Thank You

Thank You – 2015

Dear Laxin4Tony family,

As this is the fifth year you have all come together to support me, I was amazed by the enormous turnout at this year’s jamboree and the fact that this event continues to grow. I cannot believe we had over 100 teams and their families present! I am so touched that you took the time to support me be it through planning, organizing, sponsoring, coaching, playing, volunteering or just cheering for your favorite team. Your generosity towards me is truly extraordinary and I cannot thank you enough for all that you do on behalf of me.

I had a great time at this year’s event. I am sorry that some games were cancelled due to the thunderstorm and lightning; thank you for braving the rain to support me. I was so honored to meet each and every one of you—a heartfelt thank you to each referee, player, coach, parent, volunteer, vendor, sponsor, supporter and friend who stopped by to say hello and take pictures with me. Thank you for being so kind, thoughtful and generous with your time. You made me feel so loved and blessed. I was overwhelmed by your efforts and sometimes, even speechless.

A special thank you to Sheila, Jon, Scott and George for your unwavering support and dedication. None of this would be possible without you! Thank you for all that you do to make this event so successful every year. You are such an incredibly kindhearted, generous and talented group of people. The amount of time, energy and resources you invest every year is truly inspiring and I am so grateful for all that you do.

The continual support I receive from the Laxin4Tony community continues to have marked effects on my health and my life. Your support has enabled me to assume some aspects of physical therapy at home such as using a standing frame and a functional electrical stimulation (FES) leg cycle; having such equipment at home enables me to engage in physical therapy more often and achieve greater gains such as improved blood circulation, decreased muscle atrophy and decreased muscle spasms.

Thank you again to each and every one of you—your steadfast backing has greatly improved my health, well-being and the quality of my daily life. I am so fortunate to have you in my life.

With love,

Tony

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Dear Laxin4Tony Family,

Thank you for the incredible generosity you showed in organizing, funding, volunteering and participating in the Laxin4Tony Jamboree this year. I am so moved by all your support and cannot thank you enough for helping me.

I had a wonderful time at the event this year and enjoyed meeting everyone. It was especially delightful meeting all the players! I couldn’t ask for a better turnout—even the weather cooperated!

To Sheila, Jon, Scott, George, all of the sponsors, volunteers, referees, coaches, children and parents and all the Laxin4Tony supporters, thank you so much for all that you do on my behalf.  A special thank you also to The Harvey School for the generous use of your fields in hosting a number of the games this year. None of this would be possible without all of you—your dedication, thoughtfulness, kindness and concern for me is truly inspiring and moving.

This is the fourth year that you, as a community, have come together to raise funds on my behalf.  When I think about this, I am overcome by emotion and words fail me. I am deeply touched and honored that you would do so much for me.  I am so blessed to have you in my life.

The continual support I receive from the Laxin4Tony community has positively impacted my health and my life. Your support has enabled me to live a more normal life and has allowed me to focus on regaining physical movement and function.

Thank you to each and every one of you—your unwavering support has enabled me to dream again, has given me hope for the future and has been instrumental in improving the quality of my daily life. I could not ask for more.

With love,
Tony

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2014… HAPPY NEW YEAR – From Tony

Happy New Year! Once more I want to reach out to the Laxin4Tony supporters and HHL to update you on my progress since my holiday greetings of 2012.

I’m very happy to report that 2013 has been a great year, one in which I have made more progress than I have since my accident in 2001.  First, thanks to the medical support the fund affords me, I have had no major health challenges in the entire year, no further post op complications from the neck surgery of Summer 2012, no hospitalizations, no major infections. My medical needs are well managed and it shows.

In fact, I have lost 70 pounds, restored my blood pressure to normal levels and have completed two intensive rehabilitation therapies at the Burke Rehabilitation Hospital as of last summer. If you look at the link and photos below you will see me standing upright on a standing frame designed to develop muscle strength, improve bone density and reacclimatize my body and nerves to an upright position and using a specialized bicycle, which uses electrical impulses to assist my legs in moving the pedals. I have never had access to this level of rehabilitation before. It is not clear which technology will prove to be the most beneficial but the current plan is to get home based versions of these apparatuses where they can be utilized every day.  The ongoing objective is to create as much independence as possible; my personal goal, however long it takes, is to one day walk again.

Further, without the burden of health constraints I have resumed my studies at the New School online college and am maintaining a 3.8 GPA there. I hope to graduate with my Bachelors in 2015.

In fact, I am beginning to look into employment possibilities for the coming years. My plan is to develop my existing skills in computers and computer programming, and am researching relevant online courses to improve the programming languages I have used in the past such as JavaScript, C#, and Python. Assessment at the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services in Connecticut was completed but thus far the agency has not been able to accommodate the complex needs of an educated quadriplegic.

Any thoughts or leads anyone might have about opportunities in all aspects of computers and programming are more than welcome! I am determined to translate my existing and anticipated expertise into marketable skills.

All in all, this has been the best, most productive year of my life since 2001. Although it may be a cliché in other situations, in my case, I could NOT have done it without you, the Laxin4Tony/HHL community.

My heartfelt gratitude to all of you. Words still cannot express what your help means, and has accomplished, for me.

Best wishes for the 2014!

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I am always amazed and humbled by the Laxin4Tony events, so many people give up their weekend, volunteering or donating their time and money to make the Jamboree possible. It is inspiring to have so many people care and offer support, it is not something I could have ever imagined happening.

The several years I spent in New Jersey were extremely trying and difficult for me but since the Laxin4Tony events began three years ago I have made enormous strides in my recovery. I was overweight, constantly sick and spent half of my time in the hospital. The Laxin4Tony events and supporters have changed all of that.

I have lost 65 pounds since last year’s event, kept healthy and out of the hospital, returned to college at The New School and have regained some mobility, strength and confidence. I have started moving both of my wrists and one of my thumbs in the past year as well which is very uncommon so many years after a spinal cord injury.

The Laxin4Tony support has helped improve my life and given me a copious amount of hope for the future. I will spend the rest of my life grateful to everyone for the generosity I continually receive and that only begins describing the appreciation I have for everything people have done for me since I’ve returned home.

To Sheila, Jon, Scott, George and all of the Volunteers, Referees, Coaches, Children and their Parents and the rest of the Laxin4Tony Supporters,

You all have my eternal gratitude

-Tony Ciccone

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A Thank You is just not enough…

As we go through life we often wonder why
And some of us really feel the need to cry

Life can be so good and Life can be so bad
But because of all of you we no longer feel so sad

You reached out to us when you could have turned away
So to all of you we really must convey

You gave us your hand and held on tight
By doing this you’ve showed us a light
Tony’s life is what it is, but you all have certainly made it very bright

So to all of you… you will always be our angels sent from God above
with all the love flying like doves you will always be the people we think of

“There but for the grace of God… go I”

From the Ciccone’s to all of you

God Bless and THANK YOU