it’s definitely worth a shot. Check it out here -
Fantastic news, SRM!! Another set of eyes w/ a different background can only bring a new perspective and hope for future treatment options. Best of luck to you all, we’re pulling for you!
Mrs. Tripler
This is awesome! I’m glad to know that Pat keeps recovering in the most phenomenal ways. I know each step is one in the right direction. Can’t wait for him to be back posting with us!!
Whee!! 
Wow! This is truly excellent news!
Woohoo! Very glad to hear it – and as always, thanks so much for the updates!
Go Santo and Family!!! 
Way to keep moving the ball down the pitch, Pat!
I’m pretty sure he was trying to vote for Idle.
This is great news!
Go, Santo! You’re in my thoughts…
Hot diggity!
Maybe he’s trying to respond to an SDMB post? 
Wonderful news!
I’ve been following Pat’s journey from the beginning but never really felt like I had anything to say, except ‘Good Luck’, and that sounded to me awfully trite.
But hearing this latest news, I’m sending a WHOOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOO from Downunder, and hoping, wishing that his recovery from here on in goes in leaps and bounds (metaphorically speaking of course…the literal leaps and bounds are probably a good while down the track, but anyway )
Go Pat and Pat’s mum!!