Update #2 - Cleveland Clinic

I have never had the fortune to see Trent coach. But the Trent that I know, the Trent who greeted me from the first Sunday I stepped through the doors of our church, that Trent brings the same kind of passion and intensity to every area of his life, on or off the field. Pulmonary fibrosis had no idea what it was getting itself into when it decided to tangle with this coach...

Tomorrow is the big day. Jill and Trent leave tonight for Cleveland and will wake up in the morning to a battery of tests, interviews and examinations. The two-day pre-transplant evaluation will determine if Trent can withstand getting new lungs and everything the new organs will bring with them - major surgery, rehab, anti-rejection meds, emotional ups and downs...and most importantly, the ability to take a deep breath again. Tuesday and Wednesday will be grueling and may be the two most important days in the Todd family's life since Trent's diagnosis in July 2008.

I will do my best to post updates as often as I can get them. As we wait in anticipation of the evaluation results, please be praying:

1. For Trent, for strength, endurance, patience and peace during the entire process.

2. For Jill, as she sits by his side supporting and caring for her husband.

3. For Sophia and Bryce, who will be waiting in West Chester for news on their dad.

4. For compassion and wisdom for all of the doctors, nurses and medical staff performing the evaluation and sitting on the Transplant Board.

5. Most importantly, pray that God's will be done throughout this entire situation. A conversation with a friend the other day brought to light the fact that it may be difficult to pray specifically for a transplant for Trent, because for Trent to receive new lungs, another person must die. From what I understand, this fact is one of the most difficult to process for transplant recipients and their families. Please remember as you pray that all of our prayers are spoken "in Christ's name," and that our prayers should always bring us closer to His will, whatever that will may be. And take comfort knowing that if it is God's will for the transplant to happen, organ donors make the sacrifice willingly so that their death may give life to someone else.

Update #1 - Pre-Transplant Evaluation Scheduled

Tuesday, March 1st and Wednesday, March 2nd.

Mark those dates on your calendar. Put them in your PDA. Imprint them on your mind. Then, start praying. On those two days, just over two weeks from now, Trent will head to Cleveland Clinic for his pre-transplant evaluation. A pre-transplant evaluation includes a complete physical, meetings with members of the Lung Transplant Team, and a series of tests, and is performed to make sure that Trent is physically able to undergo a transplant. The evaluation helps the Transplant Team identify and treat any potential problems before the transplant, as well as avoid potential complications after the transplant.

At the end of the pre-transplant evaluation, and after the test results are complete, the Lung Transplant Team will meet to jointly discuss whether or not a lung transplant is the appropriate treatment for Trent. The transplant coordinator will then notify the Todds of the Team’s decision. Abnormal test results might require further investigation and may delay the process, but the goal of pre-transplant testing is to ensure that a potential transplant candidate will be able to undergo the transplant surgery and recover without any significant risk of complications.

Although the pre-transplant evaluation is still two weeks away, there is still a lot of work to be done, including pulmonary rehab, doctor's appointments and, perhaps the most difficult part, trying to be patient. Please be praying for Trent and his family as they wait in anticipation of this next major step in his recovery.

Getting Started

Anyone who has ever gone through a trauma knows that help comes in many forms, from many people, some of them completely unknown to the recipient. Trauma survivors also know that in the midst of the chaos, and in spite of the best of intentions, it is impossible to thank every person individually for the help that he/she provides.

On that note, at the request of Trent, Jill, Sophia and Bryce, and on their behalf, this blog begins with the following message:

"THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE, EVERYONE, EVERYONE."

Now, to those of you who have helped, are helping and will help during this journey, please take your thanks from this message and from the progress that Trent will make, and know that if it were possible for the Todd family to thank you in person, they would.

With that said, meet Trent (again or for the first time), introduced in the words of a good friend and fellow football coach.

"When the Doctor Gives You 5 Years to Live: Coach Trent Todd"

A coach and a great friend of mine, Trent Todd, has been diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Pulmonary fibrosis is a disease marked by scarring in the lungs. Tissue deep in the lungs becomes thick, stiff and scarred. The scarring is called fibrosis. As the lung tissue becomes scarred, it interferes with a person's ability to breathe.

In some cases, the cause of pulmonary fibrosis can be found. But most cases of pulmonary fibrosis have no known cause. These cases are called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Pulmonary fibrosis can develop slowly or quickly. There is no cure. Many people with the disease live only about three to five years after diagnosis.

In short, Trent needs a miracle and/or a double lung transplant. His doctors gave him five years to live. That was a few years ago. At first, things did not seem so "bad." I confess I didn't even notice much of a change. He continued to work, continued to coach ...

But now things have taken a different turn and he needs an oxygen machine to help him breathe. Please pray for Trent, his wife Jill and his two young children Sophia and Bryce.

And yet, Trent wants to continue building SportsLeader. He wanted to record some short video messages to encourage others about what life, coaching and mentoring are truly about. My family and I had the opportunity to visit with Trent and his family and it was such a blessing. Being with a man who only thinks of others, who you know cares about everyone ... it is an inspiring experience and I could see that all of my children learned a great deal from him.

This short video clip is the first of a series we will create. Click on the link to watch it: http://sportsleaderusa.blogspot.com/

Please take a moment to ask yourself: Why do I coach? If I were in Trent's shoes would my perspective be different?

Life is short. I encourage you to dig deeper in your heart and consider making a change to have more of an impact on the young men's hearts and souls you are mentoring.

God bless you,
Lou