On July 12, 2007 Tim suffered a serious injury while swimming. He broke his C5 vertebrae and has suffered a bruised spinal column. The immediate and efficient response by a Good Samaritan, the West Stockbridge Police Department and Rescue Squad got Tim to Bershire Medical Center quickly and safely. Within 3-1/2 hours of his accident, the Neurosurgical team at BMC, one of the finest anywhere, was operating on Tim to remove the vertebrae and stabilize the area of injury. The operation was a success, and Tim spent the next week in acute care, recovering, healing and strengthening his body. On July 20, he moved to Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, where he will undergo intensive therapies, probably for three months. He has no movement below his waist, but does have sensation Tim has the use of his arms, shoulders and hands. His mind is as sharp as ever, and there are postive signs that Tim will lead a successful, happy and independent life, not the least of which is his attitude.
We are a little biased, as we're Tim's parents, but we know that Tim has what it takes to make the best of this situation. His eyes are wide open, and he knows the challenges that he faces. Please visit this site (or the hospital) often and send a note or post a comment - help him stay connected to his friends and family ar0und the world. With the love and support of his family and friends, he will come through all of this just fine.
Thanks, Brian and Amy
As of 11/22/07, please send mail to:
Tim Butterworth PO Box 127 West Stockbridge, MA 01266
Fund Raising
We feel odd about adding this section to the blog, but we have learned about various initiatives started by caring members of the community. This blog can work as place to coordinate efforts. Although we're not involved in planning, we are interested and appreciative. Our "position" on fund raising for Tim's benefit appears under an August 6 blog posting called "Fund Raising" - scroll down or link from the archive below and click on the word "comments". If you would like to make your event, raffle or other initiative known to the readers of this blog, add a comment to the August 6 posting by clicking on the word "comments." Thank you.
Ways to use this blog
Post - Create a message or new thought that will be seen by anyone who visits this site. You must be "invited" in order to post, so send an email to us and we'll get you on the list.
Comment - You can comment on any post and your comments are read when someone clicks on the "comments "link. We open and read all comments to Tim. Commenting keeps the blog at a reasonable lenth.
Email Post - If you like a post, you can share it with a bud. Just click on the envelope icon. These are private communications between you and the recipient.
Just read it! If you've been away, or never visited, the blog archive below can link you directly to a date range of postings. Remember, the newest posts appear first, and you can go all he way back to the first entry.
Tips from Brian & Amy
If you're thinking of sending a card or a small gift to Tim, or sending an email, or planning a visit, please send us an email, and we'll send you a little document with some tips on getting the most bang for your buck. Thanks for keeping in touch!
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