Santo Rugger (RIP Santo Rugger)

[Spice_Weasel]

Hard to believe it’s been over three years. I am so happy to hear that he is making continual progress. Santo must be an extraordinary person because he has such an extraordinary family.

[rocking_chair]

so great to hear. i bet things will be moving along at a faster clip now that there is quicker and easier way for him to communicate!

[Shirley_Ujest]

A buzzer. He can go on Jeopardy!

I am not on the boards much as before , but I think of Pat daily.

[Malacandra]

Always good to hear good news about Santo.

[joyfool]

That is so awesome for Santo! I’m thrilled he’s continuing to improve and I, also, keep him and his family in my thoughts. Looking forward to more updates.

[Bear_Nenno]

I was just thinking about Santo Rugger today and decided to search this thread to see the latest update. Had seen any since last year. I am glad to see he is improving, and that updates have been coming. Let him know that he’s always on our minds.

[Quartz]

I too am glad that he’s improving.

[Snowboarder_Bo]

I got to thinking about Santo and his family today and I realized I hadn’t seen this thread pop up in my subscriptions in quite a while.

It’s been a few days shy of a year since SantoRuggersMom posted here, and more than 7 months since anyone posted about anything from his Facebook page.

I hope he and the entire Rugger family are doing well; he certainly seemed to be making steady progress in the last few updates we did have.

I know I’m not alone within the Straight Dope community and so I say: we remember you, Santo and Mom and Dad and therapist and intern and everyone else involved, and we miss you all.

[Hal_Briston]

Bizarre…last night I dreamt that we hadn’t seen any updated on Rugger in ages, and when I woke up I thought “I’m going to bump the SD thread this morning and see how he’s doing”. Beaten to the punch.

Here’s hoping the lack of updates is because there’s simply been way to much progress to properly document!

[Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker]

@Snowboarder_Bo

. . .It’s been a few days shy of a year since SantoRuggersMom posted here, and more than 7 months since anyone posted about anything from his Facebook page. . . .

There are some more recent updates in the facebook group his mother linked to above.

[Ellen_Cherry]

I would love an update! I do think of our Rugger fairly frequently and hope he continues to make progress.

[Typo_Knig]

SantoRuggersMom posted the following to the Facebook group on Sunday (04/21/2013):

@SantoRuggersMom on Facebook

The weather was finally nice enough to take Pat for a walk today! He loved it, but not more than Jinger who was thrilled and trying out her “new” and improved hip. This evening Pat coughed very politely to alert me that his DVD episode of MASH had ended. Then he coughed VERY LOUDLY to let me know that I put the same one on that he had just finished watching! Some things never change…Keep us in your prayers - Pat is very close to being approved for the in-home waiver program. May 1 is our target date and we should find out this week. Our new motto - “We will make it work!”

and

@SantoRuggersMom on Facebook

Our “motto” changes to fit the circumstances. Usually it is for insurance companies and doctors who tell us no! It has been “Live to fight another day” and “No blood no foul” (or fowl, sometimes!). I’ve been told so many things recently about what we can’t do on this waiver program, but I am determined to make it work!!

Every time I think they’ve maxed out my respect-o-meter, they raise the scale and do it again.

[Oslo_Ostragoth]

Can anyone explain what this “waiver” thing is about?

[Typo_Knig]

More from SantoRuggersMom via the Facebook group:

@SantoRuggersMom on Facebook

Thank you all for the prayers and well wishes! And thank God Patrick got approved for the waiver program! I just found out today and we are so thrilled!! Now we have the problem of hiring additional caregivers ASAP (a good problem to have, but a tough one nonetheless). If you know of anyone in Grants who would like to come work with an handsome rugger, please let me know!!! Now please focus your thoughts and prayers on finding good, reliable people who really want to help us help Pat to improve!

That’s Grants, New Mexico.

I asked her what we here at the SDMB could do to help, and she said:

@SantoRuggersMom on Facebook

We need “boots on the ground” as they say ( I think that applies here). You can ask the SDMB for prayers and positive vibes that we will get tons of awesome applicants ASAP!! And you are right, Pat has a certain charm that attracts people even though he can’t speak:)

[swampbear]

@Oslo_Ostragoth

Can anyone explain what this “waiver” thing is about?

I am assuming she is speaking of a Medicaid Home and Community Based waiver. Don’t know if this will help but here’s a link to an explanation of Medicaid Waivers.

[Typo_Knig]

Updates yesterday on the Facebook group, shared with permission of SantoRuggersMom

@SantoRuggersMom on Facebook

Pat’s doing so great with his swallow and got very positive comments from the ENT doc on the cleanliness of his nostrils It’s the small things that make us happy!! He’s also following commands well and has a cool new “eye-blink” switch that he’s figuring out. So far, a great summer…Lots more work to do. Positive thoughts and prayers still much appreciated.

@SantoRuggersMom on Facebook

I almost forgot - Pat has mastered grasping a small, soft ball, picking it up and bringing it towards his chin and back down to his tray. Today I asked him to hand it to me and he brought his arm over towards me!

She also said “It helps to have lots of positive thoughts coming Pat’s way.” Keep the positive throughs going, Dopers!

[purplehorseshoe]

Typo Knig: Thanks for letting us know.

SantoRugger: Good luck, buddy!

[SantoRuggersMom]

@swampbear

I am assuming she is speaking of a Medicaid Home and Community Based waiver. Don’t know if this will help but here’s a link to an explanation of Medicaid Waivers.

You are correct. He is on the Mi Via self-directed waiver. It is an awesome program. In Pat’s case, it allows us to keep him at home instead of taking him to a skilled nursing facility:) It’s for those who require long-term care - in our case anyway.

Thanks to all of you for the prayers and positive thoughts. We continue to work hard to help Pat. He makes it easy because he’s still rugger tough!

[Really_Not_All_That_Bright]

Hi hi hi! Tell him we miss him!

[ShadowFacts]

It’s great to hear about SantoRugger’s progress. Keep it up, man!