January 24th, 2011 by Conor

January 24th, 2011 by Conor

As I sit here awaiting the first of many plane rides taking me across
the country on my voyage to visit Danny, I feel the knot in my gut
growing and begin to get tight. Maybe it’s the fact that my nerves
have been on end since this whole ordeal began or maybe its just my
stomach informing me that I’ve skipped too many meals today trying to
make these flights work out. I tell myself its the food and go grab a
quick bagel to try and suppress my anxiousness. To my dismay the
discomfort is not from hunger, but from this new adventure about to
unfold in my life. I guess the best place to start is at the beginning
of my travel plans so here we go…

After hours upon hours of dealing with airline receptionists, (who
didn’t speak a lick of english), I wasn’t even sure if this trip was
going to happen. I can remember Danny telling me once that he loved
flying through Southwest Airlines because he enjoyed being able to
choose your own seat on the plane. “It’s great!” he would say, “Just
look for the hottest chick on the plane and she’s stuck with you for
the entire flight!” Unfortunately for me, my Southwest experience has
not been so wonderful this trip. Cramped/overpriced flights after
hours of phone circles with contradicting airline employees and not a
single attractive girl to be seen! So far this has been quite the trip
Danny, I hope you appreciate it!

Luckily this morning at work I received a call from Conor informing me
that Danny had been looking at pictures on Facebook and typed to him
and Michelle a comment about how he wished I were there with them all
at the hospital. After all the hard work I’ve been putting in for him
the past few weeks, and all the airline hassles I’ve been dealing
with, that really helped put my head back into perspective. Conor
informed me that because of Danny’s short term memory problem he might
not remember saying he had wanted me there when I see him. No big deal
for me, just the fact that he mentioned it once right before a
surprise trip to visit him is enough to help me forget about all the
hassles and remember the true purpose of my trip.

I’ve been close friends with Danny and his family for over ten years
now. I realize to some of you that may not seem like a very long time,
but in those years Danny and I have been through a lot of life
experiences together. Classmates, teammates, “pimp mix”
collaborators, high school, and then to college as direct roommates in
what can only be described as a 10′ x 10′ shoe box of a room for two.
It is safe to say that Danny and I have had a very extensive
friendship together, and that over the years I feel like I’ve gotten
to know danny more than he knows himself. Unfortunately, in this
instance, I am afraid that might actually be a reality.

Sometimes in high school I would go to bed earlier than most at a
party, in preparation for a 6am day of work, only to wake up to a body
tagged in obscenities. Early bedtimes at parties always seemed to
spark the artistic side of Danny and many people besides myself would
wake up with a completely different color skin tone,(usually green or
blue), and an array of naked blue women and private parts all over
their bodies. At the time this never went over well with me. Blue
sharpie is very difficult to scrub out of your earlobe at six in the
morning! Now that I look back at this it is hilarious and also gave me
an idea to help cheer up Danny for my visit. Instead of drawings all
over my body FROM Danny, I got people to draw all over me FOR Danny!

Before I left for Montana I had people donate money to use my body as
a human canvas for a get well card to Danny. I sold 4″ x 4″ sections
of my upper body for $10 and tried to get as many people to deface me
as I could before leaving for this trip. The turn out was pretty good
for short notice, and I managed to raise over $200. I apologize on the
record for those of you who wanted to leave your mark my body but
didn’t get the opportunity. You can all thank Southwest Airlines for
keeping me occupied by giving me the run around while I was trying to
show everyones support from back home for Danny.

I also want to take this opportunity to send you all my deepest
regards for the pictures that will probably be posted on this site
soon after this note. I realize these pictures of me wont be the most
flattering of photos and are certainly not for the faint of heart. If
I had known a month ago that I was going to be letting people shave
and write on my body I definitely would have worked out at the gym a
little bit for you all! So I apologize ahead of time, but I could care
less as long as it puts a smile on everyones face when I am unveiled
in Montana finally!

It’s odd for me to think that just a month ago i was hanging out with
Danny and Conor laughing and joking about everything and yet nothing
at all. Now, I’m on my way to hang out with them again, hoping we’ll
be able to do the same just like old times. I’ve come prepared with
all the usual things we like to do while we hang around doing nothing.
My hard drive is loaded with pictures and music that Danny and I have
experienced together throughout the years as well as our, “Ultimate
Movie List Ever,” created in college for those days after a big party
where you want to do nothing but lay in bed and relax. I feel like now
is an appropriate time for these things. This has been one of the most
difficult things that I have ever had to deal with, but I know that I
come bearing the love and support from everyone back home and it helps
to give me strength. I am hoping this trip will be a relief for not
only Danny but his family as well.

That being said, it is finally time to end my ranting. I am about to
land for the fourth time today, this time in Great Falls, Montana.
I’ve finally made it to see you Danny! It’s been a scary month so far
so let’s hope we can both be strong over the next few days and try to
get you back to the DCT we all know and love. I’ve missed you and I’m
glad we can finally reunite. I’ll be seeing you shortly with love from
everyone back home.

Love,
TommyJ

P.S.- This note is dedicated to the little boy kicking the back of my
seat the entire flight from Denver to Great Falls. I never would have
stayed awake long enough to finish this without you kid. Thanks for
the help!

January 24th, 2011 by Conor

Come on everyone we can get more than this!

Send em to:
Donations@dannyisthebomb.com
603-496-6621

January 23rd, 2011 by Conor

January 23rd, 2011 by Conor

Nurse Leah has a few Days off and is en route to somewhere fun. Even when she’s not on the day shift she is still thinking about Danny.

January 23rd, 2011 by Conor

1. Cranmore man hug
2. Classic Danny looking over the top of the tie-dye tee he just made me that day
3. Little Beirut aka beerpong action . Danny not afraid of playing w/ the impaired teammate
4. Nice group pic. Great Danny smile
5. Danny making faces at me instead of the camera
6. Group pic with the DCT centerpiece
7. Lame night but smiles nonetheless
8. Up at the lunch rocks at the base of Tuckerman’s. Classic Danny smile

January 23rd, 2011 by Conor

I just did this drawing based off of a photo of Danny. Please, feel free to share or I can post it on DITB on Facebook as an Admin. I never name stuff that I draw, but I guess you could call this one: “Portrait of a Champion.” I like the sound of that. Take it easy.
-Nate Perley

January 23rd, 2011 by Conor

Beer Staff Night at the Toumarkines

Let me start by saying that I am completely obsessed with checking this site. Phone, computer, other peoples computers…..always. I guess in an odd way it was tough for me to write something before knowing Danny was going to be ok. I cant totally say why I felt this way, or if it was right or wrong, but for being selfish in just reading everyday, I apologize. All I could think and talk to people about was that I prayed he was going to be the same old Danny. After following progress, I cant even describe how happy I am that his personality and sense of humor are still same ol’ same ol’. Everything else will come…hard work and dedication, yes….We know this wont be a problem for DCT.

When Danny was 16 I remember meeting him at Cranmore. I had been riding for for roughly 6 years at the time and was awestruck but this skinny little kid absolutely tearing up the south slope during a night sesh. I knew of him prior, but never met. Danny was decked out from head to toe in the best/newest gear as usual. I actually remember him wearing some jacket with fur around the hood and thinking that it was semi homo, but I guess if anyone could make it look good, it was Danny. Leaving the mountain he proceeds to get into his car, which at the time was a red blazer with beefed out tires and a thule rack up top. He puts his window down with some solid music blaring and throws up the horns to say “take it easy.” As Im walking back to my car Im thinking to myself, “this kid is like 12 and way fucking cooler than I am….awesome.”

After that time, Id run into him from time to time on the mountain and he was always a joy to watch ride/ride with. We werent too close away from the hill…mostly bc of the age gap at the time Im guessing… but some years passed, as did college, and I would make random island or basement party trips with Soroka to hang out with DCT, Conor, Belcher, etc. A couple more years later, I moved home from the cape and we began to hang out a lot more….Riding, golf, just whatever….It was something I always looked forward to….I mean, who doesnt enjoy having a ball and laughing their ass off all day?

As said in some previous entries, Danny is always one to push you…in a friend way of course, but he likes to push you to do things you dont think you can do for whatever reason. Last winter he got me to hit some random gap jump over the edge of the pipe at attitash. I cant say it ended well but in a way, I was glad I hit it (ask Corey Madden about that digger if you know him. He was on the lift). Always getting me to get off my ass and go do something fun, that is what I have appreciated the most about Danny…. I cant say I have any one “fondest” memory, but I will say that all the good times and laughs will always be remembered and still looked forward to. I will continue to spend some of my time in the Spring trying to convince him to come home as early as possible, and will continue to be let down when he says to me “prob a couple more weeks dude”

Fun day we had last summer…Taken in the basement of 1080 snowboard shop while working on a sticker project with danny. I called him over and he found it necessary to snap a pic…

Danny and Conor, that trip we made out last year was absolutely one of the most fun trips Ive ever been on. Just a few highlights:
– “Casually” drinking a keg in 2 days (then of course going to buy another one to actually party with)
– Carrying home a family of wooden bears from Tahoe City after an amazing night at the bars.
– absolutely shitting all over bobby on video for missing out on the most epic powder day of the trip (sorry bob)
– Conor unexpectedly catching me on camera bitching about how bad my feet killed from being on my toe edge for like 37 minutes straight
– Cooking out on a bluebird day at Squaw in a bunch of ridiculous outfits.
– Guinard buying like 16 shots of warm Captain Moes at some bar in South Lake when the last thing any of us wanted to look at was booze…..nevermind warm shots.
– Trying to sneak away from the party, passing out on dannys room floor, then having him find me, proceed to grab like 8 people to observe and shit on me, and catch it on cam.
– Dance contest win at cabo wabo to go along with $2 shots and coronas.
– WALLYYYY!!!!

This list could go on and on…..But thank you both again. Never once did you bitch or complain about a thing….its not always the easiest thing to cater to 5 guys for a week.

Danny, I look forward to your speedy recovery. Once that is all out of the way, we will high five until our hands bruise per usual. I cant wait to be out on links with you again man, even if you beat me and yell out random obscenities on the green whilst draining a 30 ft putt.

Be easy bro,
-Schoen

January 23rd, 2011 by MIchelle

I’ve decided to write this post to clear a few things up. First off, I would like to say that I am not a fan of PDA (public display of affection). Danny isn’t either. I am not a googly eyed girlfriend that gets all mushy, especially not in public. I have my moments, but no one except Danny sees those and writing on this blog about those moments is something that I always question a few times before posting them. Typically, we would never cuddle with a random in the room watching our every move let alone with parents around. I’ve gotten past those things and agreed to the public cuddle when asked for by Danny. Whatever he wants right?

However, I will say that these cuddle sessions aren’t exactly the most comfortable. There are times when the IV and rubber tubes/lines manage to stay in place enough so that I’m not strangled or so that my head is at least on a soft surface rather than laying on a plastic box. There must be ten different wires and tubes that I have to, ever so cautiously, wiggle my way around to get into a comfortable position for Danny. Once I’m there and Danny is still, I try my hardest not to move until he wakes. I sit there, with my head pressed against the plastic sidewall of his bed, and stare at the random “babysitter” in the room trying not to make eye contact as to not create an awkward situation already more awkward.

When Danny finally moves, he will most likely pull a wire off his chest or jokingly wrap the humidifier tube around my neck and the random “babysitter” will then get up and hover over us until things are back into place. The humidifier is another thing in itself. When we are in said comfortable for Danny position I feel a humid mist on the back of my neck. I hear a gurgle which is a mix of flem from his lungs and the humidifier. Sometimes, if Danny coughs, a little spit might fly out of his tracheostomy and into my hair. I try not to think about that.

In a twin sized bed, there is hardly enough room for two and especially under these circumstances. I love that Danny wants to be close and all, but when my feet are falling off the bed I have to balance, flexing my abs to keep me in place, so that I don’t fall off feet first. When I finally get some shut eye I am usually fast asleep, but I have bad dreams of the nurse coming in to draw blood and accidentally grabbing my arm instead of Danny’s. Getting blood drawn must be one of the worst ways to be woken up.

All of this aside, I am happy to be there in whatever way Danny wants me there. If I were Danny and my two options were between cuddling or having restraints put on to hold me in place, I would chose cuddling too. I have never had the opportunity to cuddle in the ICU and the thought of that makes me laugh. Although this cuddling experience has been heart warming, I hope I never have this opportunity again.

-Michelle

January 23rd, 2011 by MIchelle

Since Conor and I left this morning, the Doctor stopped in to talk about the surgery that is now scheduled for 7:00 AM tomorrow morning. As I’ve mentioned before, the surgery that Danny will undergo will be to take the bone flap that is now under his skin in his stomach and put it back into place in Danny’s skull. The procedure will take 3-4 hours. The bone flap will be secured into place using titanium plates and screws. There is a section of the skull, near the ear, where the initial cut is not clean. This will be secured using a plaster (I am not using the medical term, it is a plaster like substance) that veins can actually grow into and through. The plaster  will form like bone. This surgery is not one that is rushed. There is no concern about danny’s brain swelling and therefore it is a longer surgery because they can take there time as opposed to the craniotomy when the doctor is worried about relieving that pressure as soon as possible.

This is the only surgery that Danny has been aware of. We’ve told him that the difficult surgeries have already been done and not to worry, but he is still concerned, as he should be. They tried to give him a shower today, but he refused because he was having trouble with his breathing again. I think that the breathing might be related to the stress of now knowing what he is about to go through. I could be wrong, but I would be scared too.

The Doctor said Danny might be up and walking a few days post operation. With the bone flap back into place there is much less concern about him hitting his head in the area where the skin is covering his brain. This is when the physical therapy and other therapies will really start to pick up.

It’s really exciting to know that Danny will be able to get out of bed and start moving around more. I am still in awe of the condition that he is in considering we had no idea how he would come out of the first two operations. Danny could have had to relearn how to do everything from swallowing to holding a pen. The fact that he is typing, conversing, and playing catch like all of this never happened is absolutely amazing. Nurse Cindy was really impressed with how quickly he was recovering. I am in awe and so incredibly happy.

That’s all for now, but we’ll keep you guys in the loop with how everything goes tomorrow. Thanks again for the continued support! Although Danny doesn’t really understand everything right now, soon enough he will be blown away by all the positivity coming his way.

-Michelle