Final farewell for Nick Thomas
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On December 16, 2022 Nicholas Thomas passed away after a fierce battle with sarcoma which is a rare cancer. With his passing, our family is left to put the pieces back together starting with his burial services as Nick did not have any life insurance. If you can find it in your hearts to help out the Thomas family and I in this time of need, it would be greatly appreciated.
Back story:
In July 2021, after complaining about a growth on his hip, Nick was told he had cancer. Doctors called this cancer Sarcoma. It’s a rare cancer that affects the connective tissues. In his case, it was the soft tissue and muscle in his left hip. After the diagnosis, one could imagine how he felt however we were told that he could survive this cancer so we planned to do just that… BEAT IT. September 9th, Nick began chemotherapy. When it was time to go through radiation, he was asked if he wanted to freeze his sperm just in case he wanted to have children. We talked about it and decided not to freeze his sperm because “I don’t want to be 40 with an infant, it’s time to catch flights”, we laughed and were ultimately content with the decision. Nick went on to complete his radiation. In October 2021, Nick asked me to cut his locs as they were falling out due to the harsh effects of chemo and radiation. After the first round of chemo and radiation, in January 2022, Nick had to have surgery to remove the mass in his hip and reconstruct the tissues and muscles in his hip from the damage the tumor had caused. They removed a 33” long mass from his hip.
They performed hip replacement surgery at 38 years old. January 26, 2022 Nick took his first step after the surgery. They attached drains so he could come home and heal from the house. He became a skilled walker with the use of the walker and gradually moved to using a cane with the help of physical therapy. During this time, Nick had to sleep in Yoni room because her bed was lower than the bed in our room and it was closer to the restroom. Nick was also scanned for cancer in January and nothing alerted the doctors at the time.
February came around and he was happy to finally get the drains removed. His hair started growing back in March-April and his mobility was improving by the day. He was attending physical therapy 3 times a week until they allowed PT to be done from the house. Nick started back driving and was given a start date back to work
May 14, 2022; we received news that the cancer was back. This time it was in his lungs♀️. Nick started a new form of chemotherapy which this time consisted of a pill. This pill would turn every hair on Nick’s body gray but he was able to take it from home and Nick was happy about the out-patient option of chemo.
In July, Nick was hospitalized again. This time for a collapsed lung. The cancer basically popped causing a hole in his lungs. He had to undergo surgery to seal the holes in his lungs so that he could get healthy enough again to start another form of chemotherapy. Around this time, we started to notice a lump on his arm that seemed to go away on its own. Nick stayed in the hospital fr about 3 weeks. He came home August 6th, 2022.
Nick continued to go to his dr appointments and went for numerous scans. He was still working on strengthening his leg and increasing his mobility.
In September, Nick was hospitalized again. This time for extreme swelling of his leg and shortness of breathe. The performed a procedure to put a stint in his arteries to prevent the blood clots from going to his brain, heart and lungs. That was September 3rd, Nick didn’t come home until September 29th.
Nick remained in the last form of chemo and was attending his radiation appointments. On November 9th, Nick went to his radiation appointment and was complaining of shortness of breath when the radiologist suggested he go straight to the ER. This would be the second time Nick left the house to go to a doctor appointment and end up in the hospital.
While in the hospital Nick was placed on a oxygen and treated for anxiety. He was given over 10 blood transfusions because his blood count was low and remained low. We believe the blood was going straight to the cancer. His oxygen levels dropped and they placed him on a high efficiency oxygen machine. At this time, it was told to the family to start thinking about hospice.
On November 29th, Nick texted me to tell me he couldn’t breathe and that they were taking him to ICU. Nick was placed on life support. At first, we didn’t think Nick would take well to it but he was able to text and write after overcoming the sedation. Nick was still the same ol Nick. He began to experience pain from the tumor on his arm and it had become so much bigger and started restricting his movement.
Nick turned 40 December 2nd. Several family members and friends stopped by to wish him a happy birthday.
Still on life support, Nick wouldn’t allow the nurses to put his feeding tube back in because it hurt and made him uncomfortable. Doctors had finally told him there was nothing more they could do for him and the new chemo he was due to be put on; he couldn’t because he wouldn’t be strong enough to withstand the effects. The put Nick on fentanyl, Dilaudid, and anxiety medicine. They goal at this time was to make Nick as comfortable as possible for the rest of his time here on earth.
On December 15, Nick was called home around 4:30pm. He was free of pain and free of worry. Nick accepted it. He left this world surrounded by the people he loved the most.
His funeral will be held this Friday December 23, 222 @ 1pm at Levett’s in Decatur and the viewing is this Thursday from 12-8pm. Colors are
Back story:
In July 2021, after complaining about a growth on his hip, Nick was told he had cancer. Doctors called this cancer Sarcoma. It’s a rare cancer that affects the connective tissues. In his case, it was the soft tissue and muscle in his left hip. After the diagnosis, one could imagine how he felt however we were told that he could survive this cancer so we planned to do just that… BEAT IT. September 9th, Nick began chemotherapy. When it was time to go through radiation, he was asked if he wanted to freeze his sperm just in case he wanted to have children. We talked about it and decided not to freeze his sperm because “I don’t want to be 40 with an infant, it’s time to catch flights”, we laughed and were ultimately content with the decision. Nick went on to complete his radiation. In October 2021, Nick asked me to cut his locs as they were falling out due to the harsh effects of chemo and radiation. After the first round of chemo and radiation, in January 2022, Nick had to have surgery to remove the mass in his hip and reconstruct the tissues and muscles in his hip from the damage the tumor had caused. They removed a 33” long mass from his hip.
They performed hip replacement surgery at 38 years old. January 26, 2022 Nick took his first step after the surgery. They attached drains so he could come home and heal from the house. He became a skilled walker with the use of the walker and gradually moved to using a cane with the help of physical therapy. During this time, Nick had to sleep in Yoni room because her bed was lower than the bed in our room and it was closer to the restroom. Nick was also scanned for cancer in January and nothing alerted the doctors at the time.
February came around and he was happy to finally get the drains removed. His hair started growing back in March-April and his mobility was improving by the day. He was attending physical therapy 3 times a week until they allowed PT to be done from the house. Nick started back driving and was given a start date back to work
May 14, 2022; we received news that the cancer was back. This time it was in his lungs♀️. Nick started a new form of chemotherapy which this time consisted of a pill. This pill would turn every hair on Nick’s body gray but he was able to take it from home and Nick was happy about the out-patient option of chemo.
In July, Nick was hospitalized again. This time for a collapsed lung. The cancer basically popped causing a hole in his lungs. He had to undergo surgery to seal the holes in his lungs so that he could get healthy enough again to start another form of chemotherapy. Around this time, we started to notice a lump on his arm that seemed to go away on its own. Nick stayed in the hospital fr about 3 weeks. He came home August 6th, 2022.
Nick continued to go to his dr appointments and went for numerous scans. He was still working on strengthening his leg and increasing his mobility.
In September, Nick was hospitalized again. This time for extreme swelling of his leg and shortness of breathe. The performed a procedure to put a stint in his arteries to prevent the blood clots from going to his brain, heart and lungs. That was September 3rd, Nick didn’t come home until September 29th.
Nick remained in the last form of chemo and was attending his radiation appointments. On November 9th, Nick went to his radiation appointment and was complaining of shortness of breath when the radiologist suggested he go straight to the ER. This would be the second time Nick left the house to go to a doctor appointment and end up in the hospital.
While in the hospital Nick was placed on a oxygen and treated for anxiety. He was given over 10 blood transfusions because his blood count was low and remained low. We believe the blood was going straight to the cancer. His oxygen levels dropped and they placed him on a high efficiency oxygen machine. At this time, it was told to the family to start thinking about hospice.
On November 29th, Nick texted me to tell me he couldn’t breathe and that they were taking him to ICU. Nick was placed on life support. At first, we didn’t think Nick would take well to it but he was able to text and write after overcoming the sedation. Nick was still the same ol Nick. He began to experience pain from the tumor on his arm and it had become so much bigger and started restricting his movement.
Nick turned 40 December 2nd. Several family members and friends stopped by to wish him a happy birthday.
Still on life support, Nick wouldn’t allow the nurses to put his feeding tube back in because it hurt and made him uncomfortable. Doctors had finally told him there was nothing more they could do for him and the new chemo he was due to be put on; he couldn’t because he wouldn’t be strong enough to withstand the effects. The put Nick on fentanyl, Dilaudid, and anxiety medicine. They goal at this time was to make Nick as comfortable as possible for the rest of his time here on earth.
On December 15, Nick was called home around 4:30pm. He was free of pain and free of worry. Nick accepted it. He left this world surrounded by the people he loved the most.
His funeral will be held this Friday December 23, 222 @ 1pm at Levett’s in Decatur and the viewing is this Thursday from 12-8pm. Colors are
Fundraising team: Team fundraiser (2)
Sumatra McDaniel
Organizer
McDonough, GA
Dumatra McDaniel
Team member