Dear TeamToddTBI,

Naturally I completed several flights: “https://drive.google.com/file/d/18RTCHDtZj3ZYQat7SKJUWJ87h7wq0ht-/view?usp=sharing”  Not shown is a flight completed with JMU engineering student, Daniel, from KGAI to KBWI.  We spun the rear wheel with a Wahoo speed sensor to control the FlightGear’s throttle position.  The upside-down mountain bike is not as authentic as a bike on a trainer; but it was close enough that it does not require too much to imagine the design intent :”https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vXFl7FObUCIww-NrQvYwTSCySwC2MD_K/view?usp=sharing”.  My favorite sister expended many favors owed to her to get all the equipment into her home.

 

This week my Uncle Joe fell with a bleed in his brain.  His family was with him when life support was removed.  His funeral is this Saturday.  My family and all the other many Savels, will celebrate his life on Saturday.

Libby allowed me to prepare seafood every evening for dinner.  Remembrance of my days in Elyria was revived.  We had Scottish salmon, halibut cheeks (not butt checks!), cod “https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_8nNJXUELO02OUr4zh2iUuH5RcpoZzJp/view?usp=sharing”, and rock fish “https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ol-zu8o5NKUfX-xQ08zF7eSeFRMhUFle/view?usp=sharing”.  She allowed me to keep the skin on the Rockfish.  I suspect some think the fish skin is inedible.  If you have ever seen a grizzly bear eat salmon, you know the skin is consumed first; the remainder of the fish may or may not be discarded.  I wish I had let the larger rock fish filet to cook an extra 15 seconds.

 

Libby has learned the location of multiple breweries that we enjoyed.  I had IPAs every day.  Libby tried other brews with mixed results.

 

During church, our behavior on Sunday yielded pancakes == we were both good.  The Mass celebrant was a CNU alum that knew Libby and remembered when I had my accident.  

 

St. Luigi, thank you for your intercession. St. Carlo Acutis, pray for me.

Hello, TEAMTODD! Thanks for staying with us.

Todd has enjoyed the last few days with Libby.

I went with Todd, Friday,  to Union Station where he boarded a bus to JMU.  Easy Peasy.  Todd will come home the same way.  I will meet him at Union Station and we will take Metro to Glenmont.  

I must share with you, My Brother, Joe, age 79 died today after a serious fall on Friday.  Please keep us all in your thoughts and prayers.  

 MONDAY:  Todd is back with us.  He had a great time in Libbyland but seems to be glad to be home and back with his routines.

Pray for us as we gather together to celebrate the life of my brother, Joe.  A beautiful family of 7 kids, spouses and 10 grandkids were with him as he left us. The funeral will be this Saturday.

 August 3, 2025

Dear TeamToddTBI,

I completed virtual flights: “https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MGGBpgLiDkPHxVbaeYdoAQ6h-hxE4iQH/view?usp=sharing” I tried, this week, to have seven good flights but only had five. Not shown, was a good flight from KGAI to KBW (Gaithersburg,Md to BWI) That flight enabled me to demonstrate my bike’s ability to fly for Rockville High classmate, Chandrasekhar Ramakrishnan.

Sekhar is a good friend from my HS years who lives in Switzerland. He was “in town” visiting family and came by to see me, my “plane” and we enjoyed lunch together after.

On Friday, I will use my discounted metro rail pass to navigate to Union Station to board a bus bound for Harrisonburg, VA to visit my favorite sister. My visit to Rockingham will engender a one day delay to the update to this site.

My credit card was compromised as I sought to understand BLE speed sensors better.

I ordered an additional Wahoo Speed Sensor to enable me to share the hardware required to fly their bike with someone else. Not provided is the athletic drive and determination, the bike, bike trainer, large screen, etc. [Do you know anyone that does not ride their stationary bike facing a large TV screen??]

I passed webinar, Current Trends in Energy Generation, to earn one more credit towards PE license renewal.

During church on Sunday yielded waffles; I was good == Bene feci in latin.

I reverted back to a 2025 July 3 version of my blackjack game. I am still enjoying the seemingly endless effort.

St. Luigi, thank you for your intercession. St. Carlo Acutis, pray for me.

Hello, TEAMTODD! Thanks for staying with us.

Tomorrow, Todd and I drive to Fredrick to see Curt, the Ability Prosthesis guy about Todd’s new shoes. We picked up the modified shoes from the cobbler a few days ago. Curt will check out how they are working for Todd. Fredeick is a long way to drive BUT the Rockville Ability office closed last year. Curt is willing to go out of his way to see Todd in Frederick. Curt works out of the Hagerstown office. Ray Chen, shoe salesman, Allan, the Cobbler and Curt the Prosthesis guy have been working together for 5 years to keep “Todd on his feet”. Interesting… They have never met in person BUT work together to make it happen for Todd. I have said this before but it is something I want to say AGAIN and AGAIN… Todd’s caregivers have ALL BEEN HANDPICKED to work with Todd. Todd is in the best of hands.

Todd will be off on an adventure on Friday. SOLO! Todd is going to visit his favorite sister in Libbyland. Todd will take Metro to Union Station on Friday and catch a bus to the JMU campus. Libby will meet the bus and the 2 of them will have a GREAT time (eating fish and seafood) and doing whatever. Todd will return on Monday.

I don’t know who is looking forward to it most… Libby or Todd. I am sure you will be waiting to hear how the adventure goes.

Please keep in mind, your prayers, for Mike G. one of Todd’s committed supporters. Mike has been a part of Todd’s life and ours for over 40 years. Mike is taking on some health challenges and just as we are a TEAM, we ALL TEAMTODD support Mike.

Thanks for being there for US and for Mike.

 July 27, 2025

Dear TeamToddTBI,

Happy 82^nd Birthday to my Dad! Happy Birthday, tomorrow, to our friend Marion S.

This week, I completed seven virtual flights: “https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MGGBpgLiDkPHxVbaeYdoAQ6h-hxE4iQH/view?usp=sharing” I wish others had as much fun as I have every day doing an activity with both physical and mental benefits/challenges.

I continue to watch Grand Sumo and the Tour de France. Grand Sumo and the Tour de France end on the same day, today, I think. There was a front page story in the Washington Post about technological cheating in the Tour de France. There were no recent incidents to report on; I think the article was a reflection of the negative attitude towards cycling that many in the North American car driving public retain.

I still think I should spend more time working on my blackjack computer game. I confess to being distracted by the sport over lap between TfF and Grand Sumo. But who isn’t?

I arranged a bus trip to visit my favorite sister in Rockingham, August 8-11. I will take Metro to Union Station and meet up with a bus that takes me to the JMU campus.

I am anticipating using her cast iron skillet outside on her gas grill to under cook seafood. This will lead to one day delay in posting the weekly update on August 10.

I began taking melatonin instead of Benadryl to help me sleep. I believe this is causing a lower resting heart rate for me at night. I thought my resting heart rate was low at 48 bpm; now it is lower. Still not as low as the cycling great Miguel Indáurin.

On Tuesday, I will watch a webinar, Current Trends in Energy Generation, to earn one more credit towards PE license renewal.

My behavior during church on Sunday yielded breakfast casserole; I was good.

St. Luigi, thank you for your intercession. St. Carlo Acutis, pray for me.

 July 20, 2025

Dear TeamToddTBI,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Brenda H. You have stayed with me this whole time, almost 11 years!

THANK YOU!

This week, I only completed five virtual flights: “https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WGSNd1nmZFz-bDk6MqJ-p9qHZVYhwfRj/view?usp=sharing”. I failed to land successfully on a virtual flight from KGDV to KGGW. There was a three foot vertical interruption on the runway at KGGW:
“https://drive.google.com/file/d/16nguoRN6K7GDR9rQCvM0NVxtm4MsOdGp/view?usp=sharing” The next day, I attempted to complete a short flight from KGDV to 4U6 despite a convective current warning and did not have a good landing that day either.

I prepared baked penne: “https://drive.google.com/file/d/12OGoS7X-12fale1UyA6hzVLhyCw0C9SW/view?usp=sharing” HRH insisted on a preparing a Czsaläad (that word is challenge for me to pronounce!) to accompany the dish.

My favorite sister stopped here for a few days before she leaves for Canada.

The overlap between Grand Sumo and the Tour de France continues to be a distraction in my life.

I have lost my drive to create a blackjack computer game. My latest effort has been to understand SDL_Event to generate keystroke actions programmatically. I enjoy coding.

St. Luigi, thank you for your intercession.

Hello TeamTodd,

Thanks for tuning in.

I think the biggest accomplishment for the week was Todd’s successful efforts to appease the MDDept of MV and satisfy them by the fact he is still capable of driving a motor vehicle. Todd had 4 pages of forms to fill out and his Dr. had 4 pages to complete.

Todd completed his paperwork the day after he got the letter and forms. You know Todd, he answered his questions and downloaded his answers the next day. (Due date is Aug 11)

Fortunately, Dr. Mittal (PCP) got in touch with Dr. Patel’s office (Todd’s Physiatrist(Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Dr) Todd received a call that Dr. Patel would see Todd 8:30 am, this past Tuesday. GREAT!!! Of course we arrived before 8 am. However, Dr. Patel lives in N. VA and because of traffic, Todd was not seen until after 9:30… BUT! All is well. She was able to contact Brants Rehab Driving School and get the dates Todd went through their course and passed the driver’s test using a spinner knob. She emailed her forms to Todd and he in turned sent them off to the “powers that be” and within 24 hours received an email from MDDMV saying forms were “Complete and Accepted”. WHEW!!!

The GREAT news is, Todd was totally responsible for all these forms. Todd does a great job of keeping track of all the details, forms he has filled out in the past. I know longer have the responsibility of keeping track of such things, his medications, etc. Also, Todd is so computer savvy, he is doing all this online. (uploading, downloading). Sweet! Dr. Patel asked if he would send in her report since faxing was not an option. She acknowledged his efforts and was please the two of them were able to bring closure to this last annoyance.

Libby arrived home on Saturday and will be with us until early Tuesday morning. She leaves early on Tuesday morning from DCA for a tour of Montreal and Quebec. She will be gone for about a week. This is the 2^nd time she has traveled with the group “Women Traveling Together”. She had a very positive experience with this company last year and has another trip lined up in October.

Enough for now. We appreciate your continued interest and support.

BW

 July 13, 2025

Dear TeamToddTBI,

FIRST! Happy Birthday, Aunt Peg!

Again, this week I completed virtual fights with two bad landings: “https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mfDqQyig9ns-IVUOXq6KRzFHnMdZyl6K/view?usp=sharing” Honestly, I try not to sweat; that effort never works.

This week, I completed my part of an application to renew my driver’s license. I became a legal driver about nine years ago. The Maryland department of motor vehicles was made aware of my brain injury when they issued my license (I used a spinner knob during the driving test). Why do I (and a licensed medical doctor) have to complete forms to maintain my driver’s license since I have had no violations, is a mystery to me.

Admittedly, I drive like a solar powered race car driver: never over the speed limit unless directed by law enforcement. I concede that driving the speed limit irritates other drivers who in turn endangers pedestrians. Imagine this question on the written portion of the driver’s test: “The posted speed limit is 25 mph. Which speed is the only legal speed to drive on this road?:

1. 26mph; B). 24 mph; c.) 27 mph. d.) 30 mph.

What entitles so many driver’s to break posted laws is a mystery to me. I also concede that I ignored speed limits when riding my bicycle. If I wrecked at those speeds ,I would have suffered severe injuries. Evidently, I do not think like most people.

Starting today and for the next two weeks, I will face the sports overlap between Sumo wrestling and the Tour de France.

I purchased a second Raspberry Pi 5. I am not sure what will eventually happen to it. I would like to temporarily give it to someone enabling their bike to fly like mine.

This week, I prepared sword fish. HRH purchased the sword fish for me – She did not personally catch it. :(.

I was good in church, Saturday afternoon. Waffles were prepared on Sunday morning to reflect my behavior.

I got my hairS cut this week.

St. Luigi, thank you for your intercession.

Hello, TEAMTODD!

WHEW! It has been a busy week! On Monday, Todd and I and his new shoes traveled to the Ability Prosthesis office in Frederick. Curt made some adjustments to Todd’s leg brace and confirmed the diagram he made for the last modification of Todd’s shoes was still relevant .

On the way home, we stopped at the shoe cobbler’s and dropped off the new shoes and the diagram for modification. Shoes will be ready for pick up in 3 weeks and then we drive back to Frederick to meet with Curt for his final approval. All of this used to be easy when Ability had a Rockville office. It closed. Actually, Curt works in the Hagerstown office BUT he will come to Frederick to see some “special” patients. Todd is included in that group.

Wednesday, was “Altar Guild” for me and Todd. We are Team 1, isn’t that nice??? We work with Barbara W. who is a great friend and supporter of Todd. You know, the usual duties, washing sacred vessels, trimming candles, dusting, rearranging hymnals, picking up trash people leave in the seats and cleaning and refreshing Holy Water fonts. Todd is in charge of the latter 3 duties and he does a GREAT job. He appreciates working in the quiet atmosphere.

We enjoy going to the 12:10 Mass before our duties began.

As Todd mentioned in his update, he received a notice this week from MDMV asking him to fill out forms, have his PCP fill out a form stating he was still capable of driving a vehicle. GOOD LORD!!

Todd went through Brant’s Rehabilitative Driving School 9 years ago and passed the driving test with flying colors. NOW THIS!!

Todd’s PCP immediately got in touch with Todd’s Physiatrist (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation) Dr. She, Dr. Patel, will see Todd on Tuesday. I am sure Dr. Patel will say everything they (MDMVA) need, want to hear. Just another hoop to jump through…

Thank you all for your continued interest and prayers. Todd continues on his journey, powered by your support.

 July 6,2025

Dear TeamToddTBI,

I completed even more virtual fights: “https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GZGSyNheGPQ-hrmVWTHmozeNb3N35x3y/view?usp=sharing” I concede that I am addicted – the thrill I gain from a good landing equals the thrill I gained from cycling up mountains in Switzerland.

I know I have only repackaged what I have previously done. I think using the Raspberry Pi 5 is the best packaging so far. Sure, it costs more than two Arduinos or a BLE dongle, but one’s personal computer no longer needs to be co-located with your bike during workouts. Why would anyone want their PC [that they use for serious things like tax preparation] co-located in a sweaty environment?

I wrote a letter to the Rockville Science Center and asked if they would like to see me fly my bike. I have not gotten a response yet. (Is it too good to be true?)

My favorite sister was home for a few days over the 4^th of July weekend.

I purchased some rockfish at Wegmans this week. I used the George Foreman grill to cook it.

Next week starts the interesting over lap between Grand Sumo and the Tour de France. Thankfully, I have this toy to placate my split distractions: “https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ysx2dgHd4_B_x7GH1oKzH--aMiTCegEe/view?usp=drive_link”

St. Luigi, thank you for your intercession.

Hello, TEAMTODD. If you are like me, reading Todd’s update… I tell myself, there is nothing wrong with Todd. Todd is still that brilliant mechanical engineer. Cognitive fatigue sets in and…

Clearly, Todd writes his updates early in the day.

It was GREAT to have Libby with us for a few days. We ALL enjoy being together. And, we eat well. Seems like every day Libby is with us is a celebration. 

Tomorrow, Todd and I drive to Fredrick for a visit with our man Curtis, the Ability Prosthesis guy. The local office in Rockville closed BUT Curt will see Todd in the Fredrick office. He knows Todd’s history, worked well with the shoe cobbler 2 years ago. We expect the same expertise this time.

Todd should be getting new shoes every year. We will do better next year…

Thank you ALL for your continued interest.

Every TBI Survivor should receive such support and interest as you have shown Todd and his family.

We are VERY grateful!

 ⁱJune 29, 2025

Dear TeamToddTBI,

Naturally, I completed virtual flights: “https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bjaWPRknRQbmLyAeczeUX9t-_AVM0ihY/view?usp=sharing” I used the word “naturally” intentionally as I make use of the exponential decay in the resistance of my bike’s rear wheel to translate its rotational velocity to a joystick throttle position. The inverse the exponential function is, the natural log. Evidently, I am still nerdy. I had two bad landings this week.

I saw a dermatologist this week. She spoke of having a Pelotan bike that was relatively unused and thought she might be interested completing virtual flights from her recumbent bike. I am an introvert until the subject turns to bikes and flight simulators. I enjoy sharing the mental and physical feat of integrating [another nerdy pun] a bike trainer with a flight simulator. Admittedly, Peloton offers human encouragement: “Good job!”, “Pedal harder!”, “Feel your legs burn!” and I only offer the anguish from cross-winds during final approach.

On Tuesday, I got my teeth cleaned at the dentist. His receptionist regularly uses a rowing machine. I am fairly certain that her physical exercise could be translated into throttle position as well.

I purchased a new pair of walking shoes this week. I will wait (three or four weeks) until the shoes are modified before wearing them.

Also, this week, the ophthalmologist I see regularly informed the DMV that I could pass the vision test, required to be a licensed driver, and did not need to drive to a DMV office for their verification to renew my driver’s license. Could I legally drive to the DMV office if my eyesight was 20/40 or worse?

I am over fifty: increased dialogue about health care providers is expected.

I was good in church and made my own Bisquick pancakes this morning.

I am still coding to allow a player to split his hand in my quirky blackjack game.

St. Luigi, thank you for your intercession.

Hello, TEAMTODD! Thank you for staying with us. It was a VERY BUSY week with appointments for Todd. WHEW!!! Ray Chen, R n J Sports, took the usual 2 hours with Todd fitting him for new shoes. YES! 2 hours! Ray is WONDERFUL! VERY knowledgeable .

Next stop, will beAbility Prosthetics, July 7, an appointment with Curtis who will take a look at the new shoes from R n J and suggest some modifications. Those modifications will be done in a diagram and we will then take the shoes and the diagram to the VERY EFFICIENT and KNOWLEDGEABLE shoe cobbler who will make the magic happen.

Ability Prosthetics is no longer in Rockville. Curtis works in the Hagerstown office BUT he remembered Todd and will meet us in Frederick, MD. BUT! The 3 of them, Ray Chen, Curtis and Allen(Rockville, Nick’s Shoe Repair) all work together very well to provide Todd with a good walking shoe for his left foot. We are grateful for their collaboration. Todd’s caregivers have been hand picked and bless them for staying with us.

Todd made some new friends this week during a dermatology appointment. Todd’s PCP suggested Todd see a dermatologist because of some questionable moles. I asked around and got great recommendations for Dr. Bourelley. Usually, one has to wait 3 months as a new patient. BUT! Wonder of wonders! There was a cancellation and and Dr. Bourelly saw Todd this week.

I understand why she is very popular. She tuned into Todd immediately and they had a great conversation other than skin problems and moles.  Dr. Bourelley’s staff was very welcoming and accommodating.

Todd also had an appointment to have his teeth cleaned on Tuesday… By Thursday, Todd came to me in the afternoon and said, “I don’t know about you, BUT, I am totally whipped out by all of this extra stuff and appointments.” MY FEELINGS, EXACTLY!!!!

Libby will be home on Thursday for a long weekend. We always look forward to her visits.

Again, Thank you for your prayers, good wishes and good works. They are working….

i