Thanks for the update.
That is great news! Please let us know what we can do to help. Cheerleading is nice, but if you need more than that let us know.
Yes, thank you for the news. I still think of him often.
I’m glad to hear there’s some more progress, especially with swallowing. I’m hoping for continued good results for you.
Awesome – very glad things are moving along nicely.
You hear that, Pat? Still looking forward to your return post!
You Ruggers are awesome! Glad to hear the news!
We’ll take whatever baby steps we can. I just realized his accident was over two years ago. It’s been one helluva journey for all of you. Thanks for keeping us updated. We think of him often. 
Thanks for the update. It’s good to hear he’s doing better every day.
SantoRuggersMom,
I sent you a PM–please check, and let me know. Thanks!
Tripler
From Afghanniland
Tripler - Have you seen any afghan hounds in Afghanistan?
{/hijack}
StG
Just a quick note to say Pat is well. Still chubby;-) (Chubby in clinical terms, I guess!) I was speaking with the dietician and we discussed Pat’s weight. He said and I quote, “He has quite a long g-tube due to his abundant abdominal girth.” I asked if he meant that Pat was chubby? He said yes! He sounds like a young man and I appreciated his avoidance of the word fat! Ha, ha!
We are working with a speech therapist at UNM who is arranging a new swallow study and an appointment with a new therapist specializing in Adaptive and Augmentive Communication (AAC) devices. I often wonder why each step is so difficult. I didn’t realize there was such a person/field dedicated to this. I knew it was out there, just didn’t know how to access it. I have been wracking my brain, researching and doing everything under the sun to help Pat communicate for two years.
The patient or in this case, his advocate, has to initiate every phase of recovery. It is such a difficult job. Even with a TBI case manager, we still do much of the legwork ourselves to find resources for Pat. I don’t know if I’ve expressed before the difficulty of living in a rural area and obtaining services. (I’m sure I have, it is my daily complaint!!)
We are currently doing PT ourselves since Pat’s former PT has moved on at our urging. We are doing everything possible to carry out the recommendations from the wonderful speech therapist at UNM and the awesome one at Craig Hospital. And we may be getting an occupational therapist - that will be such a Godsend.
I am thankful everyday that Pat was able to go to Craig. They are still extremely helpful but since we probably won’t be going up this summer for an eval, we are kind of on our own. We may, however, be able to make the trip in the fall but won’t know for certain for a while.
Okay, I’ve vented!
Pat’s swallowing has improved so much! I’m anxious to get a new swallow study and get him cleared for eating soon. I also can’t wait to see what type of adaptive equipment is available for Pat. Including devices to possibly help him use the computer…
Gotta run. Thanks again for all the caring and support from everyone.
I lied - not really a “quick note”.
We’ll forgive you! 
Thanks for keeping us updated – send lots of hugs from us all.
It sounds so encouraging! Thanks for the continuous updates.
{{{**Santo **and family}}}
I know I haven’t posted much to this thread, I don’t deal with friends getting hurt or sick very well and Pat was a friend so I sort of just went quiet, but thank you so much again for posting these updates.
Good luck and I hope things continue to progress.
Thanks so much for the update! I can’t wait for him to get back on the web!
Have you seen this?
I thought of Pat when I saw this:
The invention that unlocked a locked-in artist.
Here’s the website with more information and the DIY instructions. EyeWriter Initiative
This is great; I loved the enthusiasm of this guy!
This week Pat had a visitor who asked if he could write. I thought it was incredible that we hadn’t asked him to do so. One of our caregivers reminded me that she had tried to help him write early on, but I guess he wasn’t ready at the time. When we gave him a marker this week, he immediately started moving his hand on paper. We are changing course now and starting with the basics. We’ve hired a teacher who will be coming in a few days a week to help us and so far she’s been really great. A little unorthodox, but the results are awesome!
Pat has a page on Facebook (Prayers for Patrick) that was started by one of his friends when he was newly injured. I tend to post updates there more often:
Best wishes to all.
Oh, terrific! Thanks much for letting us know – just sent in my request.