Imagine spending more than 30 years bringing heroes to life on the pages of comic books—and then reaching a point where simply walking across your own room feels impossible.

This is where comic book creator Tom Tenney is today.

Tom has spent his life creating art, telling stories, and giving a piece of himself to the comic book world. For more than three decades, his work has been part of an industry he loves. He began his professional career on Robotech for Comico and went on to work on titles including Iron Man and Force Works for Marvel, projects for DC, and numerous independent books.

For years, Tom's hands created worlds of heroes, battles, courage, and impossible victories.

Now Tom is fighting a battle of his own.

About 10 years ago, Tom was diagnosed with COPD. Today, he is in late Stage 4 COPD. His disease is terminal, and there is no cure.

Tom is dependent on oxygen 24 hours a day. He requires medications and inhalers just to breathe. He lives with constant pain and tremors. He can no longer walk across a room without struggling. He cannot bathe himself. Things that most of us do without giving them a second thought have become exhausting, sometimes impossible tasks for him.

And now, Tom is entering his final days.

But his family isn't ready to stop fighting for him.

The cruel reality of a terminal illness is that it doesn't only take a physical toll. It can destroy a family's financial security as well. The ongoing costs of oxygen, medications, medical care, transportation, and basic living expenses have pushed Tom and his family to the brink.

They are struggling to afford even the medications Tom needs every day.

There are days when the choice becomes painfully simple: How do we keep Tom breathing, and how do we put food on the table?

Their current living situation has become unsustainable. They are desperately looking for another place where they can access the assistance and resources they need, but getting there requires resources they simply don't have.

At the moment, Tom relies on oxygen tanks when he needs to travel. Those tanks only last a couple of hours, making even necessary trips incredibly difficult and potentially unsafe. A portable concentrator would give him a much greater ability to leave home safely, travel farther, attend appointments, and have some measure of freedom during the time he has left.

After spending more than 30 years giving his creativity, talent, and heart to the comic book community, Tom now needs that community—and everyone who cares about him—to give something back.

We are asking for help because Tom and his family have reached the point where they simply cannot do this alone anymore.

We are asking the comic book community, his friends, his fans, and anyone with compassion in their heart to give something back to him.

If you can donate, please do.

It doesn't have to be a large amount. Ten dollars. Twenty dollars. Whatever you can spare.

To Tom and his family, those dollars aren't just numbers on a fundraiser.

They can mean medication.

They can mean oxygen.

They can mean groceries.

They can mean transportation.

They can mean a safer place to live.

They can mean one less thing for a family already carrying more than they can bear.

If you can donate, please know that your contribution isn't just helping pay a bill. It can help put food on their table. It can help provide medication. It can help with oxygen. It can help Tom get where he needs to go. It can help his family find a safer and more sustainable living situation.

And if you cannot donate, please share this fundraiser.

Please help us reach the people who can.

Tom spent his life drawing heroes.

He created characters who faced impossible odds and kept fighting when everything seemed lost.

Now it's Tom who needs a hero.

Please help us give Tom and his family some peace, dignity, and breathing room during this final chapter of his life.

Every dollar matters. Every share matters. Every act of kindness matters..

Thank you for taking the time to read Tom's story.

Thank you for remembering the artist behind the pages.

And thank you for helping Tom know that, after all the years he spent creating for others, he is not alone now.