JAMES WOOD – Staff Writer
Dr. Todd Smith, a chiropractor who practices in Lewisburg and Franklin, defied all odds of survival and recovery against a near-fatal stroke that happened during the summer of last year.
On Jun. 28, Smith was celebrating his wedding anniversary with his wife, Emily, in Nashville when at 5 a.m. was struck with a stroke that would alter their lives for the foreseeable future. Prior to this, various unusual symptoms began to manifest such as tiredness, fatigue, and other strange traits. These symptoms started to worsen, culminating in more severe afflictions.
“I was working in the office the day before and I had, what looking back on it, was a mini stroke, a smaller stroke that passed,” Smith said, “I felt tingling in my mouth and it was hot.”
Months later, Smith celebrated his 33rd anniversary in Nashville with his wife.
“It felt a little weird when I was going to bed, and long story short, five in the morning, I’m trying to get my wife’s attention because I realized I can’t talk.”
Emily, his wife, noticed his symptoms quickly. “We had gone to dinner and we were staying at the JW Marriott in Nashville,” Emily Smith said, “At dinner, Todd’s face was very red, seemed a bit swollen or puffy.”
“He was happy and in great spirits so I wasn’t too alarmed,” she said, “I was awoken by him thrashing around in our bed in the very early morning and quickly realized something was very wrong.”
Health professionals were shortly on the scene as his wife contacted the building administration for medical help. He was later taken just over two miles down the road to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. It was shortly discovered that Smith’s basilar artery, one of the main blood pathways in the brain, had collapsed along with two other strokes and a heart attack.
“They (Vanderbilt) had to do an experimental surgery,” Smith said, “With the first surgery, they gave my wife a 4% chance that I would make it.”
“The second surgery, the basilar artery surgery, they said I had less than a one percent chance of making it.”
Miraculously, Smith survived and recovered from both surgeries successfully. After a few subsequent surgeries to ensure his health after the main operations, his recovery from the stroke has continued faster than predicted. The path of recovery was long, however. “Over the weeks that Todd started to heal and recover, we saw a small sign as he moved his toe and then squeezed a finger, but it was a long hard fight,” Emily Smith said, “Every day was a fight to keep him living, from many different hospital issues that arose.”
“I have gotten confirmation both ways that I will make full recovery,” Smith said, “They tell you that you’re going to get back 90% of your ability in the first 90 days.”
“My kids were remarkable, strong and fighters helping me maintain the house and life balance through this journey,” Emily Smith said. “We have had so many people support us, pray for our family and Todd’s recovery, it’s what has gotten us through one of the most difficult times in our life. We have been blessed by so many friends, family and God has carried us though this tragic time. We are so humbled and grateful for all the love and support.”
“My wife was my absolute rock through very difficult times,” Smith said, “I’ve been blessed from start to finish.”
Smith has now met the medical and psychological requirements to return to his practice as a chiropractor and is also currently opening a new building that will be completed by the end of February.