The Human Candidate: TJ's Account of Hope and Courage

A series of posts re: The Human Candidate...

It's so hard to know if this is the right way to do this, but holding back any longer will only make T.J. and I go stir crazy! I am going to spare you the rabbit chase and pretend as if I am speaking to one of my closest friends. In other words, you are getting raw, unfiltered honesty, which in my opinion is the best way to deliver an important announcement. Okay, everyone...this is the secret project I've been working on since November 2010!

Almost six months ago, my mom called shortly before 8 o'clock on a Saturday morning to tell me that a close family friend named Timothy (or T.J. as most refer to him) was involved in a terrible automobile accident. Mom could barely get the words out. T.J. had suffered a severe injury to his spinal cord and was being air-ambulanced to a regional medical center some 60 miles away.

I had known and loved T.J.'s family for a very long time, which made the news of his accident extremely difficult to process in my mind. His mother Anita was one of my best friends and had raised my four children along with three nephews at her daycare in Chatom. Indeed, this family was special - some of the sweetest and most generous folks in the world. I could only imagine how terrified Anita felt. She and T.J. were extremely close; she would be devastated if he took a turn for the worse.

After being airlifted to a regional medical facility in south Alabama, twenty-one-year-old T.J. underwent extensive surgery for injuries suffered to his spinal cord. Despite the meticulous care he was given, he never regained movement or sensation below his chest. But typical T.J., he never gave up hope that one day he would walk again. Upon his request, his parents made contact with the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, and within twenty-four hours he was transferred to the renowned treatment and rehabilitation facility.

Based on many factors surrounding T.J.’s condition, doctors determined he was the perfect candidate for a clinical trial using GRNOPC1, a drug containing embryonic stem cells and designed to regenerate damaged spinal cord tissue. Therefore, on October 8, 2010, T.J. agreed to participate in a clinical trial procedure (the first of its kind) in which doctors injected the injured area of his spinal cord with over two-million embryonic stem cells.

Please take a moment to watch this video from ABC:

Geron Corp. Begins First Embryonic Stem Cell Treatment on Patient for Spinal Cord Injuries - ABC News

After months of researching, interviewing, and planning the best way to announce this super-secret project, T.J. and I have determined it is best to begin this journey slowly, as we are hopeful some of you out there reading this will support our efforts to bringing The Human Candidate to life. Anyone interested in learning more about this project may contact me through email or leave a comment below. I assure you, you will receive a response!!!

In closing, I would like to encourage all of you to support T.J. by leaving a few words of encouragement in the comment section below. On April 8th, 2011, T.J. will draw 10 special winners from those who have commented - winners will receive an autographed poster and T'shirt w/ T.J.'s logo on the front pocket. Stay tuned to Head in the Clouds as more details of this drawing will be posted in the following days.

Most importantly, your prayers for T.J. for a full recovery is abundantly appreciated. Have a great Friday, everyone! Love, Tory

Decide what to be and go be it!

Yesterday after work I made a dashing trip to Mobile in order to purchase decorations and presents for the kiddo's b'day party this weekend. With Mardi Gras festivities taking place in downtown Mobile, I feared most party supply stores would be overflowing with enthusiastic parade-goers and such. To much surprise, however, I was able to zig-zag through traffic, find a great parking spot at Party City, and mark everything off my list in less than thirty-minutes.

So with extra time on my hands, I phoned the BFF's that live in Mobile, Dana and Tarah, and asked if they could join me for a few hours of shopping. Unfortunately, Dana was committed to parental-duties for the night, but Tarah was available to meet. Because it had been over a month since seeing her last, I was thrilled she had not made plans for the evening.

After traumatizing the crowd with our squealing embrace, Tarah and I decided to grab a bite to eat at Chick-fil-A before hittin' the shops. As I scanned the menu (They have the best fries in the world, right?), Tarah reached inside her purse and pulled out an Avett Brothers CD. "This is for you," she said with a sheepish grin on her face. "The best songs are #3 and #5!" This was such a nice surprise as music has always been one of my favorite gifts/happies.

Tarah knows me well! I listened to the CD on my drive home to Millry and quickly fell in love with #3 and #5. I didn't expect the lyrics to stir emotions the way they did, but just as the written word, I was able to step out of the chaos of daily life and reconnect with that which is simple and tranquil. Though the video below doesn't reflect my interpretation of the lyrics, I wanted to share #3 from the CD: Head full of doubt/Road full of promise. My favorite line - Decide what to be and go be it! Have a great weekend, everyone! Love, Tory

Endurance and Faith

For the past few days, I've tossed around ideas for this post, from adventure stories of the amazing kiddos, to an update on the dayjob (which I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE), but I quickly realized this post should not be about me at all, it should be about someone else.

Now, some of you are probably thinking, "Uh, oh! Where's she going with this post?" Hah! I assure you, my goal is to be uplifting and enthusiastic for what's to come in the near future to readers across America and abroad (our neighbors across the pond have shown great interest in the topic as well). This is the first in a series of posts that will shed light on a project I have been working on since November 2010, an account of hope and courage, as well as a story of selfless determination to help millions across the globe.

My intentions are not to tease you with sketchy details or to dramatize the significance of the story, but to pique your interest so you will not feel uninformed when the time arrives to reveal all details about this amazing project. You all have been so supportive and encouraging of my writing, and I do not want you to feel short-changed in any way.

Most importantly, you should know that the subject of this story is a true hero, a young person who has made a courageous choice to help you and me, and millions of other people worldwide. It is his prayer that many will benefit from the fruit of his efforts. Indeed, he is a testament of endurance and faith.

In closing, I would like to say that it has been an honor to know this young man, and it is my privilege to convey his story to you.

Have a great weekend, everyone! ~ Tory

Time marches on...

Photos from Christmas!
(Conner, Catie, Courtney and Carlie posing for a picture in Santa's lap.)

As the new year progresses, I find myself looking back on 2010 and wondering how it's possible that another twelve months have come and gone so quickly. Where did the time go?

It doesn't take long, however, before visions of the past flood my memory with Graduate School assignments and deadlines, followed by weeks of hot, sweltering summer afternoons of chasing our little ones around the baseball parks. And who in the family will ever forget those first days of Kindergarten for our twins? Ah, this still brings tears to my eyes.


(Catie enjoyed spending the day w/ me at CWEMC, and I was thrilled she came for a visit.)

(Poor Santa!)
Whew...now it's easy to see how time has marched on so quickly for our boisterous bunch. Nevertheless, there are several events from 2010 that will forever be in my heart, as these moments have changed my life and helped me become a stronger, better person.

(Our home during Christmas.)

(My first attempt at making a Paula Deen cheesecake. YUM!)

Shortly after our children settled in to a new school year, my writing shifted in a direction like never before. The hopes of gaining representation for my young adult novel became ever so close, and I could finally see a light at the end of the query tunnel. So, while working on revisions with an agent in New York, a new, amazing concept entered my head, and without hesitation, I decided to go for it. Don't worry friends, you'll hear more about this incredible story in the coming weeks/months.

A few weeks later another wonderful opportunity opened up. On Nov. 16th I was hired at Clarke-Washington Electric Membership Corporation www.cwemc.com as the co-op's monthly magazine editor and also to coordinate events for Youth Tour and their 75th anniversary celebration.


(All 9 of the Armstrong grandchildren.)

(My siblings - Brandon and Tera)

(My dad reading the story of Jesus' birth to his grandchildren. His philosophy - Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children!)



What about you? Is 2011 moving you in a new direction? My prayer for 2011 is that it will be a time of joy, peace and health for you and your family. Happy New Year, everyone! Love, Tory

A Moment Of Sudden Revelation!

Just when I was getting my writing groove on and making significant progress in book #2, WHAM! Something new, an epiphany perhaps, took precedence over my WIP and shifted me in a direction like never before. I assure you, this unique and poignant project will consume most of my spare time in order to make it a success for everyone involved. So as my blogging days become sparse, if not absent in the coming weeks, please understand that something amazing is in the works.

Until next time, goodnight everyone! Love, Tory

R & R and Homecoming Week at MHS!

Soon after I embarked on this adventure to become a published author I made three promises to my family and friends: 1. To set practical goals. 2. Not expect too much too soon. 3. Never give up.

So, a few days ago, when each promise was seriously reconsidered, the words "Revise & Resubmit" entered my vocabulary, as one of the Super Agents with the full of my manuscript asked to see my story again after revisions were made.

At first, the thought of combing through each line in my 400 page novel felt, well, like climbing Mount Everest barefoot. But after realizing this was the closest I'd come to gaining representation for my story, it seemed as if a match had been struck beneath my bum, forcing me to get busy editing EVERY.SINGLE.WORD.

So, onward and upward I go, moving one step closer toward representation for book #1. Hopefully, at the end of this journey, my family and all of you will have the opportunity to read this exciting tale of Callie and Scott.

In closing, I'd like to share more pics from another great week with the family! Have a fantastic weekend, everyone! Tory



Homecoming week at Millry High School. This photo was taken on "tacky/nerd day," and let's just say that Conner felt mortified wearing this tacky outfit & ridiculous hairstyle!



Catie before the parade.




Hoping to fill their bags full of candy and beads, Carlie and Conner listened carefully for the parade to begin.



"Throw me some candy, please!" Court begged!



It was such a fun week for us all! Go Wildcats!!!

A Week In Review!

Apologies for the lack in blogging lately. It's been one of those busy weeks in which the days have passed too quickly and the weekend has crept upon me.

The remedy I've found for such chaos? A book...a very good book!



It seems the more tumultuous my life becomes, the more I find comfort in reading or writing, hence the reason I stayed awake 'til midnight this week reading THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett.

One of my dearest friends, Tarah Olewski, loaned THE HELP to me a few weeks back, and now after finishing the page-turner, I understand her motivation for recommending it. Tarah knew I'd appreciate the brazen main characters, Skeeter, Minny, and Aibileen! Oh, just thinking of these characters now makes me want to start all over again. So Tarah, thank you so much for encouraging me to read this beautifully written story. Without a doubt, Stockett's debut novel has stirred every emotion possible, particularly those of true friendship and love for mankind.

Before leaving you today, I'd like to share some photos from another exciting week at the Minus household.


For me, there's an escape unimaginable in the written word. Just as the renowned Canadian laureate, Margaret Atwood, wrote in her poem, SPELLING, "a word after a word after a word is power." And after witnessing our twins, Carlie and Conner, read their very first book with 100% accuracy, I couldn't agree more with Ms. Atwood. A word after another is power!




Doing "homework" with her big brother and sisters, Courtney (in the middle chair) entertained us with her three-year-old version of MAX THE CAT.



No time for sleeping in this morning, Catie and the other cheerleaders travelled south to Bulldog Country for a fun-filled day of cheering for the midget football team!



Trae surprised our children by bringing home their favorite quarter horse from Sumter County. Conner did his best to ride Honeybun like a real cowboy and succeeded beyond epic proportions (note the toy pistol tucked beneath his belt).



During the past two months, Catie has taken riding lessons at an equestrian center in our area, and is now able to loap independently on Honeybun. Of course her love for riding horses has put a huge smile across her daddy's face. She is counting the days until SECRETARIAT, a movie based on the Triple Crown Winning horse, premieres next week on the big screen.



Catie enjoyed leading her sweet cousin, Madalyn, on Honeybun.



And just like her mommy, Courtney Erin is completely worn out from all the fun and excitement that this week had to offer! Zzz... Have a great weekend, everyone! Tory