Self-deprecating and wry, Richard Todd is the kind of man who could only come from the American Midwest. He believes in personal reasonability and the right to make his own happiness. His speech has the gentle laziness of a man who has all the time in the world. On the surface there is nothing particularly striking or heroic about Richard’s brand of quiet dignity. Yet Richard Todd managed to become a medical miracle by beating leukemia in 44 days.

To understand how Richard Todd overcame his illness, you must first understand his story. His recovery wasn’t the result of fabulous genetics, (his father and sister both died of heart failure), perfect health (at 72, he’s already survived two heart attacks), or an amazing HMO. The only thing Richard had on his side was a supportive community to help him, and the healing power of his own faith and positive attitude.

Early this year, Richard Todd was a man in recovery: he had survived his second heart attack, and though his heart was healing, he was still short of breath. Both Richard’s GP and his cardio-pulmonologist found nothing wrong—he seemed completely healthy. But on February 3, Richard came home from church sick, vomiting and nauseated. Recognizing what he thought were the signs of another heart attack, Richard had his wife of 55 years drive him to the emergency room. It was there that the blood tests came back: his white blood count was 132. He had leukemia.

At first Richard’s reaction was one of total disbelief: he told the doctor’s he wouldn’t accept what had been put in his body, and he would be healed. After two bouts with his heart, after watching his mother slowly die of Alzheimer’s, Richard was not about to give up now, after he had worked so hard for health and happiness.

Richard’s sunny outlook was soon clouded over by doubt. Immediately after his diagnosis, Richard came down with acute bronchitis and had to be hospitalized. Then as he was being discharged, his insurance company told him they weren’t going to be covering his cancer therapy. For Richard, this was the first blow that had the power to shake his faith that he would be alright. At $4,000 a month, there was no way to pay for even a fraction of the medical costs. His HMO had abandoned him.

Because of the red tape that surrounds pre-existing HIPA laws, there was no way for Richard’s doctors to advise him on alternative funding for treatment. But help was still able to find Richard, where he least expected it. A devout Pentecostal, Richard has a close-knit relationship with the members of his congregation, all of whom have a deep faith in the power of personal healing. At church the following Sunday, an acquaintance asked Richard if he had heard of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, a non-profit group which helps provide financial relief to families battling cancer. Richard was put in contact with a representative from the society who consulted with Richard and his doctor to discuss the best treatment options available. A few days later, Richard was handed a month’s supply of Gleevec, a cutting-edge new drug from Novartis.

Unlike traditional chemotherapy medicines, Gleevec doesn’t target rapidly dividing cells blindly. It’s a drug which is drawn to a particular type of enzyme produced by a particular kind of lymphoma cell. Richard had a hard time taking the drug, knowing how much others had sacrificed so that he might receive a $26 pill. Yet Richard was supremely grateful: a grandfather of 14 and a great-grandfather of 5, he felt as if God was answering his prayers.

What makes organizations like the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society so effective is that they allow patients to fully concentrate on recovery. A huge number of cancer patients die from issues only tangentially related to their disease. They die of malnutrition, they die of pneumonia because of their weakened immune system, and they simply give up because they are overwhelmed by the burden of finances and insurance headaches. Optimism and a positive outlook are more than just new-age mantras; they’re just as vital to the success of a patient as a drug like Gleevec. Richard’s insistence that he would indeed survive is one of the reasons that he did. All of his energy was focused on healing his body; everything else was taken care of by his friends, his family, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

April 11, just 44 days after he was diagnosed with leukemia, Richard Todd returned to the hospital for a check up. His doctor was absolutely shocked by the results. In less than two months, Richard’s white blood cell count had gone from 132 to a mere 5.9. The cancer hadn’t just gone into remission; it had been cured. Richard would be around to see the birth of his 6^th great-grandchild. Richard Todd had survived.

Richard Todd’s story is one of amazing odds: because of a rare combination of medical support, a fantastic new drug, and a positive attitude, he was able to beat leukemia with astonishing speed. While his results are truly miraculous, it’s easy to see how things could have ended very differently. If Richard had not found the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Kansas City, he would have died months ago.

This story is the reason why Cells for Cells is recycling and supporting groups like the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. By helping Richard and his family every step of the way, the Society gave Richard the peace of mind to concentrate on his own health. Asked if he had any advice for those who struggle against the odds, Richard said (with his characteristic bluntness) “Stay positive—if you don’t you’re a fool.”

By donating your old cell phones to Cells for Cells, together, we can help raise money and awareness for those who are battling cancer. Just like with Richard Todd’s story, sometimes little things make all the difference.

Donate your cell phones to Cells for Cells.

Note:  We had published Richard’s story last year and in our website upgrade, lost the links to the original.  This is a powerful story so I wanted to get it back up.  I hope you enjoyed it – Jason

Unfortunately, we’ve had to put the Medical Bill Makeover awards on hold as we add money to that Fund.  I anticipate restarting the awards in September and keeping them at $1000.

Look for updates here and on twitter @cellsforcells.

You can also read the stories of previous Medical Bill Makeover recipients.

Dawn and Jeff Wooten

Jennifer Hancock

Here are the details of the Cells for Cells Medical Bill Make Over:

Cells for Cells wants to help pay your medical bills

1. Email your story about battling cancer to jason(dot)cellsforcells(at)gmail(dot)com
2. The subject line must be Medical Bill Makeover: My Story
3. Your story can be your own, your family member or friend’s
4. Your story must include your current situation and how you encourage others that are battling cancer. Include how you have remained strong, optimistic, and positive.
5. You must Follow The One Million Cells Story on Twitter @cellsforcells if you do the Twitter thing
6. You must recycle at least one cell phone w/ Cells for Cells
7. If you have less than 10 phones to recycle – you foot the shipping bill ***SEE NOTE BELOW
8. If you have more than 10 phones to recycle – Cells for Cells will foot the shipping bill
9. Deadlines will be announced.
10. Winners will be notified via email or telephone.

Request your free FedEx label here.

Spread the word

The more cell phones Cells for Cells recycles, the more families we will help.

Cells for Cells will award one family the Medical Bill Make Over for the time period announced.  If Cells for Cells chooses your story, we will contact you via email or phone. Please include your phone number in your email. We will write the check directly to the individual (until our legal team tells us to do it another way). That way, you can apply the award to your medical bills or associated costs as you see necessary. [Medical Bills and costs can be: doctor's bill, pharmacy bill, mortgage payment, gas for your car, flowers for a loved one, etc.]

***Shipping notes
Shipping about 10 phones will cost you between $5 – $10 dollars via the post office. To avoid this, let your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc. know that you are participating in this giveaway. Have them help you get more than 10 phones and then request a FREE shipping label.

***Other notes
By participating, you give Cells for Cells permission to use your story to promote Cells for Cells, Recycling, Cancer Patient advocacy, etc. You may need to provide other info as required by our legal team.

I am no longer afraid of putting green vegetables in my smoothies.  If fact, I think it is a brilliant idea to help “bridge people back to wellness”.   And that is the exact the goal of Shawnee’s own wellness guru, Dr. Michelle Robin of Your Wellness Connection.

Bridging People Back to Wellness

“You always hear about giving up foods,” says Dr. Robin.  “My goal is help people see what they can add to their diets.  I just want people to try something different. Just try to add something green to your smoothie or try to add 3 fruits a day to your diet. Focus on what you can add into your diet that can give you more nutrition instead of focusing on everything you have to stop eating.”

So Dr. Robin took me to her wellness kitchen to show me how easy it is to build (and strengthen) my bridge to wellness. She asked me what fruits I like in my smoothie – I chose pineapple and cherries.  Dr. Robin then pulled out something called Mache (pronounced ‘mosh’) – it is a green leafy thing – and put a whole container of it into my smoothie.

Noooooooo!  At first, I was thinking ‘there is no way I am putting greens in a fruit smoothie,” as I saw my smoothie turn a very greenish-maybe-I-won’t-drink-that looking smoothie.  She handed me my glass, and with the bravest smile, I took a sip.

Not bad.  Not bad, indeed.  I could feel the wellness pumping through my veins.  It tasted fine – I could taste the pineapple and there was a hint of something green – but not too overpowering.  It was definitely drinkable and made it easy for me to make a mental note of trying it at home.  More on that later.

Sustainability at Your Wellness Connection

One of the reason we talk to our Cells for Cells partners is to showcase how they are doing green (not just green smoothie) and sustainable activities in their workplace.  Your Wellness Connection is doing many:

1. Recycling face paper (the paper that overlays the “face slot” on chiropractic and massage tables
2. Provide plastics recycling for all business plastics and employees can bring their plastics from home, too
3. Recycle all batteries
4. Recycle all light bulbs
5. Recycle old computers and monitors
6. Switched to electronic medical records to cut down on paper consumption and decrease carbon footprint
7. Uses Magic Touch Cleaning – Gary Walker and his team rocks!  Gary is the King of Green Cleaning
8. Uses Indigo Wild products
9. Partnering with Cells for Cells to recycle cell phones

Partnership with Cells for Cells

Dr. Robin gave me a very thought-provoking reason for why she is a partner with Cells for Cells, “Because you [Cells for Cells] are passionate about helping health.”

Even though I have never described our business like that, the concept rings true.  Cells for Cells raises money for families battling cancer by recycling old cell phones.

Cell phone recycling is available at Your Wellness Connection and Dr. Robin encourages all of her patients to drop off any old cell phones at YWC.

Green Smoothie at Home

I have to thank Dr. Robin for helping me think differently about greens in my smoothies.  I have a smoothie almost daily; and to be able to add more nutrition is awesome.  I tried baby spinach in my smoothie which usually consists of a base of a three-berry frozen mix from Costco and whatever other fruit I have on hand – bananas, peaches, pineapple, etc.  I like to add a little bit of raw, organic honey.  It’s my little splurge as I wean myself off of all white sugar.

Spinach in my Smoothie

Here I am holding the approximate amount of baby spinach that I put into my smoothie.  The spinach is already in my smoothie, I just thought it would make a funny picture of what looks like me getting ready to put a handful of spinach in my glass.  This smoothie tasted mostly like pineapple and a tiny bit “greenish.”  Just like in my mache smoothie, the green flavor is just there – it is not overpowering and it is drinkable.

There are a number of green smoothie recipes at Your Wellness Connection here.

I might try the Apple and Lime Green Smoothie next as I take Dr. Robin’s advice to help make my wellness bridge as strong and as green as possible.

[Jason's notes:]

I wonder how many times my emotions have gotten the better of me in my business decisions.

I know that I am a very emotional guy when doing business.  I have the butterflies and knots in my stomach when I have to deal with something I perceive as difficult or challenging – or just out of order.  Not that there is anything wrong with butterflies and knots – I just know mine frequently come from an “Oh, no!” perspective instead of “This is exciting and exhilarating” perspective.

Believe me, I am an expert at hiding my emotions – but my mind rages like in the “Serenity Now” episode of Seinfeld.  Kramer!

One thing that I have done to help avoid the “put the shovel down, time for a backhoe” situation is to surround myself with mentors – actually three mentors – all  older, seasoned, mature, and cool.

Some of the best advice I have received recently probably went in one ear and out the other; BUT the CALM that came with the advice made up for the fact that I might have missed the words.  And it gives me another opportunity to talk to my mentors again, after I have calmed down.

Oh, and I’ve got to mention that my Dad and Mom are great mentors, too.  Thanks Dad and Mom!

And, thank you, @Garyvee for another great post and for this equation Business > Emotion.

Brand new Cells for Cells partner, Freightquote, did an outstanding job of re-using an old cardboard box to collect mobile phones for Cells for Cells.

Great job on some very brilliant creativity!

Want to use the Battle Cancer with a Cell Phone poster for your mobile phone recycling efforts?  You can download it here.

For more information about Cells for Cells and how we help families battling cancer visit www.cellsforcells.com

______________________________________________________

Trouble viewing the video on Viddler?  Here’s the YouTube Link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyRCMYeABtc

Even though Cells for Cells mission is to help families battling cancer, I feel the responsibility to help anyone that is facing a difficult situation.

Kind words can change a life.  Kind words can bring joy and happiness.  Kind words can turn away fear.  Kind words can increase bravery and strength.

That is why I asked Gary Vaynerchuk, “During difficult times, Gary, what do you say to someone to help them stay strong?”

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Having trouble watching on viddler?  Try our YouTube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zXM00-rM3A

Sample Report that Cells for Cells sends to the LLS

The responses continues to pour in.  We had no idea that offering our Cells for Cells recycling program to all of you TNTers would be so successful.

Cells for Cells is happy to be able to help in your fund raising efforts.

Here is how YOU get credit for all of your cell phone recycling efforts with Cells for Cells.

1.  You register to participate in Cells for Cells [Thank YOU!  We are grateful!]

2.  Cells for Cells tracks each and every box of cell phones you ship to us

3.  Cells for Cells receives your shipment and creates an inventory report

4.  Cells for Cells assigns the current donation value to all the cell phones you collected

5.  On the 15th of each month, Cells for Cells writes a check to each of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Chapters represented by your participation for cell phones that were received in the PRECEDING month.

6.  Refer to our sample above.  Notice that all the phone received in February earned the Kansas City Leukemia & Lymphoma Society $536.98 for March.

More tips and ideas coming up…

Oh, and feel free to contact us if you have any other questions.

Again, I am grateful to be able to work with you as we, together, help families that are battling cancer.

Sincerely,

Jason Clements

The secret…

…to a good life is to give more than you take…

A gigantic thank you to Jeremy Collins.

Link to Jeremy’s blog post here.

Joseph, let’s start with Recycle or Die. Man, that is STRONG statement – tell me what it means.

Several years ago our President/Owner, Dino De Marco, and I were discussing our dedication towards recycling. We needed a slogan that would capture that dedication and emotion, and create the foundation for the culture of the company.

“Recycle or Die” was born as a counter-culture slogan that would intentionally draw attention both good and bad. It was meant to be a high impact, in your face-style which included a skull and cross bones design that helped convey the emotion and meaning behind it. The slogan was not intended to send the message that if you didn’t recycle we would harm you in any way; but rather reflected the impact on the environment and damage being done to our planet and deterioration of precious resources by NOT recycling. So when we say “Recycle or Die” it is meant that we need to recycle for our future, our children’s future, and future of generations to come.

We also would hope that the customers and public we serve take into account the seriousness of this issue. Although the slogan is harsh; it is also true.  Extreme Recycling believes that it is our duty to protect our planet for the future.

Are you wearing a Recycle or Die t-shirt right now?

Of course I am.

How do I get one?

Purchase one our website www.extremerecyclinginc.com

Extreme Recycling has been recycling since 1993, before it was recently “cool” to be green again. What is the biggest change you have seen in this industry since 1993?

I would have to say the machinery to process the materials has been the biggest change. In the early days of disassembly it was electric drills and hand tools moving up to the air tools which we still use in our manual disassembly operation but shredding and separating materials is the new direction which we are a major player in.

What is the oldest/strangest piece of equipment you’ve seen pass through your facility?

Oldest would be the WANG and IBM mainframes from the late 70’s early 80’s and some of the 1st Apple and Radio Shack portable pc’s. Strangest things would be swords, Otis Spunkmier cookie machines, refrigerators full of food.

Tell us everything that Extreme Recycling does?

Extreme Recycling provides remarketing, refurbishing, and recycling of your computer, telecom, and networking E-Waste. We have been supplying cost effective, high quality E-Waste solutions since 1993. We perform recycling, asset management, re-marketing and data eradication services for many Fortune 500 Companies, non-profit companies, school districts, and government entities. Extreme Recycling also provides a free public E-Waste collection service at all of our facilities.

What do you do best?

Everything we do.  [Jason's note:  One of the best business answers in the world.  Especially when you can back it up like Extreme can.]

How many tons of stuff do you recycle?

In 2008 it was about 4300 tons. 8.6 million pounds.

What is the most common item that passes through your facility?

Mainly office electronics like computers, monitors, printers, copiers.  And now that we service the community as well as Corporate America, it is TVs, microwaves and all of the different kinds of home electronics

You’ve got some gigantic clients – what is it like to be audited by your clients?

No problem at all. When our clients audit us we can provide all of their information requests through ON DEMAND reporting from our customized database.

Why do you let yourselves be audited?

Being visible to the customer is important it shows that we are legitimate and have nothing to hide.

Tell us about your Pri-Max 770. What does that do for your clients?

It is funny that the videos on you tube shows our actual machine shedding a lawn tractor! For our customers it provides piece of mind that their materials are being processed in our facility and not being exported for processing somewhere else which is a huge concern with most companies today.

Extreme Recycling is very active in the community: Toys for Tots, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Keep America Beautiful, Lance Armstrong Foundations, Ronald McDonald House, Special Olympics of Kansas and California, American Stroke Association, Humane Society of the US, and Cells for Cells. HOW in the world do you support all of those?

One donation at a time through small contributions that will, over time, become even larger as we continue to grow.

Tell us about your owner and founder Dino De Marco. What is his story?

The thing that attracted me to Dino was his passion for this industry and how he educates people on the importance of recycling.  When we first met, he was trying to keep kids off the streets and off drugs  through his recycling business.  I couldn’t work in this industry for any other company because Dino is the “Real Deal.”  He does what he says, never says no, and NEVER QUITS.  THAT is the biggest part of our success and I am honored to be a part of his dream.

Do you have a big goal that you want to accomplish with Extreme Recycling?

You mean our BHAG? (Big hairy audacious goal) To become a leader in the industry and a company name that is known nationwide.

Do you see recycling being any different in 2009 with this economy?

Yes, I do:  Through long term relationships with good downstream vendors – only the strong will survive.

Do you have any predictions for the future of recycling?

In Electronics recycling, I believe that any company that only got into this industry to turn dollars and doesn’t believe in all that is involved with recycling will not be in business in the near future.

I just updated my DVD player at home and I will buy a new HD TV this year. What hints do you have for people like me that have some old home electronics? I don’t want to drive to Topeka to dispose of it “appropriately.” What should I do?

Look at the local county websites under Solid Waste facilities in the area and also just search online for approved e-Waste processors in the area.

Let me ask you a tough question: Can Extreme Recycling help a company make money?

Yes we can; but that shouldn’t be the only motive for a company to utilize our services.

How easy is it to use Extreme Recycling services?

It’s simple just call [785-267-1700] and one of our trained customer service reps will assist you.

Who is your ideal client?

Any company in need of the services that we provide. Keep in mind that our primary focus is the environment and how we can educate any company to be accountable for the materials they generate.

What is your take on mandatory versus voluntary recycling?

We believe in voluntary recycling through education.

We just connected on LinkedIn. How important do you think embracing social networking tools will be in 2009.

Very. Electronic communication is part of reducing your footprint.

Biggest business mistakes to avoid in 2009?

1.  Over-investing in areas that will not provide good returns.  2.  Spending money on wants and not on true necessities.  We [Extreme] have really changed our structure in production and employees and have really seen an overall improvement.

What cell phone do you use?

Blackberry curve 8330

What recycling tips do you have for large companies? What recycling tips do you have for small businesses? What recycling tips do you have for just regular Joe and Jane Public?

Large company or Small company; Joe or Jane should all remember the same thing:  Do the research when dealing with companies that provide our type of services look at the local state and government standards and make sure they are being followed.

Last words?