January 11th, 2011 by Conor

I met Dan in Junior High but we were never really more than aquantences. Regardless, I thought I would share my one vivid memory I have of him. We were in Ms Collins french class in 8th grade and one classmate fainted for some reason.I dont really recall who it was or why it happened, but was I do remember is that Danny refused to leave her side. He said that no matter what he was going to stay with her until the nurse came. I dont even think they were friends, that was just the kind of person he is. Someone with this good a heart is strong and WILL pull through. He deserves it…

Teala Higgins

January 11th, 2011 by Conor

Dear Danny,

We had our first am series stop at Mammoth this weekend. I can’t help but wonder if you would have continued your dominate streak of beating everybody in our slopestyle contests or if you would have wanted to spend more time with us and roll fence with Ethan and Jake. I can feel you every time I’m near a snowboard. You are one of the best shredders I’ve ever seen and the sport misses you. We are on our way to Mt. Hood this weekend for our second Am series stop. Not gonna lie feels a little weird to me that I’m going back to where we spent all summer and I won’t get to see you there. Our group misses you and Connor a ton. Jake mentioned you in his article for snowboarder mag and said a few words for you at the awards. Our journey on the road continues and You are always in my thoughts. Keep staying strong and we’ll see you soon. Thank you Conor and Michelle for all the updates. It makes me feel better knowing he’s got two great people supporting him through all this.

Zahlinski

January 11th, 2011 by Conor

Due to poor image saving the Perleys are now going by perlet! Love you guys!

January 11th, 2011 by Conor

Rodrigo Serra

January 11th, 2011 by Conor

I have visited this site multiple times a day, watching for Danny’s improvement and also for bits and pieces of insight into the life of this young man. I didn’t personally know Danny, but growing up and living in Mount Washington Valley, you can’t help but know the Toumarkine name. When I heard about this accident I immediately felt a deep empathy for Danny and for his family and that started my obsession (so to speak) with wanting to know how this all turns out. My prayers are with you all! It’s so refreshing to know that this young man has touched so many people which leads me to make my contribution and share my thoughts, that and the fact that Conor’s words, “If you have bothered to come on this website then you either know Danny personally or have been affected or touched by him somehow”, kept speaking to me.

I have been touched, and I am truly inspired by the affect that Danny has had throughout his years, on hundreds or even thousands of people that he has come in contact with. It doesn’t appear to me that he even had to give it much effort. He is genuine, caring, loving, and has a spark for life that is contageous to those that he comes in contact with. What a wonderful way to look at the world, I bet he always has those “rose colored” glasses on. This and the fact that apparently his amazing family have the same zest for life, will pull him through this with flying colors.

So, To Danny: keep fighting to pull yourself back to your friends and loved ones, and the world, because with people like you in it, it shows that there is such a thing as “hope” even for those that have lost theirs.

To Conor: You are an amazing brother and your strength and persistence will help to see Danny through this trial.

To Ellen and David: What an incredible person you helped to mold and share with the world and all the people that have been fortunate to be affected by him in any way, big or small.

To Michelle: You are amazing as well. I love seeing the pictures of you, for through this all you continue to smile. And I love your hats.

Maureen Hussey

January 11th, 2011 by Conor

I was telling Cheryl that I don’t have any really fantastically amazing Danny stories, we have only ever know each other as causal friends of friends, and that is probably my fault. Every time I saw him he was always happy and psyched, always about to go do something wicked awesome with his friends. Mostly I guess I waited on Danny and his friends at the Junction, where I would walk back into the kitchen and tell Little Tom and Adam, “your posse is here at table 20 (or 18, usually 18), Yo”. Then Little Tom would go out with a special mix of Ranch and buffalo sauce to chit chat with Danny and friends while the rest of the Kitchen would stress and whine about Tom being gone for however long it took for the friends to share their psych or eat their train fries. Finally Little Tom would go back into the kitchen and the “patient” Adam could go out to say hi.

So… Danny has lots of friends. Good ones. Quality people. Plus, he always seems happy and ready, and I’ve not really met someone like that before. Danny is just that kind of open guy who is friends with you, because, why wouldn’t he be, duh?! So when I ran into him at the local small town Sew and Vac, well…..

I was dropping off my vacuum cleaner to be repaired, and I turned the corner to see Danny, in bright FliGi sweatshirt and hat talking seriously, I mean asking educated questions about sewing machine intricacies seriously, to this little old biddy who was probably in charge of the quilting corner group after church on Sunday’s and had been sewing all of her life, about what sewing machine best suited his needs. If I remember correctly, he was trying a few out, making test piece runs with a machine to figure it all out. I was stopped in my tracks. “um, Hi? What are you… doing… um here?” I asked. ” Oh Hi! Well, I’ve kinda got into sewing, and I have this new project and I need to do it right, so I’m trying out machines and I’ll be way more efficient this way …etc.” We continued to kinda talk about stuff for 2 minutes or so. When I left and got into my car, I realized something about Danny; he doesn’t half way something, he all the ways it, and that is something that I can really look up to.

When I have thought back on that meeting, which is about every other month or so when I go get vacuum bags, I think of Danny sitting there with that old lady, making a friend. It makes me chuckle every time! He was happy to see a familiar face, mine ( and yet make me feel like an old friend with his generous smile), meet a new person, and work towards mastering a skill. It seems like that is all in a days work for Danny.

So here’s to Danny who connects us all with his vibrance and positive outlook, his determination and kindness.

And here’s to Conor and Michelle for giving us a place to share our stories and being the best family Danny could ask for.

January 11th, 2011 by Conor

I met Danny last season at Bear, but I didn’t even really notice at first. Apparently he was in the Am Series (and won too!), but the weather was so bad I didn’t even notice. Now that I think back I totally remember…his style, his attitude, he was the coolest kid there – the weather was weak, and kids were wrecking themselves, but Danny didn’t care. He was still having a good time, just doing stock tricks that were still sick. He was laughing with me about the weather, talking about other stuff, and like I said, looking back now I remember him more than ever. Later on that month when he came and helped us out in Tahoe I seriously fell in love with the kid, and you too Conor. These are the only pictures I have on my computer of Danny (which is weak), and Conor I have LOTS of pictures of you, but this day was sick! We all had a day to go ride together. Got to see how good he is at snowboarding, ripped the Kelly shack, stash park, etc.

I had a week off and even crashed a night or two at your guys’ place. We went and got beers and tacos, I got smashed, and when I woke up on the couch there was this little black dog sleeping with me. I think it was your roommate’s? I don’t know. But I let it out and gave it water before I left. Oh and I stole some stickers…
We hung out again at the Open, but that was really all business. We did have some pretty damn fun nights though, something about ‘hot suppa’, but I digress…
Things are already different this year, not seeing you guys yet with one CA stop done. I’m looking forward to the next time I do get to see you both. Last time I talked to Danny was after I sent him that board bag, and he seemed pretty pumped on it. No hurry on getting it back to me, but I do think he owes me a little for shipping… Ha! It’s cool though because I am still gonna get you guys up to AK like we talked about, and he can pay me back then.
Until then keep getting better Danny, and Conor: you’re the man.

-Duper

January 11th, 2011 by Conor

I am getting used to nearly all of it. How could I possibly be used to this? I have even become used to seeing my brother with tubes and tape all over him. I am somehow used to the stitches and the odd way that they zig zag around his skull. There is one thing that constantly reminds me how real this all is… the sound of the respirator. Each time Danny exhales the respirator makes a faint weezing sound. It sounds like a cry for life. Danny and I both have pretty severe asthma and if it is acting up, our lungs make a sound that is nearly the same. That sound triggers a feeling of incredible discomfort. That is the only part of this that I will never get used to.

I have always been a bit of a night owl but this new schedule is another thing all together. The last two days I have gone to sleep at about 6:30 AM and slept till 3 PM. Sunset is my sunrise. I eat 3-5 times a day and am excited when I sleep more than 4 hours.

I wonder what the first thing Danny will say is. The other thing that I can’t help but wondering is how Danny is going to feel when he wakes up from all this. All 3,000 people that have been visiting this website are going to be so happy, yet, the journey will only be beginning for Danny. I can’t imagine waking up to hear the news of what happened to me and that weeks have passed while I was sleeping.

Dad just showed up for the morning shift. He is starting to cramp our style here a little on the graveyard shift! Just Kidding dad, just thought it would be funny to not tell you this in person but instead write it and have you read it once we are gone. Everything is fine with the crossover, don’t over analyze this! It was a joke.

I LOVE my friends and family! You are all amazing. I still can’t get over the overwhelming support from everyone.

I LOVE you Danny. Pull through this one dood. You got it!

~Conor

January 11th, 2011 by Conor

It’s 5:51 AM. Conor still looks small is his “huge” chair. We’re staring at the snack tree and thinking about the Chinese food that we have in our hotel. I haven’t quite figured out my eating schedule on the night shift, but for the record I did take a shower today. Conor keeps talking about this feast we’re having tonight…I can’t wait. Tonight was a stable night. It feels strange to become familiar with room 5109. The beeping doesn’t scare me anymore as I can monitor Danny’s vitals and see that all is okay. I’ve never missed someone so much that is laying only feet away from me. Cindy boosted his sedation a bit because he was moving around. The best is when the sedation and paralytics wear off a bit and Danny can squeeze your hand. It’s inspiring. Danny is inspiring.

-Michelle

January 11th, 2011 by Conor

A couple pics from the holidays…

~Andrew Allyn