Stairs and more stairs

Todd has recently been spotted working out on the stairs at his house - walking up and down and up and down. Go Todd!

Limited Time Offer...Act Now...

We plan to wrap up selling the dinner tickets for the October 17 Benefit Dinner in ten days (on 10/10/2008) or when they run out, whichever comes first. Please be sure to buy yours soon since we are not planning to have tickets available the night of the dinner.

Dinner Tickets

For tickets to the benefit dinner on October 17 at East Cove, please contact Kathy (792-1283), Chrissy (744-6555), or catch Robin at Fitness in Motion. Tickets are $25 each.

$250 Challenge

I'm donating $250 to Todd's Benefit Fund at TD Banknorth and challenge at least 20 others to do the same. If a minimum of 20 people donate $250, I'll raise my donation to $500.

Who will be the first 20 kind & considerate people to meet my challenge and get the ball rolling to raise $5,250 + for Todd and his family?

Ross Sheridan

[Note: This challenge was originally posted as a comment. Some people asked to have it posted here, and Ross said it would be OK.]

Home Sweet Home

More good news! After over 2 weeks in various hospital beds in a two different hospitals, Todd gets to sleep in his own bed at home - starting tonight! He arrived home from Albany Medical Center late this afternoon. Just as he arrived home there was a power outage, but a couple of hours later the power came back on. They got to use the generator in the mean time.

The number one priority for Todd is to get a lot of rest. He isn't able to have any visitors for a while, since he needs to rest and keep clear of any bugs that are going around.

It's good to be home.

Walking, Eating, and Talking!

There is a lot of good news today. Todd took a long walk, has had his bandages removed, looks much better, ate some yogurt, soup, and other things he can drink through a straw. In no time at all we can expect that he will get his hands on a cup of Cumberland Farms hot cocoa!

With his jaw wired closed and while breathing through his tracheostomy tube, he has exhibited proficiency as a budding ventriloquist. After enjoying his cream of chicken soup that had been watered down to go through his straw, he said "next time put milk in it"...the first words he has said in a while - and all without moving his lips.

Seriously, it is good to hear that Todd is on the mend. He must be glad to have real food again.

There is a good chance that he will go home soon, where he hopes to catch up on his sleep - with no one stopping by every hour of the night to ask him if he is getting enough sleep.

Monday Evening Update

Todd went into Surgery at around 9:40 this morning, and finished around 6:15 PM. Indications are that all went well. They operated on the left side of his jaw, adding plates to insure that the joint was properly seated. They did not operate on the right side. The plan is to reevaluate in 2 weeks, as the right side surgery may not be necessary. (Thanks to to Matt for these details.)

No Slackin'

While visiting with Todd today, he wrote a note that said "Tell them the camera is still on"

Todd's Room Number

Todd's room number is now E419.

Balloon Festival Weekend

Updated Benefit Fund Information

TD Banknorth

Todd Smith Fund (acct. # 6250653970)

54 Quaker Road

Queensbury, NY 12804

Friday Morning Todd Update

Todd is in room E401, except when he is walking the halls. He was recently seen walking around (with some assistance) - probably thinking about starting a patient cardio group! He looks a little bit like Santa Claus at first glance due to the bandages around his lower jaw that could be mistaken for a white beard. Next week's surgery is scheduled for Monday.

His dad says to tell everyone that Todd appreciates the get well cards and prayers. Todd misses us and plans to be back soon!

Fund Raising Efforts

As you might have suspected, there is a benefit dinner coming up soon. We plan to have tickets available next week. We expect over 80 tickets to be available. Many thanks for the great ideas and generosity of those that have contributed time and money to this cause. Here are some of the details...though we need to finalize a few other specifics:

Todd Smith Benefit Dinner

Food, Live Music, and Raffles

Friday, October 17, 2008, 6-10PM

East Cove Restaurant, 3873 State Route 9L, Lake George

$25 per person (price includes food and entertainment)

Donations can also be made to:

TD Banknorth

Todd Smith Fund

54 Quaker Road

Queensbury, NY 12804

We hope to have more detailed information on ways people can help, but here are a few of the details we have so far:

• Envelopes: We could use some (100-500) pre-addressed envelopes with the TD Banknorth address information above to give to people that would like to make a contribution to the benefit fund at the bank - just to make it easier for them. You could leave the pre-addressed envelopes at Fitness In Motion, so we can each take a few just in case we know others that would like to use the envelope to make a donation.
• Blood Drive: The family suggested an honorary blood drive as a service to the community. Please let us know if you would like to organize this blood drive and help spread the word.
• Raffle Donations: We want to be careful not to cover the same businesses and individuals that have approached us with donations for the raffles that will be part of the benefit dinner, but if you want to donate something for the raffles, please let us know through a comment on this blog or by contacting sam.brayton@gmail.com.
• Selling benefit dinner tickets: We may need a hand selling tickets for the benefit dinner. We will keep you posted.
• Contacts at Post Star or Lake George Chronicle: If you have a contact at one of these local newspapers, please comment on this post. We have a small ad that we would like to place in each of these local papers to provide information about the benefit fund.
• Master of Ceremonies: We may need someone to be the MC for the benefit dinner. Duties may include announcing each phase of the evening’s activities and announcing each of the raffle winners.

Successful Surgery Number One!

Yesterday's surgery, planned to be the first of two, was successful! The surgery was nearly 8 hours, lasting from 1:20 to 9PM. Permanent precision metal reinforcements were used. Though injuries to the vocal cords had been in question, they were found to be in very good condition. To keep the reconstructive process on track, the surgeons will likely keep Todd in the hospital over the weekend and have scheduled the second surgery for the first part of next week.

He was moved from ICU to room E401 prior to his surgery, but check with Albany Medical Center before you send him anything to be sure that you have the right room number in case he has moved again. (See the previous post that contains the the Albany Medical Center mailing address.)

The Smiths appreciate all of those that care about Todd and his successful recovery, expressed and unexpressed.

Surgery - Home - Surgery

As the plan stands today, Todd is scheduled for surgery tomorrow (Wednesday, September 17), primarily working on the front of his jaw. Then he gets to go home for a week or so! Then he goes back for the second/final planned surgery, primarily on the hinges of his jaw.

We can start to look forward to having him start telling us what to do again after that!

Local business contacts

Today we reached out to friends at some local businesses and groups and made contacts with Southern Adirondack Spokes (e-mail), with personal visits to places like Ricks Bike Shop, Queensbury Racket Club, and YMCA. I find that people are very willing to help and very interested in learning more about Todd's recovery. I gave them the information that links to this blog. Our hope is that many people use this blog to stay up to date on Todd's recovery to reduce the time it would take Todd's family to contact everyone (and you know they would like to). We hope that having the Albany Medical Center address in the previous post will make it possible for people to send get well cards.

[note: I may have also repaired the setting that was making it difficult for people to post comments to this blog, so please try again if you experienced difficulty previously.]

Todd's Address at Albany Medical Center

Todd Smith
Albany Medical Center
New Scotland Avenue, Room D321 North
Albany, NY 12208

Todd has moved to Albany Medical Center

The nurse at the Glens Falls Hospital said that Todd has been moved to Albany Medical Center, which is just where he wants to be.

Fitness in Motion is open

Fitness in Motion is open. Others are graciously filling in for Todd while he is away.

http://fitnessinmotionpt.com/index.htm

Todd's Recovery Update

Todd has been in intensive care at the Glens Falls Hospital since the day of the accident. There are times during the day when visitors are not allowed in intensive care, and visiting rules are quite restrictive. The plan is to move Todd to Albany Medical Center, but there are no available beds. The major aspects of his recovery will include reconstructive surgery for his jaw and neck. There are more surgeons at Albany Medical Center that are familiar with the type of procedures that will be required. Todd has maintained his familiar optimistic outlook and sense of humor, but cannot yet speak. He is very good at communicating with his own version of sign language and writes a lot of notes. His family appreciates the cards, thoughts, and prayers of those that wish him well.

Copy of the article from the Post Star

Bicyclist injured after being struck by a car [Post Star, September 10]

QUEENSBURY - A Lake George bicyclist, 41, was injured Tuesday when he was hitby a car while crossing Havil-and Road near Adirondack Community College.

Todd Smith, of Norton Road, was riding his bicycle about 5:36 p.m. on Haviland Road when he was struck by a westbound 2005 Chevy Neon ...that was attempting to turn into ACC when [the driver] drove into the path of Smith's bike, according to a Warren County Sheriff's Department press release.

Smith was transported by West Glens Falls Emergency Squad ambulance to Glens Falls Hospital, where he was admitted Tuesday night.

[The driver] was issued a ticket for failure to yield the right of way. She is due in Queensbury Town Court later this month.

This is a great opportunity to help a great friend!

Thanks for visiting this blog, which is dedicated to gathering friends and ideas to help Todd and his family through a difficult time as he recovers from his accident earlier this week. Please feel free to chime in with fund raising ideas and thoughts. We hope to set up a fund in the Smith's name at a local bank and are looking forward to finding ways to organize activities that raise some money to help as we can. We look forward to all of your comments and suggestions. Sam & Pam Brayton