October 26, 2025

Dear TeamToddTBI,

I am still completing virtual flights : “https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S7MZ39HvYGpnY-wQfTm53JNsD-xtAvP7/view?usp=sharing” I still want to share my habit with someone.

My favorite sister completed her venture to Palm Springs. Palm Springs recorded the highest temperature in the continental US on Friday, October 24.

I am slowly working on a means to fly a bike with bluetoothctl to replace the deprecated gatttool I presently use. I can tell my c programming skills have declined. I also hope to incorporate subtle improvements in my updated scheme – like allowing multiple sensors (on multiple bikes) to be used, suggestions for the speed parameters I use for transforming bike tire rotational speed into a throttle position, checking the battery status of the sensor, enabling operations with menus instead of the command line, allowing different diameter wheels (road bikes have 700 cc; mountain bikes 26 inch) etc.

The Hokie football team defeated California in double overtime Friday night. I only watched the first half.

Yesterday, the 25^th of October, I got my flu shot and COVID vaccine. That same day, I also got m hairS cut. The band aid from the two vaccination remains on my arm; I am hoping the bandaid will painlessly fall off and not pull the hairS on my arm.

Tomorrow is in anniversary of the day van hit me. I do not remember the day.

I was good in church this morning – my behavior yielded pancakes.

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

Hello TEAMTODD! Thank you for staying with us. I wonder sometimes, if you REALLY understand how meaningful it is to us that you read the weekly update. TEAMTODD, Todd and we, are “held up”, supported, by your interest in our situation. You read because you care.  It is not that we are gifted writers. 

Wednesday of this week was Team 1 for Altar Guild. Todd and I usually go to the 12:10 Mass and we do our “chores” after. Todd enjoys the “quiet work” of empting Holy Water Fonts and cleaning them and replenishing with fresh blessed water. Todd also goes through all the pews, picking up “objects” and reassigning misplaced hymnals. Todd seems to enjoy these activities in a “quiet” atmosphere.

As Todd mentioned, Tomorrow is the 11^th anniversary of his accident that changed his life forever; changed many lives forever….

GOODNESS! This afternoon there was a knock on the door. It was MIKE WHALEN!!!!! Do you remember, Mike Whalen, Planetary Systems, opened his arms and his company about a year after Todd’s accident. Todd worked (volunteered) at PSC for about 5-6 years until they were bought out by Rocket Lab ( a huge New Zealand company)

WHAT A WONDERFUL SURPRISE!!!! Mike Whalen came bearing gifts of fresh tuna just caught yesterday! GOODNESS!!! Fortunately, we were ALL home. Todd shared his plane/bicycle with Mike. We did not know Mike was an avid cyclist. What a GREAT visit we had! Tomorrow is the 11^th year anniversary of Todd’s accident. What a coincidence, that Mike should visit today… Mike Whalen played a huge part in Todd’s recovery. Todd’s healthcare professionals say, PSC kept Todd’s brain challenged during the crucial early months of his recovery.

Yes, a coincidence.. to see Mike Whalen TODAY. But, TeamTodd.. the definition of a coincidence is

”When God does a miracle and remains anonymous”.

Thank you all for staying with us. YOU ARE ALL part of God’s plan for Todd.

XO, Brigid

 October 12, 2025

Dear TeamToddTBI,

Even more virtual flights: “https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ImUBKnaJmuRcVR2b5WecZ6_lXh4gWysi/view?usp=drive_link” I enjoy the physical and mental challenge. I wish someone would join me in my addiction.

My favorite sister spent Saturday night with us before she flew to California for a week of touring Palm Springs. Libby is accompanied by a tour group.

My favorite sister brought home a piece of tuna for me. The tuna was not line caught by my favorite sister. :( It came from the fish place she is privileged to live close by.

I captured the stream of characters (it’s in reverse IBM form) that I transform into a joystick throttle position using bluetoothctl. Bluetoothctl is not depreicated like gatttool. Now I need to figure how to get the character stream into a program that transforms for the stream into a joystick throttle position.

I also completed a small bit a work on an epic autobiography I have begun to tell my story.

I had a status check from UNUM – I have not worked for pay. I was days away from suspension of my UNUM benefits. According to UNUM, they tried to contact me in early October, I put on my google calendar when to reach out to UNUM next year to avoid any disruption to my benefits. I think it would be simpler to give them a copy of my taxes.

I was good in church Saturday night. I enjoyed a breakfast casserole Sunday morning.

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

Hello TeamTodd. It has been a busy week. As Todd mentioned, UNUM sent Todd a snail mail letter saying they tried contacting him by phone twice… NO! We did NOT get a phone call. There was never a message left AND our call log did not indicate a call from UNUM. A bit distressing because we abide by the rules. Todd attempted to call the contact person 3 times after receiving the letter. FINALLY, Todd was able to talk with someone. Hopefully, we answered all the questions correctly. WHEW! This is the 2^nd year we have gotten a letter saying Todd is not responding. BUT! We assured her, TODD WILL CALL UNUM a year from today to “report in”.

Interesting… Todd has decided to write his story. He has made contact with my cousin, Lisa, who is also a writer. She is willing to take this task on as an advisor. Todd wants to write his story like Homer’s Odyssey… Only Todd could come up with some comparisons to Homer.

BUT! TEAMTODD, You have supported Todd through almost 11 years! Surely, you are “fist bumping”… YES! YES! “Go for it Todd”!.. This is such a Toddster way of telling his story… Like Homer and the Odyssey . STAY TUNED!

As Todd’s primary “caregiver” and Todd’s mother, knowing Todd better than anyone, I think this latest adventure that Todd is taking on is a GREAT sign of Todd’s continuing recovery. AND how fortunate we are to have Lisa on board to work with Todd .

It was nice to have Libby home with us, even for just 24 hours. We took Libby to the Metro early this morning to fly out of National to meet up with a tour group in Palm Springs. It’s always a party when the 4 of us are together. We are grateful for that.

Thank you, TEAMTODD for staying with us. We are looking forward to the ScareCrow Classic, Nov. 8. Todd has the biggest team! GO TEAMTODD!

 October 12, 2025

Dear TeamToddTBI,

More virtual flights: “https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Xyo54Jg_RhVVIwCdtyG4nT-ppHTo7Dve/view?usp=sharing” I get a rush from completing a flight coupled with a good landing.

My favorite sister called me on Friday for advice on cooking halibut. I sense she likes the way I prepare seafood – I push the limits on doneness; but one can always put the fish back in the pan and cook it more. There is no way to uncook overdone fish.

I continue to aim to use bluetoothctl to replace my use of gatttool to control the throttle in FlightGear.

Saturday night, several ambulances and fire trucks and Haz Mat teams appeared on Ash Court in response to reported mixture of ammonia and bleach at 14409 Ash Court. I suspect that the exaggerated emergency response had something to do with cookies chemically infused with scratch.

The Hokie’s lost their football game against Georgia Tech.

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

Hello TEAMTODD,

Todd mentioned the commotion in the neighborhood last night. It seems a neighbor was cleaning a bathroom at 9 pm and ammonia was not getting the job done. She added bleach and became light headed and called for an ambulance. The 911 operator picked up on the fact that her problem may be because of toxic fumes, thus the Haz Mat teams and at least 3 fire trucks and 3 ambulances . Ambulances parked in available driveways. We live on a cul de sac, 18 houses. Ash Court was “lit up” for about an hour. All is well today.

ScareCrow Classic is on the calendar for November 9. Todd has 16 on his team, the biggest team so far. But, if you remember, Todd always has the biggest team. 

Thanks for staying with us, TEAMTODD. We appreciate you!

October 5, 2025

Dear TeamToddTBI,

I completed virtual flights: “https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dC85svojFgsTFNvOS6E9ydHUdpuOsuIu/view?usp=drive_link” Not included in this map was a side flight from 8S1 to S59. I was so close to Libby, Montana Airport

[airport code S59] , I had to go there. I have no idea why the airport code for Libby, Montana [S59] is not KJMU!

I hope one day not to modernize my means of virtual flights by using bluetoothctl: Gatttool has become deprecated.

Libby was home for her birthday. I walked back from Norbeck Shopping Center where I purchased her birthday card: “https://drive.google.com/file/d/1neHKfmqOWdEPULBOKZS84mtvbvc23o2Z/view?usp=drive_link”. Also, on Saturday night, I prepared the main dinner course: “https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gH_v8pEnoHPLF2rLxIcZL2lBxuuH0dg2/view?usp=drive_link” I am grateful that some of my cooking talents from my days in Elyria returned.

The Hokies lost their football game against Wake Forest. At least, Wake Forest is an institution of higher learning.

I hope the included hyperlinks are viewed – pictures sometime say more than words.

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

Hello, TEAMTODD. Thank you for staying with us. It has been a good week. The Toddster continues on his journey to recovery with humor and hope.

Todd is always interested in the PO mail. “How big was the envelope?” “Is it addressed to Todd Westley or Mr. Todd Westley?”. Todd has been expecting a “’certificate” from “?” saying he has recovered from TBI.

Dear Friends of Todd, I can tell you Todd does NOT need a certificate from anyone saying he has recovered from TBI. Todd has beat many odds and CONTINUES to move forward. I read much of what Todd writes about his activities, his interests, and who would know he sustained a TBI life threatening event almost 11 years ago? Todd has overcome so much of such a debilitating accident. The genius Todd is has enabled Todd to compensate for much the TBI thief stole from him.

Our Todd, the Toddster, we all know, will continue to move forward in his recovery because he knows he is supported by so many.

Today, Todd heard from Doug Taylor, Collins Engineering and Brian Mitchel, Ridge Tool. GREAT friends from the past. Those messages made Todd’s day.

Thank you to so many for acknowledging our 55 year Wedding Anniversary. YES! I thought about it for 55 years, and decided Ted was a keeper. 

We enjoyed a lovely weekend celebrating Libby on her 53^rd BD. It is always a party when the Westley 4 get together. Good eats, good memories and good stories…

TEAMTODD, We are grateful TO you and FOR you!

Oh, PS…. ScareCrow Classic… Todd has the biggest team so far. Check out TeamTodd25# on the www.biamd.org . Easy to sign up. Todd’s password is just that TeamTodd25#