Photo's from Chris & Kirk Bray of BillyKirk.com and Click here for more of their pictures of Pat.
Dear Friends of Aunt Pat,
Pat & Larry's letter about the event from January 21, 2002.Pat and Larry's Christmas letter from December 2001
Dear Ones,
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and “may God’s blessings float down like soft snowflakes settling lightly on every part of your world.”
Due to a tornado on August 11, 1999, I spent 48 days comatose and I received a brain injury. This freak accident caused aphasia, which limits my speech. The effects are similar to that of a stroke.
I have been working very hard with my rehabilitation, which includes: piano, speech, physical and occupational therapy, horseback therapy, pottery, singing, massage, swimming, craniosacral therapy, weight lifting, skiing (I now ski blue, but pre tornado I skied blacks), brain map, and bicycling. I am intelligent and I understand everything. I practice piano two hours a day and my physical ability is good. I am progressing all the time and stay very BUSY!
The year began on a sad note. My Mom passed away in February after battling eight different types of cancer. Thankfully, it was a peaceful time for her.
Larry and I did a lot of traveling this summer. We went to Ely, Minnesota and then to San Juan, Washington where we sailed in the ocean. Then we traveled back to Colorado where we climbed Pikes Peak.
It was STEEP and VERY HARD, taking 10-11 hours! I did it with the help of God, Dad, and Mom. I am thankful that I don’t need a wheelchair and that my right leg is getting stronger.
At the end of September, the Patty Mac Twister Golf Tournament was held at the Copper Mountain Golf Course. It was a benefit to raise money for rehabilitation. I was the scorekeeper and putter for my team. At the end of the tournament, I received a standing ovation.
I have received a great honor and have been selected to carry the Olympic Torch through a section of Vail on February 1st or 2nd, 2002. We will inform you further when we know the exact time of my run.
Larry is busy finishing kitchen cabinets that he had begun before the tornado. He is working very hard.
I have two women who work as my Independent Life Skills Trainers, (ILST). I have developed a special friendship with Shelly and Patsy. With their help, and the use of my DynaVox (speech machine), my progress continues.
Season’s Greetings and best wishes throughout the New Year. “Thank you very much for the love, prayers and support.”