George Thomas
George Thomas
17 Saratoga Road
Hutchinson, Kansas 67501
620-662-1548
A Visit with George!
The Memorial Service for
George is Saturday November 9th 10AM
November 6, 2002
With sadness we announce that George passed away today
at 4:00 PM at his home. Arrangements will be announced as soon as they are
available.
October 20th
Visited with George today and his message to all
is "I'm still kicking and I am doing the prescribed chemo. I am
maintaining a good attitude." I encourage you all to continue your prayer
support. He does appreciate it. Keep sending those cards. Write
personal notes of encouragement. All of this kind of support has a
very positive impact.
Karol
September 30, 2002
I had a great conversation with George on
Friday. He has maintained his improved mobility. Even driving his
mower. Having the tests I referred to in the last update and when they
are completed and evaluated he will know if they are making progress. He
said his attitude is good. He has a good appetite. He always references
how much he appreciates the cards. Keep sending them! He really
feels the support.Karol
September 18, 2002
I had a great conversation with George Sunday
evening. I could tell by the way he answered the phone that he was doing
better. He has regained some of the mobility of the left side. He has
control over bending his knee. "I can walk!" His appetite has improved.
Has started to gain some weight. Spirits up and attributes the lift to
the visit from Mike. He said "It must be those prayers, don't stop". He
said all the treatment modalities are having some positive affects. He
was to have a dose of chemo on Monday, MRI next week and follow up visit
with doctor for results when they are available.
He always expresses his appreciation for the
cards. I would encourage sending cards and notes. When we send emails
we need to avoid things that use a lot of memory. It bogs down his
computer system. I had tried to send him a picture and he could not open
it. Personal messages are fine.
Karol
September 1, 2000
After my follow-up examination at the Mayo Clinic on August 7, the plan
for Phase II was to have initial reports and supportive CT Scans delivered
to St. Francis Health Center in Topeka for further review. Upon receipt
of those documents, it was decided that because of the distance required
to travel for possible daily treatment and further complications that it
would be better to scheduled future treatment methods in Hutchinson.
An initial chemotherapy session (Phase III) was scheduled to occur in
Hutchinson on August 20. During the course of that session I had a
seizure (attributed to and later confirmed by a full-brain scan to be
caused by tumor masses in the right-rear and left-front of my brain) which
required hospitalization and caused approximately 95% loss of mobility in
my left-side.
Just completed radiation session 7 of 10 on Friday to address that
particular problem. Chemotherapy was initiated on August 27 in the
attempt to further address tumor metastases which has since spread to my
right lung and within the liver.
Further tests have been scheduled to occur during
the next two weeks to measure the effects of current treatment, which
includes acupuncture. I am in no great pain at this time and progressing
as well as can be expected. Will keep you up-to-date on a more timely
basis as significant events occur.
George
August 16, 2002
I had a conversation with George yesterday evening. He wanted me to
apologize to you all for not communicating sooner. With his permission I am
reporting he is in phase 2 which means it has been determined further
intervention will be necessary. The Mayo evaluation results are being sent
to his Topeka Oncologist. Further treatment which hasn't been defined will
be done in Topeka. George said when he is in phase 3 he will communicate
the plan. Continue your wonderful support. It is very much appreciated!
Cards, emails and prayer should be the order of the day. He finally got
past the predictable side affects and played 9 holes of golf. He said he
does not tolerate the heat at all.
Karol
July 30, 2002
I talked with George and I am pleased to report that he is doing better.
The predictable side affects symptoms have diminished. He has been able to
eat for about the last week and his weight has stabilized. He no longer seems
to need the pain meds. The fatique persists especially in the heat. He
returns to Mayo next weekend for the follow up studies and visits with the
doctors. Of course, hoping their efforts were successful. He will give us an
update when he returns.
Karol
July 2, 2002George had his last radiation
treatment Friday afternoon. He and DeAnne arrived at our house Saturday at
2:30 PM. Some visiting and George took a nap before a few friends dropped
in. They were on their way home a little after 7PM.
He will return to Mayo Clinic August 5th for more scans and Doctor visits.
They will be evaluating the results of their treatment and determining if more
things need to be done.
He really appreciates your prayers, calls, emails, faxes and cards. Keep
them coming. Your good wishes and support are like a tonic!
Karol
June 25, 2002
Pictures from the visit
Saturday Dwayne and I took DeAnne to Rochester, MN to be with George.
George is doing pretty good. Having some of the predictable side affects from
the radiation treatments and chemo which are fatique (reluctant to admit to),
difficulty swallowing (had to settle for cream pies and cheesecake when we ate
out). He just keeps on keeping on. Tom and Nancy joined us Sunday afternoon.
We watched him participate in a putting contest at the Municipal Golf Course.
He spoke often of the the messages he had been receiving from all of you.
Very therapeutic! Keep sending your emails, faxes and give him a call. It
means a great deal to him. They are hoping to depart from Rochester on
Saturday. That will be finalized on Thursday when he visits with the
Radiation Oncologist. I will send an update when I have the word from George.
Karol
June 11, 2002
Hi Guys:
Eight sessions of radiation and one session of chemo
completed. Feeling great, no side-effects at this time. Schedule remains the
same: (two radiation sessions per day, Monday thru Friday, chemotherapy (Adriamycin)
on 6/12 and 6/18. The last day of treatment is 6/28. Thank you so much Karol
for calling DeAnne. You cannot believe the calming effect hearing from you,
Helen, Carolyn Thomas, Carol Nickles, reading the e-mails and cards has on
DeAnne (and me too!!!). Tom and Nancy came to visit yesterday. We had great
conversation, good food, and some margaritas at the Outback.
What a great group of friends you ALL are. Have
everything needed to be comfortable (except for my sweetie in Hutchinson) and
visit the grocery store frequently for anything I may need (ha). Am
participating in a Mayo Patient Quality-of-Life Study to provide weekly input
and feedback that will hopefully be of value to patients with Advanced Stage
Cancer. Again, I am feeling great, continue to have a most positive attitude and
look forward to completion of my scheduled treatments and go home.
That's all for now.
Love ya, George
Just talked to George and our network is working! He is getting emails,
faxes, calls and notes. Keep it up! It helps a great deal to know how much
everyone cares. As this process progresses the support is very important.
Drop a note to DeAnne as well. It is difficult for her to stay at home at
this time, however necessary. She will join him eventually. Tom and Nancy
will spend Sunday afternoon with him.
Yesterday was the beginning of the radiation treatments. They do that
twice a day weekdays. He gets Saturday and Sundays off to rest. Chemo is on
Wednesdays between the radiation. Per his calendar he finishes this marathon
of treatment June 28th.
Karol
June 1, 2002
George left Mayo Friday after a week of tests and physician visits.
Internal Medicine, Oncologist, Radiologist. On his way home to Hutchinson he
stopped at our house from 10PM to 11PM(couldn't talk him into spending the
night) He will be returning to Mayo on Tuesday. The diagnosis is anaplastic
thyroid cancer. It is aggressive so the treatment is aggressive. He will be
receiving radiation treatments twice a day times 18 days. He wasn't certain
where the chemo fits in.
He will be staying at the: Hampton Inn
1755 S.
Broadway
Rochester,
Minnesota 55902
Phone:
507-287-9050
Fax:
507-287-9139
The Hampton also has a shuttle service that will take him to the hospital
for his treatments.
The Hampton has computers available to their guests and he was able to
access his internet provider from their computer so you can communicate via
email.
He was very appreciative of all the communications he had received. So
keep the prayers, calls and messages going. Tom and Nancy visited one evening
and that was very special.
George Thomas
17 Saratoga Road
Hutchinson, Kansas 67501
620-662-1548
Georges' Page