My name is Leisha. On October 30, 2023, my dad Thomas Blimka was diagnosed with stage 3 Esophageal cancer and began treatment in December. Tom is a father to 3 grown children, Papa to 2 grandkids, and husband of 36 years to his wife, Julia.

Some of you may remember Tom as the assistant manager at Blue Ribbon or even during his time working for Blimka Vault Works & Wilburt Vault Works, assisting with hundreds of funerals in the area.

While this diagnosis answered many questions as to why he had been experiencing so many out of character symptoms, it also rocked our whole world. With the promise of chemo, radiation, and a life-altering surgery to remove the tumors, he knew this new territory was going to be brand new in every way.

Tom has just completed this bout of chemo and radiation in Lewiston, Idaho, with a massive surgery being his next step, up in Spokane, Washington. Most of his esophagus and stomach will be removed, causing him to never be able to lay flat again. With that, he will urgently require a new bed that can adjust its angle. This bed is what the majority of funds raised will go toward, as it will be required for him, post-surgery.

Given that half of our cancer team is 2 hours away from home, Tom and Julia are also working on getting a more reliable car to ensure their medical trips from Lewiston to Spokane and back are safe and without complications. Presently, they've got an older pickup and are hoping to get a smaller vehicle that Tom can easily get into and out of, post-surgery. Part of the funds raised from this will go toward a down payment for that newer (used) vehicle.

This new journey is not one for the faint of heart, and while chemo and radiation are finished for now, Tom is still very much in the thick of it. Thank you so much for your support. It means more than we can say.

#EffCancer