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Tom’s doctors are optimistic that he will make a full recovery. We are aware that this is a long journey and Tom is working hard every day through inpatient therapy. He remains upbeat, optimistic and eagerly anticipates returning to an active life through the support of family, friends, community and church fellowship.
Even with insurance there are many expenses we are facing that must be paid out of pocket. Currently, Tom uses a power wheelchair to move about. It is only one of many pieces of expensive equipment needed to support him now. Some other costs will be modifications to our home to make it wheel chair accessible, vehicle modifications, additional rehabilitative therapies, adaptive equipment and assistance with Tom’s care so I can continue to work and provide for the family.
To help with the financial burden of Tom’s uninsured expenses, a fundraising campaign in his honor has been established with HelpHOPELive, a trusted nonprofit organization that has been providing community-based fundraising guidance to patients and their families for more than 30 years. All donations are tax-deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the Mid-Atlantic Catastrophic Illness Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for illness-related expenses only. Please consider a contribution. Click on the Donate Now button to make a donation.
On behalf of Tom, myself and our family, we thank you for your kindness, generosity, support and prayers.
Diane Reiley
For questions please call Cheryl Troilo (sister-in-law) at 484-264-5555 or email Cheryl.Troilo@gmail.com
Dec. 3, 2020. We have now spent nearly 18 mo in our little house (downsized) in a fabulous Retirement Village in the Pine Barrens of NJ. All one floor and accessible for Tom in his Power Wheelchair. Tom is back to outpatient therapy for Strengthening. We have found that this will be needed periodically as time goes by.
Tom’s nerve pain has been increasingly difficult to manage & we have added a couple more Dr’s to his team. We are anticipating some good results with a new procedure in Jan 2021.
Tom continues to be able to walk short distances in our home with close Supervision; and keeps very busy with some small projects. We are getting a work bench set up in our garage for him & Tom has already been using the table-top drill press.
Covid has given us the blessing of being able to do Tele-medicine which has reduced some of our driving around. And we are learning - like many others- to do video chats.
We want to send our Love and wishing you all good health and Christmas Blessings.
Oct 11, 2018. As of Nov 15 this yr will be 4 yrs since Tom’s illness began. I can hardly believe it’s been that long already!
This past year was a real challenge starting with a broken right leg in January ( at least it wasn’t his “good” leg). Ugh! A bad fracture ( not a fall, but a freak accident while sitting in his powerchair). A bad kidney stone with Sepsis in March & surgery slowed healing of his fracture.
All is well. As of August Tom was permitted to bear weight again on the fractured leg and Oct 8 we transitioned to outpatient therapy. Today 10/11; Tom was able to stand in a standing frame for 10 minutes! A big step in progress.
Tom has been very busy in his in-home work room; where he has alot of his hand tools & small power machines to do small projects. Tom has made many adaptive devices to help make everyday activities easier and keep his creative mind sharp. This activity has helped Tom make good progress in his right hand motor skills and strength.
The powerchair is aging & has needed repairs. We anticipate a new chair around the 5 yr mark ( we’ve been told this is average for powerchairs). Our 2008 wheelchair van is in good shape & we expect a few more good yrs.
Tom is, as ever, upbeat and very interactive with friends and family. I-phones are a blessing for the disabled!
Thank you all again for your support, prayers, and love.
4/22/17Tom is continuing to make progress, although in some unusual ways recently! At the Magee Wellness Center, he is practicing walking backwards with his walker! He is strengthening some areas not used as much & gaining more coordination. We saw this in action this week at the Dr. office when he had to back down off of the scale. Tom only needed fingertip supervision, &had much less shakiness! Tom this past week taugh the first of 2 classes at Magee to some of the Rehab clients. He is helping them in Occupational Therpay to build a Helping Hands Board. A device that he created to help anyone that has difficulty holding things. It involves painting, screwing screws, soldering, attaching and adjusting copper wires and attaching alligator clips. Tom is so happy to "give back" a little bit to help others. Tom is enjoying cooking his favorite steak or fish at the stove, & having friends over for lunch. Of course my Super-Partner does his part cleaning up too! We still travel to Philadelphia 3-4 times per wk for therapy &appts. We are so glad to have the Van! Toms personal care needs still require large purchases each month, but overall, less that it was 2 yrs ago! I am still working F/T & so grateful for the help from friends & family. Thank you all ! and blessings, Tom&Diane
It has been a long while since we have posted; busy Holiday's, busy Rehab. Going to Magee Day Rehab everyday in Phila. has been quite a jaunt, but oh so worth it! The driving team has been amazing to help get Tom there in our Van. The Van that this campaign has made possible for us is a blessing beyond words. Tom is now walking in a walker, approximately 50ft consistently, with a rest break on the way sometimes, and a wheelchair following! He is supporting himself in the walker. Every morning Tom walks from his bed to the kitchen table for breakfast with me following with the powerchair. Tom only needs a supervised assist to transfer from sitting to standing in the walker! Many other personal care activities are more & more independent. With the assistance of high tech therapy, Tom is beginning to start stepping up on a 4 inch step. Tom's endurance has tremendously grown and he can enjoy longer periods of entertainment. We have enjoyed going to the movies, church services, and out to dinner. Family gatherings and wheelchair rides for the grandchildren are a regular fun time. They love to help "G.P." play catch.
Thank you for all of your prayers and caring support. We "Keep on Keeping On" Tom and Diane
It is with great excitement that Tom and I anticipate the beginning of his outpatient therapy at a Day Rehab Center this week! Tom will be there 5 days a week, 6 hrs per day working with multiple kinds of therapIves. His endurance and strength have greatly progressed to beyond what Homecare therapy can do. As his therapists said, "we have done all we can do in your home, Tom needs more." With the therapists, Tom was able to walk in a rolling walker (with a therapist on either side, and a wheelchair following) 10 ft x 6! As Tom likes to say, "I walked 60 ft.!"
We are very excited about this! And wanted to share our great news with you all who have been faithfully supporting us.
With our wheelchair Van, we are getting together a driving team to assist with Tom's transport to and from the rehab.
We know that all of this progress has not been accomplished alone. It is the strength of our Lord and the committed help and prayers of so many that has given Tom and I this very successful growth in our Life.
Thank you so very much, Tom and Diane
You have done it! All of your gifts have helped us get a wheelchair van! With the funds that were available, your gifts are paying at least half of the cost of the vehicle we are able to get! We hope to have it by late next week. A few extra conversions need to be done before we can drive it home. Thank you! Thank you so very much! And the vehicle has the potential to be driven by a disabled person, so Tom will be able to graduate to it later! It is a beautiful vehicle, well cared for by another disabled person who now no longer needs it , and we are looking forward to the freedom to come and go as we choose. We just can't thank you enough! Toms other medical needs continue but this will take away a big drain financially, physically and emotionally. We hope to post a photo when we have it. THANK YOU!
Tom and I are posting together today.
Tom : Thank you for your continued prayers and concerns. I certainly do feel uplifted by all of them. I feel it is helping me with my patience. I want it to happen faster than it is, but according to most, I am lucky to be here at all. In spite of my slowness, I am making significant progress.
With the help of my therapists, I am doing small knee bends at the Grab bar while standing. Also weight shifting side to side from leg to leg. I can finally lift my right leg enough to clear my foot off the floor. Last Wednesday my Therapists worked together to help me walk 5 steps in a walker for the first time. Diane followed right behind with the wheelchair. My legs were all over the place, very disorganized movements and jerky, but I did it. I eagerly took steps that were a little too large. Is that biting off more than I can chew? I will next time take smaller steps and try to gain more control. Because there will be many more next times starting Monday!
I have borrowed a manual lightweight wheelchair from the gracious donation from The Lions Club in our town. I had the idea of trying to scoot myself around the dining room with my legs as a strengthening exercise. It is difficult, but I'm doing it. Of course only for short stints for now.
I continue to stand many times during the day at my Power wheelchair with Diane spotting me. I can transfer on my own from my bed to the Power wheelchair to the right now. Diane sets everything up for me and then can step away and do other things in the room while I move.
I am extremely grateful that the Lord has blessed me with this wonderful woman, my wife Diane, whom I do not deserve. I thank my Lord and Savior for her. She is amazing. Please continue to pray for her strength. She continues to work harder than any 3 people I know.
Diane: I ditto our thanks and appreciation to you all. You are all a strength for us that is immeasurable. The challenges of continuing to work full time and care for Tom at times seems very very hard. The help and prayers of family and all of you makes the difference. I often think of the strength the Lord has given us through this, because otherwise, I just think, all of what we have been through and are going through is NUTS. As Tom says, the footprints of our Lord are behind and underneath us all the way. He is carrying us. He is providing for us in every way.
On another exciting note... Tom has been practicing Wheelchair push-ups. Now he is able with a lot of effort to bring himself to an upright stance from his Powerchair while I support his lower legs. This is a very B I G deal. We are ecstatic! It seems he has just made another therapy sprint. these seem to happen now and then. Then we will go thru a slower period where the new activity will be reinforced in his brain & muscles and be strengthened & fine tuned. Good Stuff!
Tom and I can't express enough our gratitude and appreciation for all of your support at the Comedy Nite Fund raiser. It is beyond words. We have been enjoying the video and laughing our heads off; and in awe of the emotional stirrings in our hearts for your Care for us. Thank you all.
On behalf of all of the Tom Reiley Family, I just want to thank everyone who attended the "Laughter is the Best Medicine" comedy night last Friday June 12th, to help raise money for my Dad's recovery. We are blessed to have so many people who care about him.
The night was a success, it went off without a single hitch, and we have many people to thank for that. All the people and businesses who donated gift baskets for our basket auction, as well as those who spent time collecting them. Also everyone who contributed refreshments, thank you! Finally, to Aunt Cheryl Troilo, who has spent much of her time, ability and resources to organize the event, plan the food, research and sell tickets. We can't thank you enough, we are very lucky to have all of you on our side. Thank you!!!!
Leah Porvaznik
Tickets are still available for the Comedy Night coming up on June 12th. Come see professional comedians from the comedy clubs in Philly. Registration is below. Go to Tom's Photo Album for a peak of some baskets available for Chinese Auction.
Here we are just plugging away in the daily activity of strengthening and becoming more mobile and independent. Physically. Tom is now standing at the 36" grab bar 2-3 times per week with therapy. Each session is an attempt to stand 3 times. 1-2 therapists at his side spotting him . Sometimes O/T and P/T will co-treat together, overlapping some of each of their therapy time. 2 out of 3 times Tom is able to rise up on his own power. The 3rd time, the therapist is helping. He is "totally toast" after it is done. Tom seems to be able to stand approx 30 sec or so each time. He is bearing his weight both legs (although more on the stronger left). The therapists have said that their goal is to be able to help Tom transfer in and out of the front passenger seat of a car. OHHHH YEAh! Tom's rt arm and hand are getting stronger by the day. He is now able to grasp the rt buckle on his Power chair belt and hold it tight to buckle with both hands. Sometimes he wears a wrist weight to help the arm/hand keep better control. The O/T therapist has been very clever with some therapy tools from our Grandchildren's Toy Stash. Building blocks, Leggo, Therapy Putty, even coloring. Of course I had to go online to get some REAL guy coloring pages. Like Monster truck Grave Digger and Harley cycles.
Here we are just plugging away in the daily activity of strengthening and becoming more mobile and dependent. Spiritually. Tom and I have enjoyed time together, mostly on weekends and evenings, studying scripture, sharing prayers, and our hearts desires. Praising the Lord and giving Him the Glory. Also we have at times missed close time with our Lord, being distracted and at times exhausted, at times fearful, at times just too weary, at times feeling vulnerable. We seek each other's comfort and somehow the Lord has used one to support the other with His Word, maybe just a Word. Maybe just a look, maybe just a hug or a touch. At times it is enough. We were chosen for this. Don't know the why's or wherefore's. Just trusting. We have been encouraged by the experience described to us of a dear little friend in her softball game. We have been encouraged by the outpouring of love and affection from Neighbors, Friends, and work partners. Even from people we have never met have shared from their heart. The devotion of Family...there are no words to express the strength that is imparted to us from these. Our comforters, those who have reached out to us. Gifts from Heaven, chariots of His sustaining faithfulness and provision for us.
Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you.
Psalm 57:2-3 I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me. He will send from heaven and save me...
T&D
Sent from my iPad
Check out Tom's Photo Album showing examples of some of the baskets available for Chinese Auction at the Comedy Night coming up on June 12th. Come see professional comedians from the comedy clubs in Philly. Registration is below. Proceeds will go to help with Tom's uninsured medical expenses.
Well, he can do it now. Tom is transferring in and out of his power-chair, to and from the bed, independently. Tom has been busy with "chores" as part of his day O/T. Helping to fold clothes, set the table, writing thank-you notes. Daily bathing and dressing is progressing. Tom stood today in the walker from his powerchair 3 times with the help of the therapist. Very difficult, shaking like a newborn lamb, but the determination on his face said it all. Let's celebrate! Let's hear your cheers!
Had a great day at Laurel Springs Day yesterday. Tom and Diane joined the festivities for a while, which was just a wonderful sight. We offer thanks to the generosity of the Councils, and Municipale Staff for their support. The Bake Sale went well and we had lots of contact with the community which was quite enjoyable. To those who bought homebaked goods, donated and listened to Tom's story, thank you.
Many thanks to Laurie Pesttrito for hosting the first fundraiser to support Tom and Diane on their journey on April 25th. The Tea for Two Party, joined by Corrine Cervino of Origami Owl and the ladies of Sovereign Grace Church of Marlton was such a lovely event.
Corrine has graciously donated 100% of her profit in honor of Tom Reiley. The show is remaining open for a while longer, so feel free to browse on-line at www.corrinecervino.origamiowl.com. Input code 23277 which indicates this fundraiser is for Tom Reiley.
April 24, '15 Yesterday in Home Physical therapy, Tom was able to almost independently transfer from his Power Chair to the edge of the bed! He used a transfer board, a special tool for therapy, graciously donated by our neighbor Jack. So many blessings. Unending Thank you to you all!
April 17,2015. We have been home 48 hrs. "Many hands make light work" Tom's mom used to say. So very grateful for all of the help. Tom and I are getting used to and working out the kinks with the many peices of equipment we have to deal with. Tom is so patient with me. Thanks to the Power wheelchair and the lift we have outdoors Tom has been able to get outdoors on pleasant days. What a relief after 5 months in buildings! The indoor lift we are using has been essential to get Tom out of bed. Still working on the smoothness of our process. The hospital bed has also been another essential. Still working out the financials for everything. But on the right road thanks to everyone's help. Thank you all so very much. Tom and Diane.
This is the day the Lord hath made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
My Tom is coming home today!
I'm so excited. I just can't hide it,
Diane
Well, it seems that it's really going to happen. Tom is expected home next week! All the flurry of activity getting ready, and planning with vendors for delivery of equipment, my training, setting up our home, is all coming together. Thank you all for your continued support, gifts and prayers. It is so helpful. Tom is starting to be able to use his right hand/arm for eating, and is gaining strength in the beginning steps to shifting weight for transfers from one seat to another, or bed to chair. He is practicing standing but still needs a lot of help there. Continued therapy at home is planned.
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From Brian & Sana.
Brian Shreeves
Wishing this wonderful family lots of love, well wishes, and prayers in this time of need!! The Reiley family have been wonderful neighbors and family friends since my family has moved in almost twenty years ago. Many prayers and thoughts go out to you Tom and Diane and family <3
Patrick Crowthers and Kelly Crumley
Continued prayers and loving thoughts to you and Diane. Can't wait for our first return to Passerelli's for pizza!!
Bob and Elaine Elder
Dear Tom and Diane,
My thoughts and prayers are with both of you and wish Tom a complete and speedy recovery.
Nai Hsiao
I was so blessed to meet this amazing man. I wish I could do more! Sending healing vibes to Tom and family!
Jennifer "Curving" Clapp
You are blessed with a magnificent family! Prayers to you for continued recovery and rehabilitation.
Lori Clark (Suzi's friend :)
Tom, Still praying for strength for you!
Joe Gormley
The miracle man! If you ever doubted the power of God and the depth of his mercy... think about Tom!
~Cheryl
Make checks payable to:
Help Hope Live
Note in memo:
In honor of Tom Reiley
Mail to:
Help Hope Live
2 Radnor Corporate Center
Suite 100
100 Matsonford Road
Radnor, PA 19087
Donor preference is important to us. Please specify in writing if you wish for your name or donation amount to be kept private.
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