Help Tom Auten's Family

Help Tom Auten’s Family

Tom Auten’s family needs your help. Tom, a beloved teacher, coach, husband,

father, grandfather, and friend passed away gracefully with his family

surrounding him. In an ultimate act of selfless love, Tom waited to request

comfort-measures-only care until his youngest son, Nathan and his wife

Shanice celebrated their wedding on October 22, 2023. Tom—who had Stage

IV terminal, inoperable lung cancer—grew much sicker over the summer. By

September, he could no longer walk and could not breathe unassisted,

needing a respiratory machine that made him hospital bedbound. But he

refused to pass on before Nathan’s wedding. He pushed to stay alive so that

the couple could enjoy their day. He watched their ceremony via an iPad from

his hospital day.

Tom suffered from heart failure due to cancer treatment and eventually his

lungs gave out. No longer able to handle chemo treatment, this meant the

cancer progressed and affected his breathing. He fought through pneumonia,

pressure ulcers on his back, difficulty with swallowing and choking, and all the

while remained that valiant, kind, loving, and good man he’d been for his

whole lifetime. He still cared more about the people in front of him than

himself.

He worried about his family, the burden of his care costs and mounting debt.

A health and fitness teacher, coach, and an exercise science expert, Tom

helped other people gain fitness and reach their personal goals for over 40

years. A daily exerciser, a go-getter, a man of infinite will and determination,

Tom overcame hard hits with such grace. Made a full time, single parent just

out of high school, Tom raised his first son Brian alone, finished college,

played point guard for his college basketball team, and began teaching. 40+

years later, he had three sons adding: Jacob and Nathan with his beloved and

adoring wife Andrea, daughters-in-law Kristi, Kristian, and Shanice, 4

grandsons: Nicholas, Logan, Silas, and Caden, and a baby granddaughter,

Alice. Tom and Andrea had just celebrated a BIG anniversary. They’d been

through so much.

In 2015, Tom and Andrea lost their family home. Tom said, they would be ok.

One foot in front of another, they would get out of the debt it has caused. And

so, they began that steady walk, but then Tom started to cough. By January

2017, the doctors found a huge mass on Tom’s right lung and 5 cancer lesions

on his brain. Tom managed to work full time for Los Angeles Unified School

District and maintain treatment. He always seemed energetic, bursting with

good health, and his colleagues considered him top in his field and a good

friend. Tom believed in bringing his best to his colleagues, giving to them.

He’d been working at Lake Balboa College Prep K-12 as a Title 1 Coordinator

and coach and loving it. Over the summer—at a diminished capacity yet still

pushing through—Tom received his doctorate in education, hitting a lifelong

goal. Dr. Auten did it! He even walked at graduation and gave a speech. Just

three months later, he was gone.

Bills, money, worries, impacted by medical costs, high rents, what’s next, the

family has deep concerns. Tom and Andrea have spent their entire marriage

caring for other people, teaching other’s children, impacting lives for a better

world. This family could use a financial show of love and support in return for

their kindness and commitment. Please help however you can give. Your gift

will support Tom’s afterlife needs.

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Help Tom Auten & His Family

Tom Auten needs your help. A man who never much asked for help definitely needs it now to pay bills and help with new medical expenses. Tom—who has Stage IV terminal, inoperable lung cancer—grew much sicker over the summer. Now, he is unable to walk, needs 24-hour care, still goes for chemo treatments, and he’s on oxygen 24 hours a day. He has heart failure due to cancer and his lungs are weakening. He requires in-home palliative care with a doctor and nurse team. But Tom is still that valiant, kind, loving, and good man he’s been for his whole lifetime. He still cares more about the person in front of him than himself.

Tom’s mind is strong. Lately, his mind is filled with worry. He cannot work. He cannot coach. He worries about his family and the burden of his care costs and mounting debt.

This new chapter is unlike any other time in his six years with adenocarcinoma. A health and fitness teacher, coach, and an exercise science expert, Tom has helped other people gain fitness and reach their personal goals for over 40 years. A daily exerciser, a go-getter, a man of infinite will and determination, Tom has overcome hard hits. Made a full time, single parent just out of high school, Tom raised his first son Brian alone, finished college, played point guard for his college basketball team, and began teaching. 40+ years later, he has three sons adding: Jacob and Nathan with his beloved and adoring wife Andrea, 4 grandsons: Nicholas, Logan, Silas, and Caden, and a baby granddaughter, Alice. Tom and Andrea just celebrated a BIG anniversary. They’ve been through so much.

In 2015, Tom and Andrea lost their family home. Tom said, we’ll be ok. One foot in front of another, we will get out of the debt it has caused. And so, they began that steady walk, but then Tom started to cough. By January 2017, the doctors found a huge mass on Tom’s right lung and 5 cancer lesions on his brain. Tom managed to work full time for Los Angeles Unified School District and maintain treatment. He always seemed energetic, bursting with good health, and his colleagues considered him top in his field and a good friend. Tom has always been good to his colleagues. He’s been working at Lake Balboa College Prep K-12 as a Title 1 Coordinator and coach and loving it. Over the summer—at a diminished capacity yet still pushing through—Tom received his doctorate in education, hitting a lifelong goal. Dr. Auten did it! He even walked at graduation and gave a speech. But since that day, he has worsened toward his current condition.

Bills, money, worries, impacted by medical costs, high rents, what’s next…these are in Tom’s way. His family and friends, and his colleagues want him to release these woes so he can enjoy the end-of life days with those who love him. Tom and Andrea have spent their entire marriage caring for other people, teaching other’s children, impacting lives for a better world. This couple could use a financial show of love and support in return for their kindness and commitment. Please help however you can give. Your gift will give Tom peace.