[TheForge] Tom Clark

[Allen Ortery]

Got this today thought I would pass it on.
Tom has been in and out of Jefferson Memorial Hospital several times
since we last talked at the Batson Bladesmithing Symposium (4/6). His
main problem has been with the pain he is suffering. The external
eristaltic pump to deliver the pain control medication gave him
problems when at his Potosi home and his home care nurse could not
solve the problem. Hence, Tom's doctors elected to surgically implant
a small internal pump and this did not work either and it seems the
implant surgery have added additional complications. Tom's blood tests
at the hospital indicated he was not ready for his scheduled Monday,
April 14, chemotherapy procedure so it was delayed. He was sent home
yesterday without the chemotherapy treatment. His Oncologist has
decided to give him this week to rest and recuperate then resume the
chemo treatments with his third treatment next monday (4/21) with
forth the following monday, 4/28, and his fifth and final chemo
treatment on 5/5. He is then to rest for six (6) weeks then under go
radiation treatments. As you would expect Tom is very depressed and
worried about his prognosis. He is upset he did not receive this weeks
chemo treatment and is worried his cancer is spreading.

My feeling is, a large part of recovery therapy is the patients
attitude and willingness to fight the "good fight." I am worried Tom's
bout with the severe pain and his medical treatment problems have worn
down some of his spirit. He really needs to know he has his family of
blacksmiths pulling for him in the way of Prayer and support for his
recovery. BAM's Phil Cox was so concerned that he traveled to Tom's
hospital arriving Saturday afternoon (4/12) and he stayed full-time in
Tom's hospital room to serve as Tom's medical care advocate until
Tom's Wednesdays (4/16) hospital release. This was to give Thelma a
much needed rest period. Phil was a real inspiration to Tom both
physically and Spiritually! I talked with Phil in two occasions and I
can tell you he was as diligent in his watch-care as one can possibly
serve in this capacity!
 I know this e-mail is not as positive as I would have liked to
report. I do believe Tom's Oncologist feels Tom's medical situation is
so bad as to cease medical treatments. If Tom can retain a can-do
attitude he will have a fighting chance to overcome his recent
set-backs. Paula and I are keeping Tom and Thelma in our thoughts and
Prayers,