January 13th, 2011 by Conor

January 13th, 2011 by Conor

It’s 1:46 AM. Danny has been here for nearly ten Days. Paul, the nurse, just made us laugh as he applied chap-stick to Danny’s lips saying, “that’s the stuff!” Paul is awesome. Polly, you on the other hand are going to make my hands fall off. I’m getting to work on your seven hats. Thanks for the kick in the butt! Hope you enjoyed my previous post. I like reporting positive things on here, but sometimes it’s hard given the situation. I promise to not skip a beat though when there is something positive to report. Danny’s windowsill is now complete with a solar powered dancing flower, two little stuffed animals, four balloons, and the snack tree. His wall is starting to look more homey with all of the pictures that have been sent in. Thank you guys for all of the amazing support. We are all blown away by how many people Danny has effected in one way or another and I can’t wait for the day that he gets to read all of this.

-Michelle

January 12th, 2011 by Conor

Ian asked me to send in some pics. I met up with a friend in Venice last night, and he suggested we go to a place called Danny’s. Serendipity? Anyways, it made me smile, so I took some pics of the sign (attached). We’ll send more pics later. There’s lots of people praying for you guys down here.

Much love,
Alexis

January 12th, 2011 by Conor

It’s 10:19 PM. I’ve been in room 5109 with Ellen for the last hour. We’ve been reading the site and catching up on all of these crushes that have come out of the woodworks, but that’s beside the point. Danny hadn’t been given any paralytics since 6 PM. His legs started to move and bend. Ellen and I held his right and left hand softly talking to him, words of encouragement. A tear fell from his left eye and then another from his right. He’s here. Paul, our nurse tonight, came in for a neuro exam and got Danny to open his eyes. Not all the way open, but more than we’ve seen him do. He slowly moved his eyes to the left. This is something we haven’t seen yet. As Ellen and I watched anxiously at his bedside Danny gave Paul a good squeeze with his right hand and a faint squeeze with his left. On top of all of this action, Danny gave the thumbs up! Then Paul told him he was “rockin” and asked him if he was in pain. Danny replied with yet another thumbs up. While we still don’t know the extent to Danny’s injury, these small things are really good signs. Keep rockin Danny!!

-Michelle

January 12th, 2011 by Conor

Danny and I had met when we were little little, but didn’t know about it until we crossed paths again when i was in 6th grade and he was in 8th, at the “louis fuches” concerts that was held annually. You’d think a young girl meeting an “older” guy would be shy and nervous, but from the second he smiled and said “Hey Im Danny” i was put right at ease, or maybe even in a trance, as that is what began my first MAJOR crush. He was wearing a chain that had a Dunkin Donuts coffee cup hanging off of it and he proudly showed it off. I watched him play the drums, and secretly wished that i didnt have to go back to the elementary school so i could stay there all day with him in the Jr High. That was just the dress rehersal, that night was the big show. I remember making sure i looked really pretty, at least thats what i was hoping for, and a chance to get to see him and talk to him again. Turns out i got the chance and he even asked for my “home phone number” so we could maybe go to the movies sometime. I felt like i was on cloud nine! I knew there was something special about him and that no matter what he would always be a great dear friend.

We talked almost every night and thats when we found out our brothers grew up with each other and one birthday party my brother had, danny was so happy that he got invited too! Once i finally made it into jr high, danny was in high school and we continued our close friendship until the college years. We spent summer days working at Zeb’s General Store, and the days we didnt have to work we were at the river, obviously. Danny was always there for me no matter what. even through every little heart break from guys, danny knew that a get together to watch Shrek, go bowling, and or even a round of seven eleven doubles, would cheer me right up. He always knew just what to say, and when that guy laughs how can you not smile?

Danny always called me by my first and middle name, Ana Mariel. He said it in just the right pitch that i now constantly hear it in my head and cant wait to be able to hear it again. I found one of the entries he wrote in my yearbook, and it brought tears to my eyes,
“Hey Ana Mariel, wish i had more room to write..:( where do i even begin? we have known each other for so long, you have been so good to me and im sure you already know that. i thank you for everything that you have ever done for me. im glad weve become so close over the years. stay beautiful ana, i love ya, love always danny t #3”

Always thinking of you Daniel Carroll and cannot wait until i can see you and hear your voice again! you are amazing! <3

January 12th, 2011 by Conor

I did not know Danny personally. The first time I heard his name was my freshman year of college, when my good friend Seth came running into my room and brought up Danny’s promo. Seth had know Danny from shredding at Cranmore (I think) and was so stoked to see him throwing down at Northstar. I couldn’t help but agree, he had a style I had never seen before in snowboarding, and he was smooove as buttah on rails.
While I don’t have any memories outside of that, I was a bystander in a similar situation and I believe I can provide some hope and encouragement to Danny and his Friends.
Let me give some background… When I was a sophomore in high school, my best friend was involved in a skiing accident leaving him with a traumatic brain injury. Doctors gave him an initial chance of survival somewhere in the neighborhood of 0%. I knew my homie was a fighter and if there was still an ounce of life in him he would grab on and fight for it. From what I’ve heard and read about Danny, he’s the same way.
It might seem like just being there for him isn’t helping but when my friend came out of his coma he said he could hear and remembered just about everything that was said in his room. Being there for him and talking to him even if he can’t respond will have a huge effect.

Danny, you got this one. It may get frustrating at times but keep on pushin homie! I’m sending my vibes!

Jack Byers

January 12th, 2011 by Conor

Conor,

This is Stephen Schloss, not sure if you remember me. I have to start off by saying that just a few days ago I found my FLIGI hoodie, one of my favorite hoodies ever, in the closet of my old bedroom in my parents’ house in South Florida. I’ve been wearing it every day. Just today, I saw a post on Facebook about your brother. Strange things like this happen…

I want you to know that I can relate very closely to what you’re experiencing, and here is why…

For two weeks in December, my sister and I spent 24 hours a day in a small hospital room with my 55 year old mom. We would each try to leave once every day or two, for an hour, to run home and shower. My mom was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in mid-October and was doing OK until just after her first chemo treatment around Thanksgiving. Things went horribly downhill and we experienced a nightmare that nobody, no children, should have to experience a sweet, innocent, vibrant mother, wife and friend go through. We took her home on December 27 in hospice care and she passed on the morning of December 31 while I was holding her hand.

I’m offering this extremely brief version of my story for you to know that I understand the feeling of spending endless hours feeling helpless at the side of a loved family member. People commenting on how you should be a nurse because you know so much and you’re so attentive and caring. But who the hell wants to learn this stuff if they didn’t go to med school?? What a horrible way to learn. And only we, you, me, Michelle (whom I obviously do not know), and my sister are the ones who can understand that there is no choice otherwise; it’s not because we want to be there or we have to be there, it’s because that’s where we belong. Convenience, comfort, pain, hygiene…none of it really matters, just keeping your spirits up and stopping at nothing to comfort and aide your loved one. I slept in one of those big chairs that you’re in in those pictures for the entirety of my stay at the hospital – with multiple herniated discs in my back and sciatica in my leg so bad that I was in the ER the week before and I haven’t driven in over a month. My mom apologized to me because she knew how much it hurt me to sit with her and rub her feet and to lift her – but I was the only person that she’d let move her around in her bed, or in the chair.

We know what it’s like to feel like all there is is hope and a smile. How incredible it feels to have that loved person that was strong as a bull yesterday, just squeeze your finger today. I have a great feeling that your outcome will be a positive one and that your brother will thrive after this experience. It’s so obvious that he is loved by many and the job that you and Michelle are doing with the website is so incredible. Danny feels that love and hears your words.

I want you to know that if you feel like talking about anything, your experience, hearing mine, or anything else, please don’t hesitate to call me or email me. I’ve cried and screamed and questioned everything. I’ve led decision-making that I could never imagine having to do with my mother’s life.

Stay strong man. You guys are doing great and it’s inspirational to see you tackling this situation like I’m seeing it on the website.

Again, please feel free to contact me at any time. I’m here living every moment as it comes.

All the best in health and sending love and positive vibes your way…

-stephen

January 12th, 2011 by Conor

~Linda Burns

January 12th, 2011 by Conor

Conor,
I snowshoed up to cathedral to get this pic. We just got about 14 in of powder so it was gnarly. needless to say the ride down the road was fairly shreddy.

January 12th, 2011 by Conor

~Matt Davis