SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE

As soon as my doctors cleared me to go back to teaching, I jumped at the opportunity.

Todd Reidman, BSC Associate Professor of Automotive Technology

REIDMAN RESUMES TEACHING AFTER A

SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE

By Kim Singer

July through October 2020 was only four months, but during that time Todd Reidman, Bismarck State College associate professor of Automotive Technology, went through a painfully long journey.

Following a COVID-19 diagnosis, he spent a week home in bed. When his condition worsened, he was admitted to the hospital. After three days on continuous oxygen, he was airlifted to Fargo, since there were no ICU beds available in Bismarck, and placed on a ventilator. That was only the beginning of his story.

While in a medically induced coma for most of his three-month hospital stay, Reidman was diagnosed with pneumonia twice, put on a ventilator two separate times, had several different blood infections, experienced kidney failure and seizures and lost 60 pounds.

“My heart actually stopped for 15 minutes,” he says.

Yet he survived and has made a remarkable recovery, which he attributes to support and encouragement from his wife, family, grandkids and dogs. He began his rehabilitation in Fargo and then completed additional physical therapy for a couple months after returning to Bismarck.

“My wife is my rock. She kept me motivated, especially once I woke up and had to fight to relearn to perform everyday tasks, such as eating and walking.”

In November, Reidman was ready to resume teaching part-time.

“As soon as my doctors cleared me to go back to teaching, I jumped at the opportunity,” he says. “I love my job and working with the students. Teaching is such a rewarding profession. Right along with my students, I’m learning and growing every day. I like seeing them do well. Their success is my success.”

Upon returning to BSC where he has taught for 22 years, Reidman was greeted with a “Welcome Home” banner from students and colleagues.

“It was great to be able to meet my students for the first time. And it meant so much that our dean, Mari Volk, as well as the president, Doug Jensen, were there to welcome me home. The support that I have received from my BSC family has been tremendous.”

With as far as he’s come, Reidman said he still has a long way to go. He recently joined a gym in an effort to get his strength back.

“This experience was truly miserable,” he says. “While I may have gone through it, it was my family who truly experienced it. I can’t imagine how scary it was for them. I’m so thankful that I have been given a second chance at life.”

After winter break, Reidman was cleared to return to work full-time. He has also been able to pick up his normal schedule at his auto repair business, Reidman’s Automotive & Diesel, where he works weekends and weekdays after he wraps up teaching. Having Reidman back is a winwin-win; for him, his students and BSC.

Todd Reidman and his wife Lenora were welcomed back to the shop/classroom shortly after they returned from the hospital.