Gayle Thom

On January 24, 2018, doctors confirmed that Gayle Thom has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Sadly it is not the usual type of breast cancer.

As a family, we have been shocked, saddened and frightened to receive this news. In the last few weeks, we have done everything in our power to educate ourselves and develop a plan to fight this disease. We have consulted medical professionals in Rapid City, we have been to the Mayo Clinic and even as we pray for a miracle of healing, we are gearing up for the fight of our lives.

While cancer treatments are so effective and well-organized these days, this is a particularly aggressive form of cancer. Gayle will start treatment tomorrow, which is prescribed to be 5-6 months of the strongest chemotherapy, then surgery, then another 6 months of chemo and radiation. Prayers that her body can physically withstand this harsh, lengthy treatment are appreciated.

Our faith and resolve remains high; but even with the most advanced treatments available, we don’t know how long we have… maybe 6 months, maybe 2 years, maybe longer? But the truth is—just like all of us—nobody knows how long we have.

Gayle is many things to many people: Wife, mother, grandmother and friend. All who know her would call her a woman of immense faith, integrity and a tireless advocate and comforter to victims and families of unspeakable crimes and tragedies.

As we began this journey together, we know that so many of you will want to help in any way you can. We will monitor and update this website routinely. Please send us your questions, prayers and well wishes. We will call on you, we will lean on you and we will graciously accept your love and help. Please use this website as our lifeline of communication, as it will be extremely difficult to return all phone calls, texts, emails and other messages in the weeks and months to come.

As we work and fight and pray for a miracle, Gayle wants to emphasize to all women how important it is to regularly monitor and maintain your health. When she received her annual mammogram in December 2016, she received a clean bill of health. Less than a year later, her annual scan revealed that her cancer had been present for 6-8 months. We thank you for your prayers and concern, your efforts and help, and for being part of this family and community of love that she has cultivated and nurtured within all of us.