Team Konen vs Multiple Myeloma

Hi, my name is Nicole Damaskos, and I’ve setup this account for my uncle, Tom Konen, and his family. Between the two of them, he and Carol have 8 adult children, two teenage children (Clare, a senior and Eli, a junior), and eight young grandchildren. Tom is a well known and respected member of the community, and has helped care for thousands of patients throughout his years as a chiropractor in Polson, Plains, and Thompson Falls. Everyone who knows Tom knows him as a gentle giant. He has the biggest heart and gives the absolute best bear hugs. After years of caring for everyone else, it’s our turn to step up and help support Tom and his beautiful family.

After several months of chronic back pain, the Konen family’s world was flipped upside down when Tom was diagnosed with cancer last week. Tom had X-rays, an MRI, a PET scan, and several CT scans which revealed lesions in many bony locations throughout his spine, sacrum, and long bones. We are still waiting for the biopsy results to confirm the diagnosis, but his doctors believe he has Multiple Myeloma. The primary concern right now is Tom’s spine. There is a tumor at the level of T10 which is compressing his spinal cord. For the past couple of weeks Tom has had to use a walker to get around due to numbness and weakness in his legs, which we recently learned is because the tumor is causing spinal cord compression. Tom met with the Radiation Oncologist and Medical Oncologist in Kalispell last Monday, and they urgently began a course of radiation therapy targeting the lesion which is causing the spinal cord compression. This 10 day course of treatment should help relieve some of his symptoms and help control the extreme pain in his spine. Tom will also begin a course of Oral and Infusion Chemotherapy, which will work systemically to reduce the cancer in his body and help stop further destruction to his bones.

Tom and Carol have a long road ahead, with a lot of unknowns and an unpredictable future. Tom is currently unable to work, and he and Carol must travel to Kalispell daily for radiation treatments. A lot more travel will come once chemo and potentially other areas of radiation treatment begin. The Konen family is not one to ask for help, but they could definitely use some to carry them through the long journey in front of them. I know Tom has touched many lives, and it would mean the world if you felt compelled to do the same for him. Anything from financial support, to meals for the family, or words of encouragement would be SO appreciated by our entire family. I will be updating this account as we learn more about Tom’s diagnosis and treatment plan. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions, and please keep the Konen family in your thoughts and prayers as they navigate this new diagnosis. Love to you all,

-Nicole

•Team Konen•