Help for Thomas and Gina Becker!

My name is Casey Cole and I’m organizing this fundraiser for my friend Thomas Becker and his wife Gina and their family!

Thomas and I go to church together and became friends. He also was a machine on a mountain bike and we rode together! In 2021, I asked when we were going to ride as winter was leaving us. Becker told me his side had been hurting. He went to the doctor to have it checked out and Dr. Skelly told him he needed to go for some imaging. Well, we all were not expecting this but Becker had a tumor on his liver. Had it been me, not a shocker as I have put some(often a lot) alcohol and drugs through my system! Becker has never drank or used any drugs to speak of. After further investigation, Becker was diagnosed with Hepaticellular carcinoma thrombus, aka Liver Cancer in March of 2021. A series of treatments were planned and executed. The original plan was to “kill” the unhealthy side of his liver where the tumor was located while strengthening and growing the healthier side. If all went well, they would resect his liver and go on a transplant list. All went relatively well and as planned. In December 2021, surgeons at UAMS in Little Rock resected 60% of his liver. Plan seemed to be going as projected. A few weeks later, Thomas had continued to get bloated and swell in his abdomen. This is fairly common after liver resections. He initially had it drained as it was impeding him breathing. They drew almost 5 liters off of his lung that day.

The following weeks was an up and down of pain and bloating. There was a lesion detected on his clavicle that was suspected cancerous. From June 28 through July 12, a total of 21 liters was drained from his lungs. Early last week, Becker was not feeling well at all. He was taken to UAMS emergency room where they admitted him. He was dehydrated, low blood pressure, high glucose, high white blood count. He was put on fluids, antibiotics and albumin. Wednesday ushered in the news we were not expecting.

On Wednesday, July 13, 2022, Becker’s team of physicians told him what was left of his liver was covered with lesions of cancer. His hepatic vein was also cancerous as well as some spots in his bone. He is not eligible for transplant or any additional treatments or infusions. With heavy hearts, the physicians told the Becker’s to head home for palliative care and Hospice. The prognosis was that potentially Thomas has a couple of months left in this world. Heartbreaking.

Thomas Becker is a US Navy veteran and was a sonar technician on a submarine. He is an employee of Colton’s steakhouse corporate office in Little Rock as a graphic design artist. Colton’s have gone above and beyond during this process and truly have treated the Becker’s like family! Thomas lives in Benton, AR and is married to his partner in crime, Gina Marie Becker. They have two adult children. Those two adult children actually live outside of their home, which to me is rare in this day and time!

Thomas and Gina are members of Crosspointe Church in Bryant, AR. Crosspointe is a church of broken people that Jesus is healing. Becker is a faithful believer and follower of Jesus Christ. He is a professed “Street Christian”. That’s hilarious to me. We do not know what the future will be but put our faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that HE uses all things to his glory. I don’t understand why this is happening to Becker, but Jesus does…and Thomas knows that.

Needless to say, the Becker’s are not working very much at all. Thomas is not working at all. As I write this, I am in a chair beside his hospital bed in his bedroom. He is resting. They know nothing of this at the moment. I am praying for and asking that this fundraiser go well beyond the goal. If you can, please help in any way and as much as possible!

I am heartbroken but hopeful. Please help if you can. Thomas is my friend.

Respectfully,

Casey M. Cole