Discharged Today!

Karen reports that Pastor is being discharged today with lots of instructions and meds but NO TUBES! She and Pastor wanted to thank everyone for their support, prayers, cards, and gifts. They will be going to Pastor's parents' home in The Woodlands until the doctors give the okay to return to Mobile. The new address is:

Dr. Keith Thomas
c/o Herschel and Doris Thomas
3 Painted Canyon Place
The Woodlands, TX 77381

We Have a Huge Praise!

The central IV line is out of Pastor’s neck… which means no more IV’s for him! We praise the Lord for this piece of good news! He is very excited that he is getting to shave today for the first time – his nurse thought he was going for the Willie Nelson look. He has one more drainage tube in his stomach that needs to come out, but all in all, we praise God for the progress that Pastor has had. They are thinking that he will be able to leave the hospital tomorrow. He will go to his parents’ home and spend the next week or so healing up even further and having follow up doctors’ appointments. (He meets with his current doctor this coming Wednesday.) While he and Karen are at his parents’ house, he will continue to walk and try to get stronger so he can come HOME!!! His enzyme levels have gone down and he had his first bit of real food this morning. We are so thankful to our Lord that He has been so gracious with Pastor and his family. We also praise Him that all of the kids are back to their respective homes and were able to spend the holiday with

Wednesday Update

Pastor continues steady improvement. He started a full liquid diet to see how well his stomach reacts. His pain medicine has been cut back to a lesser strength. He still has his main I.V. Karen said the kids are coming home today and hopes that pastor will be going to his parents possibly Friday. We will let you know when we hear more.

Sunday Update

Pastor is feeling much better today. Karen reported that two of his tubes have been removed (NG tube and one from the incision area). Kerry talked with Keith today for just a couple of minutes. He is definitely tired and in pain but thankful for his progress. Pastor said that he prayed for our church this morning.

Pastor still has leakage of enzymes from the surgical procedure. Pray that the area of the pancreas where they did surgery will heal so that will stop.

Many have asked what is the next treatment but there will be no follow-up radiation or chemotherapy.

Karen said that this has been like a family reunion from personal family members to spiritual family from days of preschool to present. They are so grateful for how God has brought so many friends from across the nation to encourage them. Your cards, letters, prayers and concerns have been greatly appreciated.

On a humorous note, Pastor told Karen they are kind of like Elizabeth and Zacharias since he can't talk. He said Karen was doing enough talking for the both of them though.

Saturday Update

Lymph node reports came back today. The report is benign! Praise God! This gave pastor renewed strength to keep pressing on!

Today’s News

Pastor is having a little bit of a hard time today. They took chest X-rays this morning but it would appear that he is having some “surgical complications.” He is leaking enzymes out of the area where the surgeons made the incision and took off the tip of the pancreas. The doctor says that while they don’t like it when this happens, it is one of the complications of this type of surgery. So… he is a little sicker this morning. But the Thomas’ love Pastor’s doctor; he has been around to see him already this morning and they know that they are in good hands. Please continue to pray for him.

A Post Surgery Update

Thank you for all your prayers, cards, emails, blogs, and “well-wishes” for our Pastor, Dr. Keith Thomas. There are many things cancer can’t do, but one thing it can do is bring people together. We rejoice in the fact that there are people all over the globe that are praying for him! He has had visitors from his high school and college days, pastors, and a myriad of other folks who have been praying from the beginning. Our God is so good, and we are thankful that you all are a part of this journey with Dr. Thomas, his family, and our church family.

Please continue to pray for him in the days ahead. It has been two days after the surgery and he is having a rough day. He is weak and in pain, but he has gotten up to practice walking (he walked some yesterday) and today he will walk again. He is also doing some breathing exercises once an hour to get his lung capacity up. Someone sent a small Christmas tree to his room (Thanks, Starlings!) so there is “external” evidence of Christmas cheer in his hospital room, too!

Please continue to pray for his complete recovery. Please also pray for Karen, Nathan, Nolan, Lauren, and Kelsey as they spend Christmas together. Pray that the lymph nodes that were removed come back clean. (We will know an answer to that next week.) And pray that while the Thomas’ are at MD Anderson, they would be able to share the love of our great God with those who are hurting and hopeless and walking in the same journey as they are… but without a Savior. Pray that people would see Christ in them!