HELP TOM OVERHOLSER HEAL HIS HEART

Tom, a massage therapist in Lawrence, KS, has been a dear friend of mine since 1994. He’s one of the biggest-hearted people I know. He helped me move. Twice. He turned a garage into my Paint or Die studio. He’s an excellent massage therapist. He has brought much laughter into my life and still does. Many of you know him through his big-hearted friendship or heart-felt massage work or, if you’re lucky, both.

Tom’s suffered two significant health challenges in the last five years:

Tonsil cancer in 2017 and quadruple bypass heart surgery in 2022.

In 2017 Tom was diagnosed with tonsil cancer. He had several months of radiation treatment ending on July 3, 2017. Radiation treatment took care of his tonsil cancer but left devastating damage to his teeth and thyroid. He began some of the preliminary dental work to deal with the radiation damage. He also began losing weight and was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Through all this, he was able to continue working and managing life as it needed to be managed.

On Tuesday, July 12, of this year, Tom wasn’t feeling well and went to the ER. He was immediately admitted to the hospital. Early Wednesday morning, while asleep, he quit breathing for the second time. On Thursday, July 14, he had his scheduled cath lab work done and was transferred to KUMC, where he had quadruple bypass surgery on July 18. On July 24 he was released from the hospital and returned to Lawrence.

He wasn’t able to drive for six weeks. He still isn’t able to lift anything over ten pounds. He hasn’t returned to work and can’t until his breast bone, which was broken for his heart surgery, is fully healed. The hard reality is he may never return to work or be able to live his life as he had been living it before July 12.

Tom’s heart is hurt. He needs us to help him.

And we can by supporting him during his long recovery.

These medical challenges, from tonsil cancer to a heart event, have had and are having a profound impact on Tom’s quality of life. He’s unable to do many things he loves doing, and it's meant making major changes. Tom loves being a massage therapist, a helping friend and engaging with his community. Right now, he is in cardio rehab, at home taking care of himself and resting while he navigates an endless stream of doctor’s appointments. He’s also spent a good deal of time looking for financial assistance. He’s done much research and filled out many applications without much success.

The bottom line is Tom’s heart-healing process is going to take time. This situation is beyond his financial capabilities and is causing him to undo anxiety and stress as expenses accumulate beyond his ability to keep up. Even with the generous help loving friends and family have already offered.

How the funds will be used.

Requesting help is not easy for any of us, Tom included. So I’m setting up a GoFundMe page for him. A goal of $75,000 has been set due to the costs he is incurring due to his health challenges and the loss of income. I hope this fundraiser will offer him the time and space to return to his highest level of functioning and independence and that it will alleviate the weight and stress of financial burdens he is experiencing right now.

Money raised will cover still-needed dental work. It covers medications, medical devices and rehab that Medicare doesn’t cover. It also covers transportation costs to required medical appointments. Plus, it sustains Tom as he recovers by assisting him with basic daily life needs such as rent, food, utilities, car insurance and dental insurance. As a self-employed person, Tom didn’t have a big cushion of money to absorb the cost of a life-threatening medical emergency and the loss of income during a long recovery process.

Dental work needed as a result of radiation treatment: $26,000

Medications, medical devices and rehab not covered by Medicare: $10,000

Sustain Tom’s basic daily life needs due to a loss of income (rent, food, utilities, car insurance): $39,000

While this fundraiser is for Tom and his healing, any remaining money in this fund will be donated to JUST FOOD, Lawrence’s food bank, once Tom is back up to speed.

Tom’s spent a lot of his life helping others. Now it’s our turn to help the guy who has helped and inspired many of us with humor and wisdom. If you can help and want to donate, you can do it here. Any amount is appreciated and will help!

If you want to donate but don’t want to donate online, mail a check to Tom Overholser, 5400 Rock Chalk Drive, 22-205, Lawrence, KS 66049.

And you can help by sharing Tom’s gofundme page with others.

Thank you for however you can contribute to Tom’s heart recovery.

With much love and gratitude,

Sarah Oblinger. organizer