It took some time for Patrick to learn Braille, but master it he did. Not only was he successful in grade school, but he graduated high school as well. Patrick then moved on to become a college student at The University of Louisville. By this time, he had learned to play the trumpet. As incredible as it appears when seen in video footage, with his father’s precise wheelchair steering ability, the twosome became a single member of the university’s marching band.
This book is a must read for people with handicapping conditions from birth or from fate. Patrick’s courage and the support given by mother, father, and brothers as he grew older, cannot help but inspire even the most depressed individual to accept a disabling condition and move forward.
I Am Potential is fascinating to read because the narrative switches back and forth between Patrick and his father. In no way can this be interpreted as lack of empathy or support from Patrick’s mother or younger brothers. What is evident is this: the glue that kept this family together came from an openly shared love and trust all felt toward one another including their God.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough to the general public who often see people with a handicap as a handicapped person. Patrick has proven the two terms are not equal or even logical. In his life, there is no such thing as handicap or failure. Why? It was never permitted in his thinking.
Does he miss his sight? He would be the first to say, actually, I don’t know because I don’t know what seeing means. Once, when asked how he’d feel if God suddenly gave him the ability to walk, Patrick replied, “I’d say yes … but nothing is accomplished by dwelling on the fact you can’t walk. So you have to shrink its importance in your mind … and that’s what I’ve done.”
Article comments
1 - patrick
Nice. Thank you.