Todd Swartwood

Hey to all the fellow LJers,
I am from NW PA only moved to Fulton NY mid 2012. I have been a woodworker all my life.
I started at home with my dads tools. Had my first machine accident when I was about 13
when I had a kickback with a Radial arm saw messed up the ends of first 3 fingers on left hand. Over the years I did other carpentry work to pay the bills. I have been in business for my self since 1977. My back started giving me trouble back in 1983, I have had 7 major
back surgeries since that time. about 10 years ago I had a 3 level spinal fusion that failed and have been in extreme pain since that time. I was bed ridden for the next 2 years,
after year 1 I had the surgery redone and it worked, bad news was it did not help the pain.
After another year my pain Dr. and I decided to do an implanted morphine pump.
Praise God it gave me back some of my life. Since that time I can spend a few hours each day in my shop, and it keeps me from going completely looney. This past summer the implant malfunctioned and I had to go through withdrawal while the pain increased each day.
Because I was now living in new location it took 3 months to get the pump replaced. It was not fun but by the grace of God I am still here. Because my time in the shop is limited due to pain I try to use my time wisely. My Dr once told me to use my time like a credit card,
if you overuse it you still have to pay the bill.
I really enjoy my time in the shop, and often have a bigger bill to pay than I would like.

My wife Cindy and I bought this property for a number of reasons, 1st she is form Canada and I am from PA. This puts us close to centered between our children.
2ndly it was the only property we could find to fill our needs. 1st space for a home, 2nd space for a shop, and 3rd a space for a Bakery for her. Fortunately we also have room
for 3 apartments that when completed will make us a little less short on cash each month.

-- Todd Swartwood (Todd Swart-Woodworks)