January 17th, 2011 by Conor

I put together a series of photos of my brother and I. It gave me an excuse to look through all the old photos that I have, in search of of some fun memories. We have spent 2 weeks in the ICU thus far, and this is certainly going to be a memory with my brother that I will never forget- but absolutely not one of my favorites. I wanted to dig up some of the fun times as a reminder that we will continue this journey sometime in the future. This is a speed bump, well, more like a land mine, but one that Danny WILL heal from. Let the adventures continue Danny.

January 16th, 2011 by Conor

I also saw Danny’s sponsorship video a few years back. I have since
watched it too many times to count and have also shown it to a bunch
of my snowboard friends. I was amazed the first time I saw that video,
and even now, it gets me more pumped to go snowboarding than any other
video. I only found out about his accident a few days ago, and since
then I’ve been reading updates and stories from his friends. Danny, I
hope you get better soon and can take a look at all the love and
support that is around you. I know that you’ll have the strength to
make it back on the slopes someday. You are an incredibly talented
athlete, and I just wanted to let you know that I consider you my
favorite snowboarder. Get shredder!

-Rosanna Kwok

January 16th, 2011 by Conor

My name is Brenden Smith I am a Mount Washington Valley life long skier. I am 26 and have been following Shreddy Times since the beginning because I know Bobby Blake pretty well. Through Bobby I was told about how he makes awesome custom hats. I asked Danny and he made two great hats. I have met Danny only a few times in passing and have thanked him for his awesome trade. I have followed you both and the success of Shreddy Times.

I went to Jackson Hole this week with my girl friend Abby Rich who is also a life long skier and boarder of the Mount Washington Valley. We were in the backcountry of Jackson Hole yesterday and I wanted to wish Danny a fast recovery from one of the best places to shred in North America. Danny is the Bomb! He will be better soon the NH crowd roots for Shreddy Times and supports your every move.

Utmost Regards,

Brenden J. Smith and Abigail Rich

January 16th, 2011 by Conor

It’s 3 a.m. here in Australia, and again my mind is on Danny. I seriously considered flying to Montana to have a 3 day laugh fest with all of you. I looked up plane tickets and apparently u can’t pay with Monopoly money. Bummer. I visualized suprising you in Danny’s room with hugs, tears, and laughter. i would think of the funniest jokes on the plane ride over and tell them all to Danny when i got there. would really love to be there for his first laugh. that would be Epic!!! also would have to insult him and therefor be there for his first middle finger. He has really been the best friend i’ve ever had and I consider it an honor to call him my friend. especially when hot girls ask if i know him, i’m like “ya I know Danny Toumarkine, no big deal” it doesn’t bother me that even in his state right now he can still pull more tail than i could… (no offense michelle) You seem like ur starting to really come around and that makes me sooo glad to hear, and I’m sure about 3,000+ other people. Damnit you’re popular!! I love you to death bro and would trade places with you in a heartbeat given the chance. so please wake the hell up soon and call a brotha. I could use a good laugh! Much love and hope -Ian

January 16th, 2011 by Conor

Hang in there Danny. Every day is a challange. Every pain is a choice. It is your body testing your mind and will to live and go forward. Don’t let your body tell you what you know and believe you can conquer. Twenty-seven years ago I thought that the last thing I would do on this earth after a massive head injury was to give birth to my daughter. I wanted my family to have something of me to remember me by. It was the struggle of my life and it still hurts so I won’t lie. I still struggle with depression and overwhelming pain but it does get better as I get stronger and more willing to go forward. Keep moving… no matter how small the moves… no matter what it takes… if you can only use your brain than read; write; not about your injuries but about the things you want to do and the way that you will improve them. I am now a grandmother and my daughter and son-in-law are happy and in love. So my life was not a testimony to pain but a testament to love and healing. You are the only one that can keep you going. You are the power and the source of your own healing so take no words that keep you from your goal into your heart. Keep around positive people who believe what you know to be your life in the future. Things will change but only you can change them. Good luck and God Bless you Danny. You are the BOMB… and your video an inspiration.

~Rory Bente’

January 16th, 2011 by MIchelle

We just had some really  good interactions with Danny. The nurse told us that he’s doing great today. Danny’s moving his eyes around and focussing much better. He’s shaking his head yes and no to questions, not regularly, but it’s a start and easier for us to communicate with him. I asked him if he wanted a foot massage and he clearly shook his head no. When Conor asked him if he wanted music he gave us a thumbs up. If you talk to him and he’s looking at you, it seems like he’s understanding what you say. We tell him what is going on, remind him where he is, and why he is here. He replied to Conor’s question, “do you remember snowboarding in Montana?” by moving his hand side to side as if to say that he kind of remembers. Every day brings something new and his progress is always encouraging.

-Michelle

January 16th, 2011 by Conor

I’m Annie and Nate Perley’s mom. I thought you’d enjoy this picture of Annie’s son, Izaac (age 6). This shows that even during the daily chores, we are thinking of Danny and sending him healing thoughts from New Hampshire. Take care and please know how much we appreciate your updates.

Diane Harmon

January 16th, 2011 by Conor

Conor, Michelle and family thanks for keeping us all up to date with everything that is going on. This website is gonna blow his mind, I can’t wait to read about that! But as you know the recovery process will take some time not to mention the time it will take him to process this is real, its not a bad dream.

As some of you might know 4.5 years ago I had a life changing accident. I crashed a car and when I awoke I was covered in tubes and IVs in the ICU, I didn’t and still don’t remember accident happening, it did! As I awoke I was confused and thought it was a bad dream. However as things were being explained to me I realized that my legs weren’t moving. It all hit me at once, this is real! I spent 2 months in the hospital and rehab. I had never broke a bone in my body but now I had shattered a vertebrae, broke my leg, fractured ribs and a separated shoulder.Before I woke I already had a 7 hr emergency surgery to replace the shattered vertebrae and fuse it with hardware.

I get overwhelmed sometimes thinking about my experience and all the people that were and still are around me. Danny was one of these people! I can remember when I was in the ICU and began having visitors, they had to come in as groups of 4 or 5… after a few groups Danny came in, I don’t remember the details because I was showing off my morphine button but even in my drugged up state I remember him laughing as I continued my morphine mummbling. He visited a few more times before I left for rehab. I have seen him a bunch of times since but these things stick out.

About 2 years ago I started monoskiing and about that time I saw his sponsorship video (I’ve known he was good but had never seen him ride, I was in awe he was killing it)… it made me wanna try some tricks of my own. It was the end of the season and I was at Cranmore, we went by the park and I noticed some “ride on boxes”. This was my first year monoskiing but I wanted to prove what I could do. First try… nailed it! I couldn’t believe it! So I needed proof now, we went up with a camera. Second try…. failed. I couldn’t go out like that so we went back up…third try nailed it! Ecstatic I called it a day. Sitting on the deck was Danny (not riding cause a broken collar bone I think), so I went up to him and told him of my domination in the park… not sure he believed me but I had proof. I showed him the videos, he laughed at the crash and congratulated me on the successful attempts. It was cause of his videos that attempted it and why I continue pushing myself.(Conor said if I hit some jumps I might be able to make a video appearance, I’m working on it). I love shredding now and am looking forward to taking some runs with you guys in the future.

I know the feeling of wondering “why?” I still think about it daily and haven’t come up with a good answer…. not sure if I ever will. I have learned a lot though. I am much more aware of how it is easy to take the simple things for granted and how precious life really is when it is broken down.

Danny Get Shredder! Thinking about you bro.

January 16th, 2011 by Conor

Wanted to give a big shout out to everyone in Tahoe City. On Steve Wallace’s birthday the other night they held a fundraiser and were able to collect $705 for Danny. Thank you all so much! I can’t believe how much money you raised! Very Very cool!

~Conor

January 16th, 2011 by Conor

I’ve really been trying to put this off for as long as possible. Not because I don’t have any stories or even some epic memories to share–trust me I could write a friggen book. Truth be told, its because I haven’t been willing to accept that this actually happen to my friend. All I can think and say is, “how could this happen”, “I don’t believe it” and “why can’t more be done”. Like everyone else, I don’t wanna accept it. Danny is in there, he is fighting to come out, I know he will fight his way back to all of us. Why am I so confident about this? It’s Danny Toumarkine we are talking about here people! He is the freaken Superman of snowboarding!! I mean lets be serious here, he launches himself off 100 foot jumps like a god damn missal on a regular basis. Snowboarding is who he is, it is as much a part of his identity as that crazy laugh of his. He is snowboading and snowboarding is him–his passion makes him one of the best and the best in my book. Yes, he takes risks ever time he straps on that board, but know one deserves something like this to happen to them. Not me, not you, and definitely not Danny.

Earlier today I found myself driving in the jeep (I’m still the JeepMaster) and I thought “what the hell, lets throw in a little pimp mix 8 into the ole cd player to lighten my mood”. I started thinking about all the times Danny and I shared in my Jeep. Driving up and down the strip in noco jamin out to a little Ja Rule–Danny knew every word. Those my friends, were the good ole days. Which brings me to this….Danny for some reason had an obsession with driving my jeep. He’d drive the thing anywhere and everywhere. There is a strong possibility he drove it more then me, actually I’m pretty sure he did. We would go everywhere in that thing–off road, on road, Wendy’s multiple times a day, no seriously, we had a problem with Jr bacon cheese burgers, road trips to see Conor and Josh–it was pretty much the family car. When I say “family” I mean it. Danny and Conor were like a family to me. I considered Danny’s home my second home. His family always made me feel like one of the family and I always appreciated it. I logged some serious time in that spare bed room. Let me tell you–Danny and Conor always made me feel like I belonged there. And, they were always there for me no matter what. Ups and downs, they were there. Always making me feel better, always making me laugh. Those are true friends. The best I’ve had.

Danny is an amazing friend. There is no doubt in my mind that Danny would go to bat for anyone of his friends no matter what, he never gets down, picks you up when your dealing with troubled times, he’s an all around good guy, the kid can do anything he puts his mind too and he’s MY friend! I’m proud of him, I hope he knows that. Danny I’m praying for you buddy everyday. I wish there was something I could say or do to make this better. Conor, you are truly an amazing brother. The strength you’ve shown throughout this experience is nothing short of inspiring. Your focus and commitment to watching over him, making sure he’s never alone, taking the graveyard shifts, keeping everyone informed and showing us all what love is. Danny knows you’re there, he knows you won’t let anything happen to him, he knows you will be waiting for him when he wakes up and he knows you’ll be with him no matter what may lay ahead. Conor, as much as I am here for Danny, I am here for you too.

-Charlie