Well Today I arrived to Todd’s room to find his bed missing and he was not there either. He has been relocated to medium care and his morning really sucked. …. As it turns out those pain spells are actually increasing seizures. This morning he was taken in for an EEG and during which Todd had quite a few detectable seizures. He was sedated and is now on anti-seizure medication. The Cat scan from Thursday shows the shunt performing well actually and the seizure can be a result from the shunt placing pressure on the injured area now that the brain is settling into its proper place. While this is an alarming development the Dr. said this is a common issue with the shunt placement and correctable. Due to the impact of his multiple seizures and his sedation, he was in a very deep sleep all afternoon. He could not be wakened by even the nurses and their dreadful pinches, it just makes me squirm. This new diagnosis explains his “sleepiness” since seizures are an extremely draining experience. It also explains why there was no change despite the lumbar puncture and fluid drain of Thursday. So while it is news we may not like to receive, it could very well be the information necessary to move forward.
Please wake up Todd.
Love.
Alex+Todd, and Yuksel.
Todd Blair 
November 24, 2007 at 5:48 am
Hey Todd, i heard all this inspiring music at the festival im attending these days, crossing border, but you need to be more aware and around than you are now, to hear it, its just to loud sometimes, im sure. So i need you to recover. Otherwise i wouldnt dare to give you some Akron/Family. I dont know your choice in music anyway.. so lets talk about those things first! I have in my playlist for you for sure the ZIGZAG WANDERER.. song and Cash. The first because it reminds me of your path, the second because i heard through the grapevine you approve some darkbrown stories sung by Johnny. Take your time, but also let the doctors know what they need to know. See you soon. I’ll bring some music.
Toets
November 24, 2007 at 6:23 am
It must have been terrifying to walk into an empty room- I’m sorry you had to experience that. I’m sorry to hear Todd is in such discomfort, but like you said, maybe it is a sign of moving forward and getting everything in the place it needs to be. I’m thinking comfortable thoughts for both of you tough little nuts.
November 24, 2007 at 6:44 am
I hope this new info means no more horrible lumbar punctures. I hope the deep sleep means a true healing rest free from pain this time. I hope when you close your eyes you feel all of our love holding you and Todd like a warm snuggly towel right out of the dryer. Thinking of you everyday…
November 24, 2007 at 7:13 am
Dear Sweet Todd and Alex,
You were the subject our our Thanksgiving prayers and we will continue to send good thoughts to you many time a day as we have for weeks now. We wish we could be there with you. I know you are getting the best in care and that is holding us up as I am sure it is you. Sleep dear Todd so that when you wake, you will be with you Alex from that day forward. She is a good woman with a heart of gold and we all know that and are grateful. Yuksel, thank you for being there and blessings to you as well.
I hope you can feel the love being sent to you all.
Joni
November 24, 2007 at 11:13 am
Terrifying indeed, to find him not there. So sorry for all of this! and holding you both in warm thoughts — mmmbmbbb
November 24, 2007 at 11:47 am
Such a rough road, such a glorious goal. Mike Dingle once told me, “Life demands of those who demand of it”. You and Todd have each and both gotten so much out of life, I know you know how to do it!
I am comforted to know of the answers that the doctors are finding and in their assurance that it is familiar ground. Not knowing is so painful, but sometimes knowing feels damn harsh as well, doesn’t it?
It’s a long fight, but Todd is such a fighter.
And hey Todd, this weekend the crew is in Petaluma, unloading the container. You deserve to sleep through it! We’ll be thinking of you and sending hydraulic strength.
November 24, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Hello darlings,
So sorry you’re having to endure seizures along with everything else. But do keep plodding through the muck. Healing is taking place altho it seems to be at a snails pace. But if you watch the little beasts long enough you’ll see that they actually get from here to there as planned.
Alex, would have hoped someone would have caught you in the hall before you found the empty room, but no lasting harm done. Continue to be brave and patient. We all wish you were closer to home so we could add some real hugs, chocolate, pumpkin pie, more hugs. Hope you can imagine all that being thought to you every day.
Love you both, Aunt Jane & Bob
November 24, 2007 at 2:29 pm
This is exactly the story when Tara had her VP Shunt upgraded. She slept for days. They had a mixture of Tegritol (spelling) and Dilatin as the only chemical cocktail that would keep her seizures down. They did find the right mixture after several tries and her seizures did subside. They took her off her seizure meds after about a year. The medication made her grow hair on odd parts of her body.
I don’t know why- for some reason a lavender pillow seemed to soothe her (we could tell from her vital signs) during the recovery and the tremors.
It took her a couple of weeks to break through the groggy parts and fully recognize all of us and her condition. She complained of a metal taste in her mouth that only lemon head candy could reduce. (the meds maybe?) It really took her about 2 months to fully return to her spark and personality.
Alex, I am not sure if this helps or not. Just putting it out there in case it helps.. Tara is now healthy, brilliant and seizure free after many surgeries. The last surgery was more than 10 years ago.
We are sending you so much love …