Help Tom on His Journey Towards Transplant

January 26, 2017

I doing ok, still would like ideas and most of all help with a fundraiser. If anyone can donate please do so. God is good! Please sign my guest book. Thanks for the prayers and keep them coming.

December 8, 2016

Things are going ok, I doing fairly well on dialysis but have bad days of severe cramping and feeling light headed. It will be a glorious day when I can get a kidney. If you would like to donate towards my kidney transplant, remember donate before the end of December to enjoy tax savings in 2016.

September 29, 2016

Things are going ok. I would like to do another fundraiser. If anyone has any ideas let me know. God bless everyone. Keep the prayers coming for a new kidneysoon. If you can give please prayerfully consider it. Thank you one and all.

September 15, 2016

Things are going ok, i am back on the transplant list ❤. Money is really tight right now as we have had no income since early April. Please pray and give if you so choose.

August 2, 2016

Its has been awhile since I updated. Things are going ok. Dialysis three days a week takes a toil on me but going pretty well considering. I appreciate allthe prayers and financial support. I again on hold on the transplant list but hope to be reactivated in the next week or so. Blessing everyone and take care.

April 9, 2016

I just got out of the hospital after spending 4 days. I am now on dialysis did two rounds here in the hospital and now start 3 days a week. Prayers appreciated as I start a new journey.

March 6, 2016

Whist spent a day and night in the hospital, looks like I will be starting kidney dialysis within the next week or two. Keep praying for a donor, God has keep me sustained this long without dialysis, He can deliver me a new kidney today. Keep me and the family in prayers and if you can donate to me feel free to do so

February 11, 2016

Still working on the next fund raiser. I have been doing ok, keep the prayers coming

January 10, 2016

Doing some planning for my next fund raiser announcement coming in the next few days!!!!

December 30, 2015

It has been cold the last few days, I been sick the last couple days as well. I am doing OK now, remember to keep me in your prayers.

December 27, 2015

Merry Christmas I hope everyone had a blessed day on Christmas. Remember when you donate to my campaign before Dec 31 you can enjoy tax savings in 2015. Thanks to all that have prayed and contributed to my campaign. More information will be coming about my next fundraiser. Blessing in the new year for everyone.

December 13, 2015

Rainy Sunday, a good day so far. I have a Dr Appointment on Tuesday , I don't expect much to change. I am still feeling pretty good. Prayers are always welcomed

December 12, 2015

Put up a few new pictures up. If you have not signed my guest book please feel free to do so. Keep the prayers coming!!

December 12, 2015

I am going to post some new pictures later today. Keep checking out this page and FB for updates. People have been asking about my next fund raiser and if they could donate money. Too donate money just click on the button on this page that says "Donate Now". My next fund raiser is going to be this spring (March or April) its going to be a benefit bike race/ride. Details coming soon

November 12, 2015

It has been awhile since i updated this page. Things are going my kidney function has been as low as 7% now at 9%. If you know of someone who would be willing to donate me a kidney please let me or my wife know and we will get you a phone number you can call to get you tested

August 11, 2015

It has been hot, but thankful for air conditioning. God is good all the time.

August 8, 2015

Sorry for no updates. I feeling pretty good although my kidney function continues to fail. I'm still not on dyalsis but I not sure how much longer that will be the case tho. It anyone wants to on get tested or knows someone that wants to donate a kidney please let me know. I appreciate your prayers and your financial gifts keep both of them comin.

May 11, 2015

Great news, I am officially back on the transplant list. Thanks for the prayers for the nearly four months I was on hold. Continue the prayers so I can get a new kidney soon

April 22, 2015

Have not updated for awhile, just had a heart cath done and I did not have any heart problems. God is good. I hope this gets me back on the transplant list.

March 9, 2015

I am doing well, after my (this time) successful fistula surgery! I hope to be back to work the end of the week. I have been to KU med and go back again the 19th for a couple more test.Thanks for all the prayers

January 24, 2015

been a awhile since I updated, I had surgery on January 14th to put a fistula in my arm for eventually dyalsis. The surgery did not work as the fistula didn't work. As I have blood clouting issues. I have a scar from my wrist to my elbow, and it is stiff and swollen. I am not sure what the next step is . But God is good and in control.

December 2, 2014

Thanksgiving is over and the CHRISTmas season is here. Remember the real reason for the season. Still taking donations Be Blessed eveyone

October 31, 2014

only two more days before the big event!! We are working trying to get everything done lots of work to do yet. Thanks everyone who has donated silent auction items and desserts and most of all your prayers!! See you all on Sunday!!!!

October 27, 2014

Less than a week to go til my benefit. I hope everyone can come out next Sunday starting at 11:30 and eat spaghetti and bid on the awesome silent auction items. We will also have George Cop speak about the benefits of being an organ donor. We will have live music as well. Blessing to everyone see you all Sunday.

October 18, 2014

Nice today just two weeks before the Spaghetti feed and Silent Auction see me or wife for advanced tickets.

October 6, 2014

Getting closer to the benefit, see me or Rachelle for advance tickets. It was rough week was sick on Monday and Tuesday but the rest of fb the week was okay.

September 29, 2014

Great church service today. We had Ray Hildabrand give a good message. Good church dinner and fellowship afterward plus got Ray Hilabrand's autographed cd for the silent auction!

September 25, 2014

well we are only about a month away from the Spaghetti benefit, lots of silent auction items being gathered. Be blessed everyone and get out and enjoy the weather.

September 15, 2014

Busy time here for us getting ready for our Spaghetti Feed & Silent Auction!! We'd like to thank the following sponsors for their generous silent auction Donations! Kansas City Zoo for your donation of tickets to see your precious animals! Soaring Over America, Inc. for your generous donation of THREE hot air balloon rides! PinkCalyx for your awesome $50 gift certificate! KC Chiefs Football Team for your donation of Chiefs Merchandise! KC Royals Baseball Team for your donation of Royals merchandise! Melvern Pride for your donation of facilities for our event at no charge! Beadful Things for your donation of a beautiful beaded hair accessory! Topeka RoadRunners Hockey Team for your generous donation of FOUR Premium tickets to any regular season game! We are so excited about these wonderful donations and more will be coming soon!! - Rach

September 3, 2014

The rains have been nice. We are gearing up for the Spaghetti feed and silent auction in Melvern. We are taking donations for the silent auction so let me or my wife know what you have we will be happy to arrange pickup for all items donated.

August 28, 2014

Thank you to the Kansas City Chiefs Football Team for your donation of an item for our silent auction!!!

August 28, 2014

We would like to thank Panera Bread, The Topeka RoadRunners (hockey team) and the Kansas City Zoo for their donations to our upcoming silent auction!!

August 27, 2014

I've just gotten back from an amazing vacation and now back on the fundraising trail. Today I sent in applications to around 25 major corporations for items to auction at Tom's next fundraiser. Places like Disney World, SeaWorld, Panera Bread, Cabelas, KC Chiefs, KC Royals, and many others are considering donation of auction items! I'm so excited!! Be sure and register early for the spaghetti feed prebook tickets are discounted!! See you there in November!!!

August 21, 2014

things are going pretty good. I start back nights at work. We are working on the next fundraiser. Everyone have a great day

August 12, 2014

Lots of new photos loaded up from the Bass Tourney/Chili Cook-off go take a peek!!

August 11, 2014

Our next event has been scheduled!! Spaghetti Lunch and Silent Auction to be held on November 2, 2014 at the Melvern Community Center, Melvern KS. Advance tickets can be purchased below, Adults $12 advance, children 3- 12 $9 advance, 2 and under eat free!! Reserve your spot today!!

August 9, 2014

We have a date set for the next fundraiser November 2nd. more information to follow in the next few days. please sign the guestbook if you have not done so alread we still have t-shirts available

August 7, 2014

Pictures from the event should be posted in a day or two. Planning on next event more details in the next week or so.

August 6, 2014

It's been a few days since we've updated everyone on our progress. We've taken a few days off after the Bass Tourney and Chili Cook-off to catch our breath before forging ahead. Now, it's back on the fundraising trail planning a spaghetti dinner and silent auction for this coming November. We want to thank everyone who participated in any way in our last fundraiser and encourage you to send Tom little notes here on his HelpHOPELive page to encourage him to keep fighting. He gets such joy from reading all your notes. Thanks again everyone and I'll be back with more updates as we progress toward November.

August 3, 2014

Thank you everyone, we had a great day. We had lots of fun and lots of money was raised. Pictures to follow in the next day or so. Tom

July 30, 2014

It was another busy day , pick up some donated items and Lexi , Andi and Johnny painted signs. My wife and mother in law worked on a little but of everything. My father in law worked on fishing tournament stuff.

July 29, 2014

thank you to Melvern Pride for the free advertising on the city Marquis!!! (picture of Tom with the message in the bass tournament album).

July 28, 2014

Taking the week off to help with last minute preparation. Its going to be a great day everyone be blessed....Tom

July 28, 2014

Just one week till the big event! We've gotten word a bass fishing team is coming all the way from Oklahoma to fish in our tourney! We've got so many people supporting Tom and offering help and financial support.. we are so bless by each and every one of you. The love and prayers of Tom's friends and family mean so much to us. Thank you everyone for everything you are doing and have done in his behalf. We look forward to seeing you all next Saturday!

July 26, 2014

Tonight we took two of our nephews to the site where we will be holding the Bass Tourney and Chili Cook-off.. (I've posted pictures in the album with the flyer for the event). I'm not really sure how sliding and swinging and playing on the jungle gym qualify as preparing for our event, but Uncle Tom sure had fun with the boys.

Next week will be very busy making final preparations and we are looking forward to seeing all of you there. - Rach

July 24, 2014

We would again like to thank the area business that have supported my tshirt drive by donating at least $25.00 to have their names printed on the back of the shirts. Orders go in on Friday, so if any area business still would like to support my tshirt fundraiser please let me or Rachelle know by tomorrow.

July 23, 2014

How about this heat? Much to hot! I got a dr appointment in Topeka and will be picking up some donated fund raisers prizes for August 2nd. Be blessed supposed to cool down some tommorow. Tom

July 21, 2014

We are so blessed! Today Tom and I met a couple at lunch, the wife had donated a kidney to her mother and is doing wonderfully well, the husband received a kidney from his wife's co-worker 4 years ago and he's doing amazingly well. It was a great uplift for Tom to know that there are people out there who are living post-trasplant and doing well.

Preparations for the benefit are going wonderfully also, just a few loose ends to tie up and we're ready to rock and roll. We've even got plans for a cupcake eating contest and a kids' obstacle course that day! - Rach

July 19, 2014

We'd like to thank, Strawn Lumber and Equipment Rental, Pizza Hut, The Bakary, Coffey County Honda, Hoover's Thriftway, Huntsman's Service, Waverly Lumber for your generous sponsorship and donations toward our event!

July 17, 2014

We sent the first of Tom's monthly blood work off to the lab at Mid-West Transplant Network today. This will test his antibodies for donor evaluation. We are fully ready now to accept living donors for testing and find him a new kidney. If you or someone you know is interested in more information, contact me and I'd be happy to visit with you and give you information on who to contact at KU Medical Center for testing.- Rach

July 16, 2014

We've just had the most wonderful phone contact with Mr. George Cop. He's an ambassador with MidWest Transplant and will be attending the Bass Tournament/Chili Cook-off to speak on organ donation and transplant qualification! Thank you George for all your knowledge and for supporting Tom through spreading the word on donation!

July 16, 2014

Gosh the past few days have been so filled! We said our goodbye's to Tom's sweet niece yesterday as most of you know. My nephew J.T. was good friends with her so he went to the service with us and then spent the night. I took him home today and as a surprise stopped by Tom's job to say a quick hello. Tonight we repotted a few houseplants and made dinner together. I know this sounds like "normal" stuff, but through all the struggle and waiting we try to keep our life as normal and "mundane" as possible so the kidney stuff doesn't dominate our entire lifestyle (sounds heroic but it's impossible to be quite honest). Hope everyone is having a great start to the week and enjoying cooler weather.- Rach

July 13, 2014

Wow! so much going on this weekend, I've barely had time to breathe! Preparations for the fundraiser are coming along nicely, lots of great prizes have been donated, we're getting more volunteers to help at the event and even got a couple of judges lined up for the chili cook-off. If you haven't done so, be sure to check out the flyer and register here online. Tshirts will be for sale that day, soda, chips, candy, chili, lots of games for everyone of all ages! Come out and show Tom your support on August 2nd at Melvern Lake!- Rach

July 10, 2014

We have received the official notification from our patient coordinator at KU Med. Tom is listed on the Midwest Kidney Transplant List and we should have his ranking by Monday. We can begin testing living donors as soon as we receive the ranking confirmation!!

July 10, 2014

We've been so busy here, getting ready for the upcoming Bass Tourney and Chili Cook-off. Just a couple of weeks until the event kicks off. We'd like to thank Aldi for their generous donation and Lyndon State Bank for their sponsorship of the Bass Tournament!.. Thanks so much!!!

July 10, 2014

We would like to thank Lyndon State Bank for providing copies for our flyers and Lifeway for donation of prizes for the benefit. ...Tom

July 7, 2014

Today we received the best news we've had in nearly a month. After tireless days spent trying to figure out how to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds, we got a phone call from KU Med. I told them what we've been doing to raise funds and cover Tom's prescription needs after surgery and our financial coordinator said "I think that the progress you have made so far will show the selection committee you are committed to a lifestyle that will sustain the transplant.".. In other words.. it will become official on Thursday of this week that TOM IS ON THE TRANSPLANT LIST!!!.. This doesn't mean we're finished working toward the ultimate goal of keeping him on his meds and maintaining the new kidney, or that we an relax in fundraising efforts, but it does mean that we have overcome a huge hurdle and are on our way toward transplant! Thank you to everyone who has prayed, helped in raising awareness and funds, sponsored on tshirts and countless other things that have helped us get this far. But ultimately thank God for His plan and His purpose, we know He has opened doors that no man can close.

July 6, 2014

Today has been a rather lazy family day in the Thurston home. We've been watching as the farmer that rents our crop land has been gathering in his wheat, done some laundry, enjoyed time with our doggie Cricket and watched a movie or two. Tomorrow it's back out on the streets gathering support and funds for Tom's transplant and also calling KU Med to let them know of the progress that is being made. Pray that the help we have found with a few of the drug companies is enough to get Tom placed on the transplant list so we can move into donor drives and eventually to surgery!- Rach

July 5, 2014

Happy fourth of July weekend. We had a great time at my parents with my brother and sisters and our many nieces and nephews yesterday.

July 3, 2014

Today we are so grateful to Citizen's State Bank and Lyndon Motors for thier tshirt sponsorships! Thanks so much!

July 3, 2014

Another good day we handed out some flyers and also we would like to thank USD 456 MdCV and Sonic for their sponsership of our tshirt campaign! Tom

July 1, 2014

What a wonderful day of fundraising we had today!.. I'd like to thank Rowe's Machine Shop, Feltner Furniture, Ink, Hair Creations, Osage Hardware and The Osage County Herald-Chronicle for their sponsorship of our Tshirt drive and fundraiser.. What a blessing!- Rach

July 1, 2014

Another busy day on tap for us today. Chasing down donations for the upcoming fundraiser, hanging up flyers, making lil green ribbons and trying to keep Tom healthy. We're so thankful to Ink, Jerry's Thriftway, The Army Corp of Engineers and Eisenhower State Park for all they've done to help us along the road to transplant by sponsoring our 1st fundraiser.. Thanks so much!!

June 30, 2014

Today is a busy day, I'll be out and about gathering support for Tom's fundraiser coming up in August. Tom is at work today and looked pretty tired when I dropped him off. Stress and anxiety in our lives have taken a toll on both of us lately and we are trusting God to bring things to the right conclusion. We have had good results from the creation of a public event page on facebook for the fundraiser so we are encouraged there, and looks like we'll have at least 2 chili makers, no fishermen as yet, but there's lots of time. Be sure to register soon!

June 30, 2014

Plans for the 1st Annual Benefit Bass Tournament and Chili Cook-off are coming together wonderfully. An event page has been created on Facebook, Online registration page has been placed here on HelpHOPELive.org. We have several volunteers in place to help with various tasks, and even an artist volunteering not only her time but all the supplies needed to do face painting for the children! Come one, Come ALL and enjoy the day with us. Check the Fundraising Activities section here on this page for further details or contact Rachelle Thurston 785.248.3534.

June 29, 2014

Good time at church this morning, may finish up mowing this afternoon. May everyone have a blessed Sunday. --Tom

June 28, 2014

Tom and I had a very nice time together, working in the garden, pulling weeds and picking veggies. We got 6 very nice zuccini squash, a few green beans and a few peas. He put some cages on the tomato plants and of course Cricket had to help Daddy with that venture. If help is what you call a Pit Bull snout stuffed in a tomato cage while Daddy is trying to put it on a tomato plant. We had a good laugh over that. This evening is dinner in, and cuddle time with the puppy dog. Hope you've all had as much enjoyment in your day as we have in ours today. God bless. Check back tomorrow for the latest in our continuing saga toward transplant.

June 28, 2014

Good morning what a beautiful day! We are going to be working outside today. Everyone have a blessed day. -Tom. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

June 27, 2014

Today Tom and I celebrate our 5th anniversary. Being married to him has been the joy of my life and I hope for many many more years together. His kidney transplant will make that possible for us. Please look inside your heart and give what you can to help Tom along the journey ahead. It will be arduous but with God's blessings, our love, and your support he can do it!

June 26, 2014

OUR FIRST FUNDRAISER IS SCHEDULED!! Check out the information in our Fundraising activities section. Call Rachelle if you have questions or need help with registration. Registration only required if you will be participating one of the tournaments. Those wishing to come for lunch need not register. Chili lunch will be available for sale at 12pm. But come early for the Bass Tournament and other fun activities!!!

June 25, 2014

Be sure and sign the guestbook so Tom knows who's visited the campaign page!..He loves to see who's been looking around. Visit the photo album(s) and look at the pictures, we will post pictures of each fundraising event after they are concluded. So many interesting things going on and though we are just getting started the road ahead looks brighter every day. Thanks for stopping by!! (Rach)

June 25, 2014

Good Afternoon we are busy planning our first fundraiser Aug 2. Stay tune for details!