Stand with Thomas: Heart Surgery Fundraiser

Dear friends, family, and kind-hearted strangers,

I am reaching out with a grateful heart to ask for your help. My bonus dad, Thomas Toops, had congestive heart failure which required very intensive open-heart surgery. Without this procedure, he would not be here with us today.

Thomas got a cold which slowly, but intensely, got worse and turned into pneumonia. Being the hard-working man he is, he pushed through until his heart said otherwise. He was taken to the Monmouth Hospital where he was informed of his heart attack and heart failure. He was admitted to a hospital in Peoria where they ran tests, and news went from bad to worse. He had to have a valve replacement, artery replacement, and open-heart surgery. This was very hard for Thomas and Amy, as he was the sole provider since starting his own business almost a year ago. Thomas and my mom, Amy, worked side by side for the past 6 months, crushing it as a team making people's visions come to life in their home remodels. If you know, most self-employed businesses don’t have the luxury of getting health or life insurance at a reasonable rate, so they are without insurance while all of this is unfolding. Insurance has been on the back of their minds every hour of every day a new test was being run or another day he was in the hospital. Not only did Thomas have the stresses of having to sit still every day (LOL), but he and Amy had their own stresses of how they would pay for household bills, let alone the medical bills that would be coming in. My mom, Amy, did an amazing job at keeping the house running smoothly while traveling back and forth from Monmouth to Peoria daily, but that too added additional stress to them both.

While we are grateful the surgery went great and the amazing doctors saved Thomas’s life, the financial burden is overwhelming and with recovery and physical therapy, he will not be able to work for quite some time and well over 16 weeks. The medical costs for open-heart surgery, along with follow-up care and medication, are far beyond what most can manage. I am asking for your help for Thomas and Amy, to cover these costs and give Thomas the best chance for a full recovery.

Every dollar you donate will go directly toward:

• Surgical costs

• Hospital fees

• Post-surgery recovery

• Medications and therapy sessions

• Household bills

Even if you are unable to contribute financially, your thoughts, prayers, and sharing of this campaign are greatly appreciated.

We know times are tough for many people, and we are so grateful for anything you can give, no matter how big or small. Your generosity means the world to us, and it will make a huge difference for Thomas and Amy Toops.

Please help us give Thomas the opportunity to heal and live a healthy, happy life. We are eternally grateful for your support and kindness during this difficult time.

With Sincere Gratitude,

Terra Sarcomo