Visitation and Memorial

Trent E. Todd, 49, beloved husband of Jill (nee Ritter), loving son of the late John (Jess) and Bernice Todd, devoted father of Sophia and Bryce Todd, dear brother of Cidni Todd, Jessica (Melvin) Todd-Hunt, Troy Todd, Karen Todd, Sharon Todd and the late John (Cherie) Todd. Passed away Tuesday, December 10, 2013.

Trent was a coach with the Lakota Stallions football team and a member of the Teamsters Local 100 Union and Wellspring Community Church.

Visitation at Mueller Funeral Home, 6791 Tylersville Road, Mason, OH 45040 on Sunday, December 15 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Service will be at Center Pointe Christian Church, 5962 Hamilton Mason Rd, Liberty Twp, OH 45011 on Monday at 10:00 AM. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Trent Todd Memorial Fund at any Fifth Third Bank branch. To send a condolence, visit www.muellerfunerals.com.

Update #69 - Sadness

"To live is Christ, to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). And God has certainly gained the company of an amazing man today.

For anyone who has not seen the information on Facebook or elsewhere already, Trent passed away early this morning as the result of an aggressive infection that developed over the past two days from his second transplant. He was surrounded by family and felt no pain as he slipped peacefully into Jesus' arms.

The last news that Trent heard when he was conscious was that he would be getting a new lung. And the last voice that he heard when he was sleeping last night was that of his son Bryce sharing his love for his dad. In true Coach Todd fashion, Trent selflessly held on long enough for Bryce and his cousins to get to Cleveland to say goodbye.

While Bryce headed north for one last hug, Sophia decided that she would rather not have her final memory of her father be in a hospital bed. She is well protected and cared for with her close friend.

Jill and family are resting now and will be headed back to West Chester later today. Please remember their grief and exhaustion, and pass your thoughts, prayers and encouragement along through email, blog comment, snail mail or Facebook message instead of overwhelming them with voicemails and text messages.

Jesus weeps with us all today, not because of Trent's death, but because of our pain. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our troubles" (2 Corinthians 1:3). Prayers for Jill, Bryce, Sophia and family, and for all of us as we grieve the loss of our beloved Coach Todd.

Update #68 - Giving Thanks

The progress may seem slow and the updates infrequent, but Trent continues to improve. Doctors are gradually working to wean him off of the machines and medicines that have been allowing his body to rest and recuperate since the transplant, and they are pleased with where he is eleven days post-transplant.

Jill remains in Cleveland, and Bryce and Sophia are enjoying turkey with their extended family.

Today, as you sit around your own Thanksgiving tables, please include Trent, Jill, Sophia and Bryce in your prayers of thankfulness. Then hug your loved ones and take a few extra bites of turkey, stuffing, potatoes and pie for Coach Todd.

Update #67 - Slow and Steady

A quiet day in Cleveland, which is worthy of prayers of thanks. Trent is moving toward recovery, and the doctors continue to watch him carefully, taking every precaution to protect him and to ensure that there are no setbacks. Trent is still getting assistance with breathing as he recovers from surgery, but his new lung is looking great.

To set your minds at ease, please know that updates are often slow to come, but at this point, no news is, in fact, good news. Jill is doing okay, but she is exhausted and only sends information when something has changed and new details need to be communicated. Also, remember that the updates on this blog are coming directly from Jill and are being written using the words that Bryce and Sophia are hearing. For the benefit of the whole Todd family, please avoid speculating and asking questions that cannot be answered. Trent's new lung is in, he is resting, and as slow as it may seem, recovery is happening.

If you haven't already, please read Update #66 and consider donating to help the Todds monetarily so their focus can remain on physical, not financial, recovery. When you click on the Donate button, you will notice that the PayPal is being run through Trent and Jill's church, WellSpring Community Church, but all of the money is in a separate fund and goes directly to the Todds.

Also, if you are looking for something more hands on to do, Bryce's last lacrosse game of the fall is tomorrow (Thursday, November 21st) at 7:30 p.m., and his parents obviously will not be able to be there. If you have a free hour and a loud voice, head to Gametime in Fairfield (530 Quality Boulevard, Fairfield, Ohio 45014) and fill in for Coach Todd by cheering for his son!

Praying for a restful night, for Trent, Jill, Sophia, Bryce and the rest of the extended Todd clan.

Update #66 - How You Can Help

No new updates from Cleveland, but if you are looking for something to do in addition to praying, please read the note below from Trent and Jill's friend Teresa.

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A Time to Count our Blessings

It is the time of year when we all give thanks for our blessings.  I am thankful that 30 years ago at Miami University I met Trent Todd.  Trent was, and still is, the kind of person that makes you feel good.  He listens intently, laughs infectiously, hugs tightly and loves big!  Over the last 30 years we have shared life together:  marriages (mine to Chris and his to Jill), the births of our children (our 3 boys, to which Trent is the Godfather, and beautiful Sophia and Bryce), accomplishments, failures, joy and sadness.  While life has put more miles between us then we would prefer, our families have remained FAMILY.

Sadly, about 7 years ago, Trent developed idiopathic (no known cause) pulmonary fibrosis.  Two and a half years ago, he was blessed with a new set of lungs through a double transplant and he recovered magnificently.  And we all gave thanks!  Then this past spring, he was exposed to a virus that awoke his immune system and began attacking his new lungs.  Trent went back on the transplant list, this time for one lung, and praise God the new lung arrived on the morning of 11/17/13.  

What a blessing, but the journey is not over and Trent and his family must focus on his recovery.  As I have watched Trent, Jill and the kids ride this roller coaster I have often found myself asking “Why Trent?  He is such a good person; a far better person than I.”    And also, “How can we help?”  Unfortunately we may never have the answer to “Why” but I can tell you “How we can help.”  

This family needs our financial support - plain and simple.  The financial burden associated with one transplant, let alone two, is more than any family can bear.  I can assure you that Trent and Jill would never ask for donations.   In fact, I know you all have received the same response from Jill when you’ve asked “What can I do?” or “How can I help?”   Her response is always “Pray.”  And Trent has said from day one, “I'll keep pushing. You keep praying!”  There is no doubt about it, we will continue to pray for Trent, Jill, Sophia and Bryce through the recovery process, but they also need our help financially.  

So I ask, what is a breath worth to you?  Is it worth missing Starbucks in the morning, brown bagging for a week instead of eating out, or not going to a movie this week?  This is my passionate plea to anyone who reads this, whether you know the Todd family or not.  I ask that you do two things:

1. That you click on the link at the bottom of this post or on the right side of the blog and donate.  Whether it be a single dollar or a week of Starbucks...IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
   
   

AND

2. That you share the link to this page on your Facebook, Twitter, email distribution, etc.   We need to make this miracle happen.

I am thankful that God brought Trent, Jill, Sophia and Bryce into my life.  I pray that as you count your blessings, you remember this extraordinary family.

With love and gratitude,

Teresa Carey

Update #65 - Keep Praying!

Trent continues to be monitored in the ICU as he gets accustomed to his new lung. Jill is planning to stay in Cleveland with him as doctors monitor his vitals and progress. Please keep praying!

Update #64 - A Great Sunday

Jill got to see Trent around 6:00 p.m., and he looks great! Covered in a warming blanket and resting peacefully.

If tonight goes smoothly, the doctors are hoping to take out his breathing tube tomorrow and give his new lung a chance to work. For tonight, though, Trent is recovering, Jill is happy, and we can all sleep in peace...after saying one more prayer of thanks.

Update #63 - So Far, So Good!

The lung is in, and Trent is doing well so far! More updates in a few hours, but don't stop praying!

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine...

Update #62 - Lungs!

Cleveland has lungs, and Trent is headed for surgery at 8:30 a.m.! If your prayer intensity, frequency and fervor can be increased, now is the time!

Update #61 - Do Not Worry About Tomorrow...

...because tonight we are thankful - Trent was approved by the Transplant Board for a single lung transplant!

Before his name can officially be placed on the Transplant List, the doctors need to remove the Greenfield filter that they used to deal with Trent's blood clots, a procedure that will happen in the next 24 hours. Once his name is on the List, the waiting begins again until a suitable donor is found. The donor will provide a single lung to replace Trent's right lung, a procedure that should be more well tolerated than double retransplantation considering everything his body has already been through. And before you ask, yes, it is possible for Trent to live quite well with a single healthy lung.

Jill, Trent and the kids are exhausted and overwhelmed, but very grateful. This is by no means the end of the road, but it is a HUGE step in the right direction. And it should come as no surprise that Coach Todd is already getting himself ready for the next step, pushing himself (even from his hospital bed) to get healthier. He slept well last night and was in good spirits today, and he is even learning to kick people out of his room so he can rest when he needs to, not an easy thing for our gregarious extravert.

For anybody in the Cleveland area (or anyone else who is contemplating a trip), until his transplant, Trent is not accepting visitors outside of Jill and the kids. He is focused on resting and getting stronger, and the risk of infection is too high, especially during flu season. Please don't let the visitation ban stop you from sending your support - Trent's address at the hospital is posted on the right side of this page, and you can always leave a comment at the bottom of the post with words of encouragement.

Trent's still pushing - with a GIANT boost from the Transplant Board today. Please keep praying!

Update #60 - Patience...

...is a virtue. At least that's what I've been told. And for better or for worse, we are all going to become a little more virtuous over the next few days.

As I mentioned in the last post, approval for retransplantation is more complicated than for a first transplant, and the Transplant Board has proved it. After a full day of discussion, they decided to bring in an additional doctor for more information and input before making a final decision. At this point, it looks like the Todds may not have an answer until the end of the week.

Trent has a huge team of supporters at Cleveland Clinic, and they are doing everything possible to push the Board toward a unanimous, "Yes."  Please continue to do your part by praying and praying and praying some more.

As before, you will have the decision as soon as it is available. Prayers for peace, comfort, understanding...and patience.

Update #59 - Breaking News

Monday morning, 7:15. Imprint it in your brain. Write it on your heart. Post it on your Facebook wall. Tweet it to your followers. Then, start praying. Because Monday morning at 7:15, Trent's case goes before the Transplant Board again.

Retransplantation is less straightforward, and Trent's case is more complicated this time around. But we have a God who can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. So we ask. We imagine. And we wait.

The news will be posted here as soon as we have it. Until then, the testing is completed. A Greenfield filter was implanted to deal with the blood clots. Jill and the kids are in Cleveland visiting. Trent keeps pushing. And we keep praying.

Update #58 - All's Quiet on the Cleveland Front

Jill and Sophia got to spend the day in Cleveland with Trent yesterday, and things seem calm. Lunch and a field trip with his girls (to the hospital's McDonald's) was certainly a welcome break after a week of doctors and nurses.

Testing continues as Trent prepares to go back on the transplant list. As he keeps pushing, he asks that you be praying for:

Peace
Comfort
Understanding

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort..."

Update #57 - Progress

So much good news! Trent is out of ICU and in a regular room. His oxygen level and heart rate are both good, and Jill and the kids were able to talk with him tonight. He was even nagging Jill about some appointments she needed to cancel - showing some of his Coach Todd motivation, I guess.  :-)

When Trent arrived in Cleveland, the doctors found some blood clots in his lungs - before you panic, it sounded scary to me too, but they put him on a blood thinner, and nobody seems overly anxious. The clots actually help to explain why Trent was having a hard time breathing on Friday and why he is feeling better today.

Things are still moving toward a second transplant, but for now, Trent is breathing okay, talking, sleeping at night, and under the best possible care that he could be. As Jill said in her most recent text to me, "God is good." Keep praying!

Update #56 - Getting Settled

Trent made it safely to Cleveland last night and is getting settled. Currently, he is in the ICU for monitoring, but he will be transferred to the Heart/Lung Unit soon. Less than a day since the decision to go back to Cleveland, and already, he is doing much better.

Jill is in Cleveland with Trent and will decide whether to stay or head back to Cincinnati once everything is calm. Bryce and Sophia both got to stay busy serving at the food pantry this morning and are enjoying the rest of the day with friends.

Pray for a quiet weekend and a smooth transfer out of the ICU. For the time being, no news is once again good news.

Update #55 - Return to Cleveland, Return to the Blog

In a world where no news is good news, the reappearance of this blog page is not a welcome sight.

Late this past spring, Trent picked up what for most of us would be a minor cold but for him was an automatic threat to his new lungs. Over the past few months, in spite of changes in medications, inpatient treatments and trial therapies in Cleveland, the cold has set off a chain reaction that has caused a steady decline in his lung function and his overall health. For anyone who has seen him in the past few weeks especially, this information is only a confirmation of what you already know.

As I type, Trent and Jill are headed back to Cleveland Clinic after a particularly difficult day, week and month. While treatments have been (and will be) continuing, Trent's doctor, Dr. Budev, has also begun the testing necessary to present him to the Transplant Board for a second transplant. As it was the first time around, the process is long and arduous, and the result is not guaranteed.

A few things to keep in mind:

1. Dr. Budev and her team have been with Trent from the beginning and have been hands-on (meaning Dr. Budev has done his bronchoscopies herself, something she would normally pass on to an intern) since day one. Trent and Jill are part of their family, and the team has been fighting with and for Trent as much as each of us has been inspired to fight because of who Coach Todd is.

2. For most lung transplant recipients, episodes of what is called "acute rejection" (the situation Trent's cold set off) normally happen within the first six months after receiving new lungs; Trent was almost completely healthy for TWO YEARS! While this news is incredible, is also has his transplant team at a loss for how to handle his very rare situation, especially because of how quickly it has progressed.

3. Trent and Jill have been very forthcoming with Sophia and Bryce, and the whole family has had a phenomenal support system in place all along. Hopefully this post will serve only to re-expand that network.

We will have more information once Trent arrives in Cleveland, but for the time being, please kickstart your prayers again. I'll update as we know more.