Recycling Results!!!

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped out Saturday, December 5th in our efforts in the Collection Cans to Crush Cancer! We had over 150 families participate Saturday, December in our recycling drive to raise funds for the Larsen family. With everyone's help, we were able to raise $1037 to go directly to the Larsens. We now have raised well over $2000 in two drives -and we're just recycling cans and plastic bottles! With all your love and support for the Larsens and such a easy program to get the kids involved in every month, this drive continues to grow and bring in new donors, volunteers, and funds!

We wanted to send everyone a big Thank You for your support! As we enjoy the Holdiays, let's not forget all the wonderful blessing we have with our families, our friends, and our communities! Today, let's start over to raise even more money for the Larsens in January!

Our next drive will be after the holidays - we're thinking Saturday, January 9th. You will receive updates throughout the holiday. Please encourage your neighbors to help this special cause. Have a great holiday season - think plastic and alumunim containers, and let's raise more money as we welcome 2010 and a great New Year! God Bless to You All.

Robin Edmond
Randy Gusikoski
Pat Guinet
Liz Haughton

Recycling Pick Up!

The Crushing Cans for Cancer team is getting ready to do its second pick-up in Northwood Pointe, and our first one in Northpark. The date is set for Saturday, December 5th from 8 am to 9:30 am.

We’ll have our Community Champions in Northwood Pointe out early to pick-up the recyclables left out by our Volunteers at their door, and we will re-assemble at Meadowood Park to separate, bag, and load into a huge truck to go to the recycling facility.

The Northpark team will be doing its first drive the same day, and at the same time at the Club House in Northpark. Volunteers can either come to the park before 9:30 am with their recyclables or have their recyclables out by 8 am for pick-up on Saturday morning. If you choose to leave them at your house, Northpark Community Champions will canvass their neighborhoods and pick-up what is left out. If you’d like to participate in the separating and bagging, please come to the Club House area and we’ll be set up at 8 am to finish up the drive.

The Northwood Pointe volunteers will be by at 9:30 am to pick-up the Northpark contribution to deliver to the recycling facility.

Thank you to everyone for the time and donation. Northwood alone last month raise over $900 for Todd and his family, and we’re hoping to smash that this weekend. See you there!

If you have any questions, please contact Redmond@help-our-coach.org for more information.

~Tiffany

Happy Thanksgiving

This time of the year especially, we are reminded to voice what we're thankful for. My heart is so full of thanks that I just have to blog it to all of you.
I am most thankful for my amazing wife Kelly. We are, without a doubt, going through this together. She is dealing with all of this so well and I cherish our relationship and admire her abilities to hold our world together. Then there's our darling son Garrett. My life changed when he came along. He's turning one next week and already walks, plays the air guitar and dances every time he hears music. What a rock star!
Family is the most important thing in the world to me. I have been so fortunate to have my family around me every step of the way. My parents have made countless trips from Phoenix to be by my bedside, fundraisers and events.
My sister Tiffany has done so much including setting up this blog and fielding every email, call that comes through it. Not to mention traveling to attend and help manage the events. Tiff, you rock!
My sister TJ who's been on bed rest with her second child who has called or emailed me just about everyday with love and support. She also handmade all those cool orange purse and cell phone charms and jewelry that so many of you now own.
I am so lucky to have the best in laws in the world too. My Mom in law has been so helpful with Garrett and my home care by pushing water on me, making me meals and taking my temp. Patty, thank you so much for your love and help!
Hillary, Kelly's sister is living with us and is so helpful with Garrett. I appreciate her so much and can't thank her enough for all she does for us.
I am thankful for all my friends who are so involved with helping us with fundraisers, meals, love and prayers. Kelly and I are so grateful for all the people doing so many wonderful things for us on a daily basis.
I must tell every one of the kids that I have coached or taught over the years how much I miss you. You are the reason I do what I do. I love working with kids and I really miss being a part of their lives as I go through this. It's gonna be a while still, but I will be back and we will pick up where we left off!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

Getting closer to transplant-City of Hope

Kelly and I visited City of Hope last week and met the team that will be helping me through transplant. We were so impressed with the staff and facility. I will be in good hands for sure. The plan is...one more round of chemo at Hoag this month then off to COH for one last round of chemo and a dose of full body radiation. At that point I will be ready for transplant. Of course we have to find a donor match but the doctors are hopeful we will find it on the registry. The search is going on right now so get on the registry! I will be at COH for about 4 months while being closely monitored. They tell me it will be about a year after transplant and I will be able to start working again and get on with my life. Yeah!

Todd Rockin' Leukemia Golf Scramble

There is going to be a golf scramble for Todd on the 12th of December in Scottsdale Arizona.

Please follow this link for the details https://acrobat.com/#d=ct8eZY7VyA9j-8BLh5ou5g

Click here for a registration form that you can print out and mail in.

We hope to see you there!

Questions? Contact Sandra at sandrafosberg@yahoo.com

Blood and Marrow Drive for Todd

Sue Lips has put together a blood and bone marrow drive for Todd on the 15th of December at Brywood Elementary School from 8:30- 2:30. If you still want to get on the bone marrow registry, now is your chance!

The great thing about this drive is that the blood collected will go straight to Todd.

Please come support a great cause. You will save a life! Thank you to Sue for all her hard work!!!!!

Brywood Elementary School

1 WestwoodIrvine, CA 92620

(949) 936-5500

Questions? Contact Sue Lips at susanlips@hotmail.com

Good News For Kids

A BIG thank you to all who helped with the Good News benefit. It was such a great night and so fun to be together. Here are some photos of the evening...



IMA kids rocked!!!!

Honoring Todd!

Dad, Mom, Todd and Tiffany (we missed you Tyler and Tina)
~Tiffany

Getting ready for round 3

I was surprised when my doctor let me come home so early after round two. I was expecting to be in the hospital several weeks but it ended up only being a week. He was confident I could recover at home just as well. That made me happy. Any chance I can spend with my family I'll take it! (plus my bed at home is a lot more comfortable)

Unfortunately, we found out that my sister Tiffany is not a Bone Marrow match. That made her sad....Tiffany, don't worry, I still love you ; ) My other sister TJ will be tested and we'll see if she's a match. If not, we'll go to the National Bone Marrow Registry. Have you registered yet?? My doctor said it is common that siblings don't always match but you find one on the registry. Please register! You may save a life. Maybe even mine. There's some bragging rights for you.

I got the staples out of my head last week and it's healing nicely. The Ommaya reservior will stay in forever so I'll always have a little bump on my noggin. Oh well, once my hair grows back you'll never know it's there.

After getting 3 units of platelets and 2 units of whole blood, my counts started climbing rapidly. That's a good thing. Thanx to all who have donated blood and platelets in my name. You rock! My doc says I'm doing great and I'm set to go in for round 3 on November 30th. I get to celebrate Thanksgiving and Garrett's first birthday at home. Woo hoo!!

A huge thanx to everyone involved in the incredible fundraisers thus far. We are so humbled at how amazing our community is. We love and appreciate all of you who are helping us through this tough time. We could not do it without you all.

Jewelry for Todd

Lisa Gottschalk was one of the vendors at Toddstock and she sells Cookie Lee jewelry. She has offered to extend the Toddstock giving until Todd is DONE with his Chemo treatments. This is a very generous offer as she is giving back almost all of the proceeds (minus the shipping costs only) she receives from Todd Supporters.

Lisa Gottschalk
Independent Cookie Lee Jewelry Consultant
www.CookieLee.biz/LisaGottschalk

714-915-2552
lisa4jewelry@aol.com
Thank you Lisa!
~Tiffany

IMA Concert

Please don't miss this awesome concert to support Todd! It is on November 18th at Pioneer Middle School. It is going to be so fun!!! Thank you Sean for putting this together. These kids are amazing...thank you for sharing your talent with us and in Todds behalf!!!
Click on the poster for all the details...

Our first Recycling day!

This is an email I received from Robin Edmond...

Over the weekend, Northwood Pointe had their first recyclable pick-up for Todd. On Saturday, we picked up cans plastics in over 80 homes on the Northwood Pointe side, and were able to raise $809 for the Larsen’s. As this is an on-going effort, we plan on having another pick-up in 2-3 weeks again. Please recycle your plastics and aluminum cans for this drive. We hope to continue to get the kids involved and have many more drives throughout 2009 and 2010. God Bless Todd!






This is so awesome!!! Thank you, thank you to everyone involved. Please sign up if you haven't already! Visit http://recycle.help-our-coach.org~Tiffany

Ommaya Reservoir

An Ommaya Reservoir is a small plastic device used to carry medicine to fluids in the brain and spinal cord. It also allows samples of cerebrospinal fluid (fluid around the brain and spinal cord) to be taken
for testing. I get one! So lucky!


Here I am as a mummy. Fitting for Halloween don't you think? This was the night before my surgery...

You can see the dots on my head where they attached the immobilizer during surgery.


Now chemo can be dropped straight into my brain and spine. The staples will come out in a couple weeks.

Good News for Kids!

The Good News for Kids annual Gala is on November 19th form 5:15 to 9:30 at the Grove Theater in Aneheim.
Todd is on the committee for this event and his bands play there every year. It is so fun and such a great cause. This year the benefit will include Todd. Please come and aid two great causes. The entertainment is stellar too! For more information please visit http://goodnewsforkids.org/gala/index.htm
I will see you there!
~TIffany

Recycling for Todd

After several weeks of planning, enlisting volunteers, and donors from Northwood Pointe, the Collecting Cans to Crush Cancer team is ready to do their first pick-up in Northwood Pointe on Saturday, November 7th at 8 am. If you have signed up to donate plastics and aluminum cans, please leave them in front of your house next Saturday morning. Please do your best to separate the plastics from the aluminum (and remember, no glass). Trucks will drive through each neighborhood to collect the donation and redeem it into Cash for the Larsens. Look for an email from Randy Gusikoski and Robin Edmond for more details, or click on their names here to email them.
If you haven’t signed up yet and would like to do so before our first pick-up, please go to http://recycle.help-our-coach.org/

As this effort continues, we’ll be doing recyclable pick-ups to help the Larsen family as Todd overcomes his fight with Leukemia. Thank you again to all our volunteers (almost all kids in our neighborhoods) who have joined this effort to help support the Larsen family.

~Tiffany

Thank You!!

All we can say is "WOW!" Todd and I are in total awe of our family, friends and community. Toddstock, the "Movie Night" and the Rock n' Splash Relay Bash were absolutely amazing! A huge THANK YOU to all who contributed to the events. We are humbled and honored by all of your love and support. I can't imagine where we would be without each and every one of you.
-Kelly

Movie Night- Are You Scared???

The Edmond’s are Having Movie Night to Benefit Todd Larsen & Family!

Join us on Friday, October 30th to watch
The Sixth Sense
On our driveway – 56 Ashcrest, Bainbridge Homes
$5 donation to go directly to the Larsen’s
Event starts @ 6:30 pm; Movie @ 7 pm

Bring a beach chair or blanket!

For the last 8 years our coach Todd Larsen has been coaching children in our community. Over this period Todd has trained hundreds of children in swimming and music. Even if he hasn’t trained your children we’re sure they know someone he has trained. Unfortunately in September Coach Todd was diagnosed with Leukemia and will need to undergo a bone marrow transplant. On that day of his diagnosis, he had to stop all of his coaching activity, which is his entire source of income. Coach Todd is married and has a 10 month old son. Coach Todd is our HERO.

Questions? email Robin: redmond2@cox.net
cell: 714-745-7740

Coach Todd's Rock 'n' Splash Relay Bash

This Saturday is the swim bash. We hope you will come and be a part of this AWESOME benefit for Todd!!! Click here for registration forms and to find all the info you need.
~Tiffany

Toddstock

What a fabulous day! Toddstock was amazing! We all had so much fun. Thank you Susie, Christine and your team!!! You guys rock!!!! The OCRegister was at Toddstock and there was a write up posted this morning as well as a video. Here is the link to the article, video, and photos http://www.ocregister.com/articles/larsen-todd-toddstock-2623250-coach-orange


There will be more photos to follow...email me your favorites! It was so nice to meet so many of you. I am happy to have faces to go with your names that I have come to love so much!!!!

~Tiffany


The registration/ticket booth was busy all day long- hooray!

Bone Marrow Registry

Todd and Garrett enjoying a great concert!

Mom Larsen

Todd and Tiffany

Here is video clip of the walk...you all look so good in orange!

Garage Sale for Todd

We are planning a neighborhood Garage Sale this Saturday, October 24 at 2 Rolling Hills - (Lissoy's House in Northpark) Please bring the items that you would like to sell to the Lissoy's home any time this week (just leave items under the covered breezeway between our two garages). All profits will be donated to Todd & Kelly. Questions? Contact Lissoys at ChristineLissoy@cox.net

~Tiffany

Toddstock

It is here!!! Toddstock is this Sunday. Don't miss this GREAT day!!!

Here is the registration form that you can print out and drop by Susan Ingalls house(address on the form), or bring with you to Toddstock.


2 more fun things have been added to an already fabulous day...


Cash for Gold: Bring your Gold to Toddstock…We will have MacTavish Jewlers there giving cash for gold the day of the event and giving ToddStock (Todd and Kelly) back 20%.


You can also bring your “friendly” dog (don’t want to scare little kids) as we will have a vendor trimming their nails on the spot for $10 and giving 100% back to ToddStock.




Click on the flyer to enlarge...

Todd on youtube

Todd was approached by Gina Cousineau who lost her son, Evan, to adrenoleukodystrophy and wanted to involve Todd in her quest to promote being a donor. She started the Be a Hero Become a Donor organization. Todd agreed to be a part of this great effort. His interviews with her are on youtube and can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI0PEF3AzJo

Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usmeKaQsjf4&feature=related
~Tiffany

Another Miracle!!

Hot off the press..
Todd and I just received a call from our Doctor. Based upon early results of a BM biopsy done yesterday, the lab found NO new blasts in his marrow. AMAZING news! Basically, after the first round of chemo his body is growing only healthy cells. This does not change the course of treatment and does not mean we are out of the woods. What it does tell us is that we won this battle and that the cancer can be tamed...

Thank you for your prayers, thoughts, support and love. Thank you for fighting this battle with us!

OCRegister

A local paper called the OCRegister did an article on Todd. You can click on more photos to see some great photos of the Larsens. Check it out at
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/larsen-todd-family-2606906-leukemia-supporters

~Tiffany

Good blood test

I had a blood test yesterday and the numbers were near normal. My Doctor was pleased and so was Kelly and I! That means the chemo is doing what it's supposed to be and my body is doing what it's supposed to- building new "good" cells. I will have another bone marrow biopsy on Thursday to see how clean my white blood cells are. the Doctor is expecting good results based on my blood work. I'm really enjoying my time at home. I wish I wasn't tired all the time but just being here is wonderful. Thank you every body for your love and support!

The Best Welcome Home Ever!!

I was amazed at the royal "welcome home" I got today. A huge thanks to everybody who decorated the neighborhood and my house today. You all rock!

Ribbons tied on the trees...




My garage door...

I am so glad to be home!!!

Before I left the hospital, Kelly thought it would be fun to decorate my head...

"Todd Rocks"

Hello all,

We thought you would enjoy this photo of our friend Todd and the excitement over Activision’s new version of Guitar Hero, the Todd Larsen Guitar Hero 5. We think we have a winner here and as you can see, Todd approves. This is a wonderful promotional opportunity to let you know that we are planning the “Todd Rocks” benefit concert featuring the Irvine Music Academy bands along with some of Todd’s friends and special guest star rockers. You won’t want to miss this. We will forward the details soon.

Yours,

Mike Kerr, Tiffany Hale, Chuck Browne and Bill Sanderson (The Todd Rocks Organizing Committee)

Change of plans

This roller coaster ride is crazy! Yesterday I was told we were starting round two-today is a different story. I'm actually coming home!! The Doctors were baffled as to why my white counts were still leukemic. It's not normal after phase 1 chemo. After digging deeper they found I am still in a down trend in my chemo regimen and my counts are still dropping. So, what that means is the bad cells are still going away rapidly and my recent bone marrow biopsy was a little premature. (and I hate those things) I will get yet another biopsy next week that will be a better (more timely) test of what's going on. I am excited to get out of the hospital and be home with my family! I will have to be very careful being around people. Especially now during the flu season. Masks and Anti-bacterial hand wash is a must. But I can live with that. Thank you for the love, prayers and support! Miracles happen!!

Bone Marrow Registry

You can register yourself with the bone marrow registry this weekend in Irvine.
You must be 18 - 61 years of age to donate. They will swab your cheek with a q-tip. Easy! They will still be setting up at the two upcoming events, but this will allow everyone to get the ball rolling now - it takes 4-6 weeks for them to complete the matching process. When you register, you need to put Todd's name down I also want you to know the process of donating bone marrow is much like donating plasma or platelets. Thank heaven for modern medicine!!

~Tiffany

October 9-11 - Marrow Registry and Blood Drive - Irvine, CA
3rd Annual "Give Blood Play Hockey" Tournament
Be The Match Registry and Hemacare Blood Drive
Friday, 10/9 2-9pm
Saturday, 10/10 10am-5:30pm
Sunday, 10/11 10am-4:30pm
The 949 Roller Hockey Center3150 Barranca Parkway Irvine, CA 92606-5202

Help Our Coach- Recycling

A recycling program has been set up to raise money for Todd and his family during this difficult time. The goal is to get the children in his community involved in helping Coach Todd. Please go to recycle.help-our-coach.org/ for information on how you and your children can get involved. We hope to start the program in October and need about 60 Community Champions to help with the distribution of our flyer to all the 3,500 homes in our community (North Park and Northwood Pointe) and with the pick up of containers when the program gets going. On the web site you can click on the links to donate goods or volunteer to distribute flyers and pick up goods. Thank you for your help and please pass the word to your friends.
Questions? Contact Randy Gusikoski randallg@help-our-coach.org

Round Two..Ding, Ding

After the first round of Chemo my blood counts started climbing...which is a good thing. But, the white blood cells that my body was producing ended up being "evil". Over 50% were leukemic. This means that my cancer is VERY aggressive and I need to start round two of Chemo immediately. Obviously I've got a fight on my hands. But as Kelly reminded me, everything I do is 150% so why not this too. My attitude is there is only one option - Beat this monster! We're looking at a bone marrow transplant much earlier now. We are making plans to get to City of Hope as soon as we get the green light. My sisters Tiffany and TJ will be tested for a match and we'll replace my bad cells with good cells. Then my new cells will start to do what they need to do to get me home for good.

"Toddstock"

This will be an event not to miss!
~Tiffany

Sunday, October 25th
On Northpark's club house lawn
k- walk/jog starting at 11:30, registration @ 11
$20 includes t-shirt/Family of 4 $60
Event immediately following with Music from SOR and Wings of a Messenger
Food- La Sirena Grill, Cheeseburgers, Sweets & Wine Styles
Stella Dot Jewelry, Childrens Boutique, and much more.
Come enjoy the day and honor our friend, coach and teacher.

In need of:
Raffle Items
Silent Auction items (theme baskets, getaways, etc)
“Gently” worn or new Children’s clothing
Families to bake cookies, cakes, treats
Any businesses who would like an opportunity to share what they do and “Give Back” to this great family.
100% of all proceeds from this event will go to help support the Larsen family.

Questions? Want to help? Contact Susan Ingalls at susaningalls@sbcglobal.net or call (714) 308-8884.

Coach Todd's Rock 'N' Splash Relay Bash

Does this sound fun or what? Don't miss out on this awesome party!!!! Thank you Liz and team!
~Tiffany

What: Coach Todd's Rock 'N' Splash Relay Bash
When: Saturday, October 31st 9am - 2pm
Where: William Woollett Aquatics Center, 4601 Walnut Ave., Irvine, CA 92604
Who: Swimmers and non-swimmers of all ages that want to make a difference!
Why: Raise funds for the Larsen Family and raise awareness about leukemia

Registration fee of $10 will include:
- Coach Todd's custom latex swim cap
- Bag tag
- One raffle ticket for great prizes
- Lunch

Swimmers who raise pledges will win Rockin' prizes!
$25 - Custom Rock 'N' Splash T-shirt
$50 - Orange "rayban" style sunglasses and Custom Rock 'N' Splash T-shirt
$100 - $10 iTunes card, Orange "rayban" style sunglasses and Custom Rock 'N' Splash T-shirt
$250 - All of the above and a signed Jason Lezak swim cap!

Swimmers are encouraged to:
- Register in teams of eight (Individual swimmers or teams of four will be combined for a total of eight swimmers on a team)
- Choose a creative name for their team
- Set a team fundraising goal and work together to raise pledges
- Ask friends and families to join them

Prizes/Awards will be given to the:
- Top individual fundraiser
- Top three teams who raise the most funds
- Teams with the "Most Spirit"
- Team with the "Most Creative Name"
- ISL team with the most participants including "Ghost Swimmers"

Tentative Timeline and Festivities:
9:00 a.m. - Check-in, pledge/donation drop off and prize pick up
"Orange" pancake breakfast being served
10:00 a.m. - Warm-up
10:30 a.m. - 8 x 100 freestyle relay in honor of Coach Todd
11:00 a.m.
- Wacky Relays and Contests
- Music and Entertainment
- Olympic Medalists Kaitlin Sandeno, John Mykkanen and Janet Evans on deck for autographs and photos
swim cap for auction!!!
- 'Lil Shavers Shaved Ice
- Bone Marrow Registry and Leukemia Booths
12:00 p.m. - Lunch (Swimmers eat free - Food available for purchase)
1:00 p.m. - Awards and Raffle Prizes

Registration and Donations***
In Person: You may register at Woollett Aquatics Facility in the lobby: Monday-Friday 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. begining Wednesday October 7th - Friday October 30th.
By Mail: Attn: Elizabeth Eastin, PO Box 60552, Irvine, CA 92602 (email confirmation will be sent)
Donations can be made at any time, but pledges should be turned in at the event to receive prizes.

***Checks for registration or donation should be made payable to Todd and Kelly Larsen

Questions? Want to help? Contact Liz Eastin at lizzylew@sbcglobal.net or call 714-697-3306.

"Hair" today, gone tomorrow

So, Todd's hair was starting to come out. Although it was a good look for the upcoming holiday, he was a bit early for Halloween, so he shaved it off. He looks good bald, don't you think? Leave it to Todd to pull it off!!

~Tiffany

Before...





After...

14 days and counting...

The first two weeks have had its ups and downs. When I am on chemo I feel run down and sick, but when I am not...I feel fantastic. My appetite and taste buds have come back and all in all I am feeling pretty normal. Monday I will get my second bone marrow biopsy to see how my cancer cell growth is slowing. As for now, I am in a neutropenic precautionary status...which means no fresh fruit, veggies or raw foods due to bacteria. Because of my low immune system I am very susceptible to disease and infection.

I love the contact with everyone via email, twitter and comments on this blog site. You help keep my spirits up and remind me of what is most important in life...friends and family. A HUGE shout out to all my kids! Keep Rockin', swimmin', and just being the great kids that you are!

Love you all,
Todd

We got some photos of our visit today. I love my family!

Clip Clop is one of our favorites!


Happy Family...


The view outside my room...


They removed my IV, finally! You can also see my "super pic"


We had Garrett on the 4th floor of this building just 10 months ago!


Here I am my 2nd day in the hospital...

Todd's Diagnosis

On Friday, September 18th, Todd went to the emergency room with a swollen leg. It was determined that he had DVT or deep vein thrombosis for an unexplained reason. They did a blood test, which showed his white blood cell count to be extremely elevated. This lead to the diagnosis of Leukemia. After MORE tests, we learned that he had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or ALL. ALL is an aggressive and rapidly spreading type of Leukemia that is most commonly found in children. His Doctor informed us that he probably didn't have the disease for more than a couple of weeks! We were shocked...so much can happen so fast! Todd started his chemotherapy on Sunday, September 20th and will receive his last dose for this round on the following Friday. From there we will see what happens...

This blog was created to keep our family and friends informed about the journey we are beginning. Todd is a strong man with tons of love and support around him. We are confident he can beat this! Please feel free to comment on the blog or pass it along to anyone you feel would be interested in it. We love you all!