What do you say when you find out someone has a serious disease? “I’m sorry”?
That was not enough for Lincoln Middle School staff when popular science teacher Todd Ramsbottom was recently diagnosed with acute myeliod leukemia.
They quickly planned a fundraiser to help with myriad bills the father of three will face in battling this debilitating disease On a Saturday afternoon, hundreds of Todd’s friends filled the Naperville Woman’s Club to help start raising $40,000 needed to see him through the long process of healing.
Todd’s wife, Liz, said the diagnoses was a huge shock and terrifying.
“We worried what it would be like for our three young children,” she said. “Right now Todd is doing well. He has a good appetite and walks three miles a day. He is positive, in remission, and his hair is growing back after chemotherapy.”
Todd’s form of leukemia is aggressive and he has to gain weight to undergo a bone marrow transplant. Thankfully, and unusually, his brother is a perfect match. (With a simple cheek swab, provided by Bethematch.org, you can be on the registry to help others with this life-giving process.
Todd and Liz will spend 100 days in isolation in a hotel, away from the risk of infection, emerging twice a week to see doctors. Liz will serve as Todd’s caregiver while her parents mind their children at home.
“We just want to be parents and take care of our kids. It is a huge disruption in our lives,” Liz said.
Even after the transplant, with frequent blood transfusions and immunizations, it will be two years before Todd will be fully recovered.
Thousands of individuals support this Naperville native and his family– neighbors, classmates, and colleagues from Hobson Village, Lincoln, Washington, and North along with students he coached in swimming, wrestling and football.
“No words can express our gratitude,” Liz said. “We hope to go forward extending the kindness to others in need.”
To help Todd and his family, visit www.YouCaring.com/medical-fundraiser/Lets-Turn-It-Around-for-Todd-Together or donate whole blood or platelets to Lifesource.
