Thomas’s Story

Site created on March 13, 2018

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.  


Thomas has been enjoying his first year of college at Christoper Newport University.  He is enjoying all aspects both academically and socially.  He is pledging Kappa Sigma and has a wonderful new family of pledge brothers.  He has been struggling to stay well since starting there this fall.  He arrived home on March 2nd to start Spring Break and quickly came down with  fever and sore throat.  It progressed all week until Thursday March 8 when he was having difficulty swallowing.  He had developed such enlarged tonsils that they were touching.  He was admitted into Virginia Hospital Center for observation and to be put on an IV for dehydration.  The swelling progressed to the point that he needed to be put on a breathing tube and be moved into ICU.  He has been there since Saturday.  He is sedated and not in any pain.  He had a set back yesterday but is calm now.  Please pray for him and all of us.  We appreciate your well wishes and messages left on this site.  I will read them to him daily.

Newest Update

Journal entry by Lisa Parisi Goodwin

I am so thrilled to report that Thomas left the hospital last evening after 29 long and worrisome days.  He is slim and tired but so happy to be out.  He is able to effortfully swallow and can handle a liquid diet right now.  So all his trips to fast food restaurants will have to wait as will my brunch with him at Founding Farmers.  For now, he is recuperating with his dad and stepmom.  I think his step grandma is coming to stay with him too.  So he's in good hands.  We don't know if he'll make it back to CNU before finals or not but the school is working with him.  I am so relieved and grateful for his improvement.  Thank you all so much for your prayers, support and love during this most stressful time.  
Patients and caregivers love hearing from you; add a comment to show your support.
Help Thomas Stay Connected to Family and Friends

A $25 donation powers a page like Thomas's for two weeks.

If you donate by May 12, your gift will be doubled, up to $10,000, thanks to a gift from Living Water Foundation.

Comments Hide comments

Show Your Support

See the Ways to Help page to get even more involved.

SVG_Icons_Back_To_Top
Top