Oct 30, 2009 6:36pm
Helping Those With Locked-In Syndrome
EmailTonight's Person of the Week is a reunion story like no other. In 1986 Pat Chawki was a high school baseball player who helped lead his team to a city championship held at Dodger Stadium. Then years later at age 32, he was afflicted with a rare neurological disorder called Locked-In Syndrome. The debilitating disease left Pat unable to walk or speak, but he was still fully cognitive.
High school friend Laurie Green tracked him down after learning of his condition and then started a foundation to help. For more information, visit the Good Girls Give website HERE.
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I am a first time blogger…ever 1this story was so touching that it made this 47 year old man break into tears….Bless those who have put this mans needs before their own and the man that is trapped inside his shell…
Posted by: mitch | October 30, 2009, 7:17 pm 7:17 pm
Laurie Green is an angel. God bless friends like this that remember what is important and the people in their life. This storing brought tears.
Posted by: Jeff Sills | October 30, 2009, 7:26 pm 7:26 pm
A tragic story with a positive outcome now because of Laurie Green. Let’s all assume that people without speech can hear what you say to them, rather than assume that they can’t. Look at the rich encounters that Pat Chawki was denied for nine years because of his disability. SO wrong on so many levels.
Posted by: helen mill | October 30, 2009, 8:06 pm 8:06 pm
Laurie Green truly is an angel!And Pat is truly a very special child of God’s who has inspired more people than he will ever know. He is not a disabled person, he is a person with a physical disability that is doing more to serve God’s will now than he may ever have before. My 24 year old son has been quadriplegic and ventilator dependent for four years as a result of a virus. It breaks my heart that family and friends do not visit him (except for my sister).But we have many many blessings and Pat and Laurie and Pat’s Mom have inspired me!!!! God bless you!!! Nancy
Posted by: Nancy Peetz | October 30, 2009, 8:07 pm 8:07 pm
What a touching story. I just heard about it on ABC World News with Charles Gibson. Thanks Charlie for sharing this with the rest of the world. And thanks to Laurie for not being afraid to get in touch with an old friend from high school and doing what it took to get the much deserved recognition of a disease that many may not know about and doing something to make sure Pat gets the help he needed. Having his children re-enter his life is an absolute miracle, one that all parents who have lost custody of their children should get to experience at least once in their lifetime.
Posted by: Donna | October 30, 2009, 9:03 pm 9:03 pm
I was very struck by this story tonight on ABC news. I was particularly shocked that he had essentially been deserted by family when he needed them most, then along came Laurie Green. Laurie there is a special place for you for eternity. What you have done is give Pat his family and friends back, as well as re-introduce yourself to a man that so desperately needed someone with compassion. If someone can respond and tell me how I can help. Thank you!
Posted by: Rick McHale | October 30, 2009, 9:11 pm 9:11 pm
How can I become “a man that follows girls that give”? Maybe my church, friends & family as well?
I love my children, my family and my friends so very much. I cannot immagine this lonliness. However, because of you, I can see triumph and a possibility
for the positive that is so very needed.
A simple thank you is all that I can offer you but these words are among the most that one can offer next to the word…Love.
Posted by: Joey | October 30, 2009, 10:36 pm 10:36 pm
Thank you all for your comments. They are very much appreciated. Pat is my HERO! The fact that he has been through so much in his life and still can laugh and put a smile on his face is so special to see. Every time I visit him, I share with him all of these messages and they really choke him up. My friend Pat is still the amazing guy he was in high school, just today he gets to feel like a celebrity in his own right. From missing all his FRIENDS for so long to having all of us back in his life and all is new FRIENDS… I hope you can imagine his joy! Pat is in GOOD hands!
LG
Posted by: Laurie Green | October 30, 2009, 11:07 pm 11:07 pm
WOW!!! What superb use of the Person of the Week segment by Charlie Gibson and ABC News.
And to Laurie and Pat, you are both a terrific inspiration. It is unselfish acts of human compassion that restore one’s faith in the human race. Laurie, I agree with the earlier poster, you are an angel. And, Pat, well your courage and inspiration are goals that the rest of us should aspire to in our daily lives. Thanks to the both of you.
Posted by: Curtis | October 30, 2009, 11:59 pm 11:59 pm
Powerful story of love and kindness. I cried.
Posted by: Louis Gray | October 31, 2009, 4:22 am 4:22 am
Thank you to ABC for a well written story and for sharing with us these beautiful people…Pat, Laurie, and all of Pat’s friends and family who are back in his life. I hope the journey ahead will be a wonderful one filled with laughter and companionship and love. Such courage and compassion shown by all these people gives me renewed faith in the human spirit. You certainly made many of us aware of an affliction many of us knew little about. I will certainly do what I can to help this group, and, Pat, you are a remarkable person. There are many, many who love you.
Posted by: Carol | October 31, 2009, 11:27 am 11:27 am
At the end of my life I hope that God will say to me, “Well done, my faithful servant”.
Pat and Laurie, you have already achieved that.
God bless both of you with much joy.
Posted by: ddg | October 31, 2009, 12:25 pm 12:25 pm
What a story. I just told my daughter about it she works at Riley Children’s Hospital (PICU) Indianapolis. I couldn’t remember what Pat had and she said he was probably what you call locked-in. I told her thats what it was. Thank-you Lauire for helping Pat out. I cried when I saw him at the ball game. You are his angel.
Posted by: Sandy | October 31, 2009, 2:45 pm 2:45 pm
Despite this really touching and very inspirational story, which I much appreciated, what ever led you to believe that”Newser” was a legitimate word?
Perhaps you’re in the pay of the Organization to Dumb Down America?
Posted by: James Smith, João Pessoa, Brazil | October 31, 2009, 4:13 pm 4:13 pm