Thom C. Smith Memorial Fund

On June 22, the night after Father's Day, Thom was asleep in the rear of his home in Farmont, West Virginia when the living room burst into flames.  State and local authorities are currently investigating the cause, but the fire spread unusually quickly, and burned hot enough to drop the power lines overhead.  The tragedy has already made local news, where a clip of the devistation is currently available:
http://www.wboy.com/story/29382123/update-firefighters-upset-over-monpower-response-time-to-pleasant-valley-road-fire

Miraculously, Thom was able to wake, and under his own power make his escape through the flames.  After collapsing on his lawn, he was rescued by his local fire department and flown to a specialized burn center in Pittsburgh, where his family has maintained a constant vigil.  Thom has been left with deep 3rd degree burns over 90% of his body and severe smoke inhalation injuries.  He is currently on a ventilator and has already edured two surgeries to excise destroyed tissues from his arms and legs..

Before the fire, Thom was a capernter, operating a small business serving the local residential community and acting as a small contractor and handyman.  The extent of his burns means he won't be able to return to this life, and when he is able to be released from the hospital, will have to learn a new trade to support himself, and his family, including three young daughters: Veronica (age 14), Charity (age 6) and Ava (age 4).  Thom is very fortunate that non of them were home at the time of the fire.




Thom is the eldest son of the Reverend Thomas and Susan Smith, and brother to Tara Fritz, Tama Cress and Todd Smith.  He has been very lucky to enjoy the spiritual support of his own church Chiristian Love Ministries, as well as his father's church, The First Baptist Church of Hagerstown, Maryland.





This GoFundME account is set up by member of Thom's family to help raise funds toward building as normal a life as possible for him to return to, once he's able to leave the hospital.  Thom has already survived the first surgeries on a long and very painful road toward recovery.  His lungs are responding to treatment and we hope he will be able to be taken off the ventilator in the near future.  Any support you can offer will be held in a trust for Thom, to help provide for him after he is release from the hospital.  Donations of any size are greatly appreciated, as is every share and re-port of this GoFundME page.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you.  Please continue to keep Thom and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Love, 
The Smith Family