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This is Nancy, Patrick’s wife.  Firstly, please know that I am so completely grateful to all of you who are expressing your concern and support and prayers!  Your comments and emails are my lifeline.  I like to read about all the people who have known Patrick or have been influenced or touched by him in some way.  I want to personally respond to each and every one of you who have written to me, but I’m not so sure I will be able to, at least in the next few days.

Patrick is a beautiful man and father.  It simply seems surreal to me as I look at his strong body lying completely motionless in his hospital bed.  How can this be?  This is the man that can never sit still for a single moment–always on the go.  It’s so very difficult to see him lying helpless and not being able to gather him up in my arms and hold him and make him all better.  With his need for complete low stimulation, I can barely touch his hand or even whisper to him.

Pat is in excellent hands at Memorial Hospital ICU.  The physicians and nurses are top-notch, which helps me when I need to be away from his bedside and with our 4 children.

This has been Patrick’s most critical day so far.  The pressure on his brain is dangerously high, his temperature is up, and his blood pressure is low.  The fact that he’s in such excellent physical shape is aiding him right now.  He has always been so careful about his health.

Many people have asked how they can help.  The biggest thing for me right now is the bicycle/road safety issue in our community.  It is simply unacceptable.  As a driver, I know how frustrating and even maddening it can be when I’m in a hurry and suddenly come up on a cyclist which forces me to completely slow down, wait for all oncoming traffic to clear, and give a wide margin.  As a concerned citizen with pertinent issues like fitness, environment, global warming, and high gas prices, I want to limit my driving and bicycle where I can.  I want my children to be able to bicycle to the library, nearby store, friend’s house, etc.  Right now, in our Michiana community, it is not safe.

If you’d like to help me and Patrick right now, please consider how we can make this community more bicycle-friendly and bicycle-safe; a place where both cyclists and drivers can peacefully and safely co-exist.  To begin with, community awareness needs to be raised.  I want Patrick’s accident to be the catalyst that brings about important changes.  Brainstorm what can be done.  Please consider writing to the South Bend Tribune’s opinion page on this issue.  Here is the contact info:

Voice of the People c/o
The South Bend Tribune
225 W. Colfax Ave.
South Bend, IN 46626

E-mail: vop@sbtinfo.com
Fax: (574)236-1765

Please continue to write comments to me.  I need them.

Thank you, all!

Love,

Nancy