Is there a word that means thank you mixed with awesome? Thank you falls short. Gratitude does not seem to carry the same weight mixed with the fantasticness of you people who have stood by us and came out this Sunday. You are an amazing bunch of people. I loved the meeting those individuals who stand behind the people who stand behind us. The smiles and power of love manifest itself into this amazing wall of gears and an event so unique…… I really reminded me of how alone we are not. What a beautiful web of friends and family we have woven.
Some of you heard me speak of Todd and some missed it. My next post will talk of the amazing place we are post surgery. Many faces I saw in photos but never crossed their path……how did that happen?! To you all I thank you for being now part of our success story, our miracle, and our healing. IT is a long road to recovery but because of you all we are now able to do this at home.
…….and in a show of amazing solidarity there I stood among friends, family, and therapists from both our hospitals (our own personal army). There are days I want to stay in bed and pull the covers over my head and there are days when I walk around smiling at how amazing and resiliant Todd is. Together our personal army has helped us in ways that are less than transparant, less obvious to the untrained eye.
So I thank you all for your many individual gifts. We will never forget and we will never take for granted.
With love from the unstoppable team.
Alexandra (and Todd)
p.s. don’t think I didn’t notice that I set you up for the “booger on the wall story” and then failed to deliver. I was nervous. I owe you one though!
July 22, 2008 at 11:06 am
Booger on the Wall – fess up!
July 22, 2008 at 11:40 am
Pictures of The Wall and The Wall:Unveiled at
toddnow.org
Ongoing fun to be had at that site too…
July 22, 2008 at 12:56 pm
It was SUCH a huge pleasure to have this event here – a great pulling together of creativity, compassion, generosity and FUN!!! It was great to see you, Alex, out here enjoying the overwhelming support and love we all have for you and your guy.
Todd took one for the team, and on Sunday we once again saw how GREAT this team is…
Everytime I go look at the wall I’m so happy!
July 22, 2008 at 11:13 pm
A couple of stories from the world of Todd…
On Sunday morning, I was working with Todd, and he is now able to fill out menus by putting a dot methodically on either side of the selection (multiple dots and underlining are reserved for coffee!), We were meeting with our fantastic recreational therapist Tamara, and had planned to work with clay. Wanting to give T some options, I wrote on the four corners of a piece of paper, “Clay” “Go for a Walk” “Painting” and “Chill Out”. Todd methodically placed two dots on either side of “Chill Out.” We got a good laugh out of that, and chill out we did!!
A little later, he and I were sitting with our feet up, and the omnipresent fan blowing on us (Todd runs very hot, and need this to keep cool). I put the dry erase board in front of him, and asked him to write “Alex + Todd”, which he did, very legibly. He seems bugged by something, so instead of the usual 20 questions trying to isolate the source of irritation, I suggested, “Tell me what you need with the pen.” He deliberately wrote “Fan Off!” The exclamation point was the kicker — very Todd!!
I am still quite in awe Sunday, most of all by the fact that not just one or two, but NINE of Todd’s therapists and nurses showed up. The support that these folks have given to T and A is mindblowing in and of itself, but to have it spill over the walls of the hospital setting into our scrappy little world really warmed my heart. Thank you all, whether you were able to make it or not!!
When Alex and I were up on stage talking, I looked out over the sea of faces, and was struck by the mass of love, the concentration of compassion in that room. Simply amazing… a thank you is just a butterfly fart in a blizzard.
Love and hugs and a full full heart
Johnny
July 24, 2008 at 7:38 pm
The stories of Todd’s progress are so inspiring–thanks as always for sharing with us. I’m sure the transition will be a roller coaster of suspense and abandon (look ma! no hands!) but know that your net still surrounds you, and now we really are just a phone call away. The recent leaps and bounds are amazing and I can’t wait to hear about your adventures conquering the next frontier.
xoxox
PennyJ
July 25, 2008 at 3:47 am
whoehoe.. love and kisses from over the Sea. Hey, HERE it is Friday. I’ll be thinking of y’all!
xxxx Toetszzzzzz