All,
My silence has been a product of all of the indescribable minutia, the necessary mountains to move and complete and absolute disbelief that something of this magnitude could and did happen to Todd.
Saw Todd this afternoon, and I can say to all who were there in the first days, he has made a lot of progress. Small but important parts of him are coming back, breathing on his own, bruises and swelling going down. The nurse remarked that when she shined a light into his eyes, the pupils contracted. He is really starting to look like Todd again. Enjoyed talking to him for a bit, and making a couple of wisecracks. Regardless of ones opinion of the medical establishment, its amazing to see first hand what can be done by way of mechanical repair to broken bodies at a first rate facility like the AMC.
Somehow, in the midst of all this, we were able to continue packing all that crap but it sure didn’t feel very good on the ground at NDSM this week. I am awed by Alex and her ability to manage as she does through this time. I am grateful to my wife, Amy who is supporting Alex the best she can. Without their tireless and reassuring efforts, I don’t know how the SRL crew would have made it through the past week.
Ill be thinking about what SRL will do as a group to help this next week in Amsterdam. SRL crew, please send your suggestions.
MP
September 28, 2007 at 2:09 pm
A very close friend of mine is a cousin of Todd’s. Joni Baraban lives in Suwanee, GA and has been a caring, loving & loyal friend since the day my husband and I moved into our home. When I received her email, I was breathless. Without even knowing Todd, I can tell from the brilliant photos on your blog that he and Joni are “made from the same cloth”. My heartfelt “well wishes” for a speedy and complete recovery goes out to Todd and prayers for both he, Alex and other close family that are by his side through this tragic event. The blog updates seem to reveal that he is improving (albeit slowly), but improving just the same. Cherish EVERY MINUTE and know that there are many folks all over the world praying for Todd’s complete recovery. To Todd, I send the most genuine get well soon wishes and to the friends and family with him, I send these words; make every minute count, get some rest and have faith in the LORD because many many other folks are sending wishes of patience, health and happiness. Family is such a critical reason behind life’s memories; I pray that you will all have many years of happy memories create and to share with Todd in the coming years. Have faith!
Hugs for Suwanee Georgia,
Cindy Hilton
thehiltons@earthlink.net
September 28, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Hey Toddy-o & Alex,
Just wrote a note and think it went somewhere but not sure where.
Anyway, just wanted you to know we’re thinking of you hourly….not, actually, minutely.
It snowed today in Mt. Shasta & Weed….I was bummed. Snow and motorhomes don’t go together. However, at this point in my life one needn’t get bummed about anything. Just look at life as it happens & smile. We DO have heat so no big deal. Wish we were closer to hold you a bit. will just have to settle for big hugs when you cone home to San Fran. Do wake up soon, darling nephew. Can’t imagine you silent and quiet for long. Not like you at all.
Love you both,
Aunt Jane
P.S. Hope you find the other “comment”.
September 29, 2007 at 8:14 am
Alex and Todd,
You have been constantly in our thoughts since the moment we heard the news. So many have written and expressed so well their feelings for Todd and for you and we can only echo those thoughts. Since hearing of the accident I have suddenly become aware of how much Todd is in my life, even though we no longer work side by side. I was in Anchorage, digging around in my computer for a planning document and upon finding it, saw it was Todd who made the first draft. Back in the office I needed to make some changes to the web site and quess who had carefully documented ALL the steps I needed to go through to do it. Yep, that would be Todd. It may seem silly to mention these things but it makes me realize how connection endures, how lives are intertwined and how we sometimes forget to acknowledge each others importance in our lives. I am reminded now of how much I appreciated Todd when we worked together and how much I admire who he is and has become since.
Todd, please come back! We miss you, we need you.
And Alex, don’t forget to take care of yourself in all of this.
Milton and Audrey
September 29, 2007 at 9:32 am
Mark, Amy and Alex –
It must be excruciating to be in such a difficult situation and so far from home. You guys are loved and supported by all of us back here, and hope that when it seems difficult and unbearable you’ll feel the love we’re sending you.
Todd – Keep working on that rewiring project of yours – there are so many little connections in your head that will need to be fiddled with to get your consciousness back… keep at it and we all look forward to seeing you soon. It’s only been a week, but everyone misses you!
September 29, 2007 at 10:31 am
Dear Mark,
Let’s have a big, big party/fundraiser for Todd in SF. I want to work on it in a major way! All SRL people, I will get current and former CCA students, Exploratorium friends, etc., etc. . We could really raise a lot of $ to help out. And we could make a big group prayer for Todd. We could have bands. Maybe Dingle could hook us up with the Somart building. What do you think?
Let’s rally in every way for Todd and Alex.
We have had several friends experience severe brain trauma –2 with frontal lobe damage. They had outstanding recoveries. I know Todd will too. Lots of sympathy to all of you close by to Todd. It’s probably harder on you than it is on Todd.
It sucks about the wallets disappearing.
Love to all.
Your old friend, NAN!!!!!
September 30, 2007 at 10:20 am
Dear Alex and Todd,
I heard through Eric Paulos and Camille Utterback about Todd a few days ago. I was immediately overwhelmed with sadness and also warm thoughts of Todd’s incredible smile and humor. I wanted to send my love and prayers to you. I also wanted to let you know that I took part in a Medicine Buddha Puja (a Tibetan Buddhist rital) at my Buddhist center Tse Chen Ling in San Francisco yesterday with several other monks, nuns and lay people and we dedicated to Todd’s quick recovery and long life. Todd is in my prayers and thoughts often and as I am encountering his friends and students who haven’t heard the news, I am gently letting them know and the universal response is one of support, love and admiration for his amazing qualities. And of course strong wishes and beliefs in his strength to quickly recover.
With much Love,
Scott Snibbe