Don Thomas Health Issues

[Robin Conrads]

#142639

Hi All. Don and Lori Thomas posted this yesterday about some health issues that Don is having. Please keep them in your thoughts. The link to his Caring Bridge account for updates is https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/edonnallthomas

As many of you may already know, Don was diagnosed with a brain tumor in early April of this year. After the initial panic of hearing the terrifying term “Brain Tumor” the decision was made to wait, watch, start on an anticonvulsant, and carry on with our busy lives. In our case it turned out to be 2 trips to Alaska, a safari to Namibia in Southern Africa, a flyfishing adventure to Far North Queensland Australia, and a trip to southern Arizona to get our home there ready to sell. That is a pretty ambitious list for a guy with a brain tumor!

We managed to tick all the boxes with minimal drama. That said, I will point out that I was instructed early on that I am the “Designated Driver” for the time being. We all know that involves a lot of driving advice. Fast forward to September and the opening of bird season. Increasing headaches, balance and coordination issues, and occasional fuzzy memory moments have become an issue. The straw that broke the camel’s back as they say, came this week when Don missed three pheasants in one day!!!

So, this week we made a trip to visit the neurosurgeon and have a repeat MRI to check on the status of this tumor thing….. The tumor really hasn’t changed over 6 months so it is obviously slow growing. The neurosurgeon points out that with this thing it is not a matter of if it needs to come out but when. We have all decided that it is time for this thing to go and Don is scheduled for surgery to have it removed on October 31st in Billings at the Billings Clinic. We are on the schedule a little sooner than I anticipated but I guess there is no time like the present. Let’s get this party started – I guess. 😳

I will keep everyone posted on Don’s progress. He is anxious to keep you all informed and I am sure he will appreciate staying in touch with everyone as he recuperates over the next few weeks. The Caring Bridge is a great way to stay in touch for any of you who have not had any experience with it. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Lori Thomas

[Raymond Coffman]

#142640

Don and Lori

Wishing Don an easy surgery and a quick recovery back to normal ! We look forward to hearing all is well.

Beuna Suerte

Scout aka Ray

 

[Col Mike]

#142654

Don and Lori

Best karma sent your way. Hang tough.

Semper Fi

Mike

[David Coulter]

#142656

Don & Lori, wishing you great health and speedy recovery, not to mention revenge on those laughing pheasants. Dang invasive species anyway! Cheers to you! dwc

[Kees]

#142695

Ufta, that hurts!  A friend went through the same thing a number of years ago, but they didn’t find it until the tumor was the size of an orange.  It has NOT been easy for him since it had obviously been there for a long time so removing it did some major damage to his brain.  I am glad to see that you are going to have the surgery now, before Dr. Thomas’s tumor gets any bigger.  I’ll keep you in my prayers!

~Kees~

[Robin Conrads]

#142838

Hi All. Thanks for all the prayers for Don. He came through the surgery well and even got to go home a day early.  He’s at home resting now and trying to find a way to get past Lori to go hunting. All of the updates and photos can be found on their Caring Bridge site. Here’s the link again https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/edonnallthomas/journal

Mom

[Stephen Graf]

#142843

Thanks  for the update and link.  Guess I didn’t see the first one.

That’s quite a train track across his noggin!  And it sounds like the local deer population won’t get a break after all…

[Ralph]

#142848

Pheasants beware!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We’re grateful all is going well it seems…

[Raymond Coffman]

#142855

Glad to hear the Doc is doing well ! Wish him a fast recovery and return to the hunt .

Scout aka Ray

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