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Stand with Cory 'Tank' Thomas in His Fight
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❤️ Help Cory “Tank” Thomas Fight the Hardest Battle of His Life ❤️
A Son of Warriors. A Brother of Loyalty. A Protector Now Fighting for His Own Life.
My name is Fred Thomas, and today I’m sharing a story no family ever wants to tell — the story of my younger brother, Cory “Tank” Thomas, a man who spent his entire life protecting others… and who now needs protection more than ever.
A Family of Warriors — and the Protector Cory Became
Cory was born into a family grounded in courage, sacrifice, and service.
Our mother served in the U.S. Navy and later the U.S. Army National Guard, retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer Four (CWO4) after deploying to Afghanistan. She is the definition of strength.
Our father served as a Military Intelligence Officer during Desert Storm/Iraq — carrying responsibilities most people will never know.
We grew up on military bases in Hawaii, Japan, and across the world. Discipline, loyalty, and service weren’t just taught — they were lived.
As Cory’s older brother, I was his first example of toughness and protection. But as he grew, he became the protector he once admired.
At just 14, he gave himself the name “Tank” — not out of ego, but because tanks exist to protect people.
And that’s exactly what he did:
He protected battered women in shelters
He worked as a personal bodyguard for both celebrities and everyday people
He filled refrigerators for families in need
He showed up at midnight for people who had no one else
He organized food drives
He served as a high school counselor in Rochester, NY — guiding teenagers and giving them hope
And when our mother retired, he moved to Virginia to care for her daily
His heart was too big to be contained.
His strength was something he gave freely.
The Catastrophic Stroke That Shattered Everything
Recently, Cory suffered a massive, life-altering stroke — the kind that doesn’t just interrupt life… it rewrites it.
This stroke:
Paralyzed multiple parts of his body
Damaged his speech
Destroyed coordination
Stole independence
Forced him to relearn everything — walking, talking, moving, living
Surgeons had to remove a large portion of his skull to allow his brain to swell safely.
Today:
Part of his brain remains unprotected
His skull cannot be replaced until the swelling fully resolves — possibly a year from now
Even a small impact could be catastrophic
He requires continuous monitoring and a controlled environment
This is not just rehabilitation.
This is the complete rebuild of a human being.
The Part That Hurts Even More — The Facility Cannot Support His Size
At 6'5" and 265 lbs, Cory is built like the protector he has always been.
But the rehabilitation facility simply does not have equipment designed for a man of his size.
All their materials — pads, bedding, cushions — are made for average-sized adults.
Because of that, Cory is now suffering:
Bed sores
Skin breakdown
Discomfort
Risk of infection
Lack of proper support
He urgently needs special-order, oversized medical supplies, including:
Heavy-duty oversized sanitary pads
Large pressure-relief medical bedding
Proper support cushions
Protective equipment that matches his height and weight
These items are not optional.
They are required to keep him safe, clean, and protected as he fights through recovery.
None of these items are provided by the facility.
All must be ordered privately, and they are expensive.
⭐ What This Feels Like — For All of Us
From Me — Fred
I spent my childhood protecting my little brother.
Now I watch him fight for every breath, every movement, every word.
Seeing “Tank” — the strongest man I know — lying helpless breaks something inside me that I can’t describe.
But I will fight for him again. And I will not stop.
From Our Mother — A Veteran of Two Wars
She told me:
“I’ve been to war, but watching my son suffer like this is the hardest battle of my life.”
No mother should have to carry that alone.
From Our Father
A man who has seen devastation firsthand said:
“Tank always stood up for others. Now he needs an army behind him.”
Why We’re Asking for Support
Cory will need:
Months — possibly years — of neurological rehab
Speech, mobility, and cognitive therapy
In-home nursing
Brain protection equipment
Skull reconstruction surgery
Transportation support
Adaptive medical tools
And oversized sanitary pads, bedding, and protective materials that must be special-ordered immediately
This is more than one family can bear alone.
❤️ Your Support Becomes His Shield
Every donation — every share — every prayer becomes:
protection he currently does not have
safety he cannot create for himself
dignity he deserves
hope we desperately need
You become part of the army standing behind a man who has spent his entire life standing for others.
From the depths of our hearts — thank you for fighting with us.
With love, faith, and unwavering gratitude,
Fred Thomas & Family
Organizer
