Thomas (Tommy)’s Story

Site created on July 25, 2019

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.

Tommy was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) last year. The journey of receiving a diagnosis was a long one. Throughout Tommy's childhood, he would be rushed to the hospital for pains that could never be explained and extraordinarily high white blood cell counts. A few times doctors came close to ordering a bone marrow biopsy, but called it off when his white blood cell count lowered. Doctors believe he's had leukemia between 5-10 years now, but it was never caught because he was constantly going in and out of remission. 

Since receiving his diagnosis last year, Tommy stopped responding to cutting-edge chemotherapy treatments, known as TKI's, available for his type of leukemia. After a second visit to MD Anderson in the spring, where the world's leading expert in CML works, Tommy's oncologist shared that his only option is a bone marrow transplant. We have been waiting for a match, and thankfully one was found through the national Be A Match Registry. 
  
On behalf of my brother and family, we ask that you please join us in prayer, as Thomas’ bone marrow transplant will be Saturday, July 27. He was admitted to the hospital Friday, July 19th, to undergo intense chemotherapy to prepare him for the transplant next week. The goal is to kill his immune system completely, so that by the time of his transplant, his autoimmune system is 0% Tommy and 100% donor. 
 
Your prayers mean so much to us. We ask that you pray for an uneventful transplant, no complications, and Thomas’ perfect recovery. 
 
Thomas will be in the hospital for about 30 days after the bone marrow transplant, and then must live close to the hospital for another 70 days, as he rebuilds his immune system. It will take about a year for his immune system to completely rebuild.

The journey won't be easy, but it will be worth it. We are so thankful and full of hope that he has a chance to live and live his life to the fullest after his recovery. 

If you would like to send cards, you can mail them to: 
Emory University Hospital Tower
Room T-914 Thomas Lagomasino
1364 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30322

Newest Update

January 4, 2023

Journal entry by Jill Lagomasino —

Dear family and friends, we wanted to share some great news--Thomas received the results from his most recent bone-marrow biopsy (BMB) and it is NOT showing any CML.  Alleluia!   This is such wonderful news!  

You might be wondering where this is coming from since our last post on CaringBridge was that he was cancer free.  Unfortunately, in February 2021 his BMB showed that the CML was back.  Thomas had been working closely with the bone-marrow transplant (BMT) team, lead by his amazing doctor, Dr. Langston, Director, Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Program, who immediately put him on the last of the TKI’s available for his type of leukemia.  He was on it longer than originally planned (has some very nasty side-effects), but it looks like it may have done its job and he is cancer free.  Thomas is still on the medication for the Graft-vs-Host-Disease, but the side-effects are much less than the TKI he was on.

Thank you for all the prayers and support through this journey.  We couldn’t have made it through without each and everyone of you praying and supporting us.   May our Lord bless you and your families and allow Thomas to remain cancer free.

Read More of the journal titled "January 4, 2023"
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