Immeasurable Grief

Beloved John Joseph Thompson Jr. 

August 17, 1958 - May 5, 2007

Memorial services will be held today and tomorrow, May 9-10th in Costa Mesa, CA.

                                                                                                                                           Viewing May 9th 5-9pm
Harbor Lawn-MT Olive Memorial Park and Mortuary              1625 Gisler Avenue Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (714)540-5554   

Funeral Mass Thursday May 10th at 11:00 AM                        Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church                               1015 Baker Street Costa Mesa, CA 92626  (714) 557-5060                                                                                                                                           

It is with profound sadness and immeasurable grief I write to share with you that on May 5, 2007 we lost my dear brother John.

Since we last posted, John's cancer recurred. He underwent another radical surgery last Monday, April 30th, at Cedar Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, CA in which he endured 14 hours of surgical procedures. The tumor grew back for the 3rd time in the same location, and was discovered to be more aggressive than ever. The good news, we believed, was that the cancer continued to recur in his mouth/throat and had not spread, as oral cancer so easily does. The doctors removed his jaw for the second time, the tumor, and reconstructed his mouth, using skin grafts from his leg and muscle from his arm. John pulled through the surgery with flying colors. While recovering a doctor in the ICU told him, "I saw them take you apart and put you back together again. I have never seen anything like that before. You have an amazing team of doctors." John agreed. He truly loved his doctors for fighting with him, and in his usual form, he was ready to fight again.

The entire hospital staff fell in love with my brother as a patient, and he was progressing, recovering enough to be moved from the ICU to a step-down floor at the hospital.  Although he couldn't speak (due to a temporary tracheotomy) he continued making us all laugh, writing notes and communicating on his dry-erase board. He wanted ice cream.

The plan was to release John in a few days.  He would begin simultaneous rounds of radiation and chemotherapy.  He knew it was going to be 6 weeks of hell, but said he was ready, determined to beat the cancer. There was no doubt in our minds, since he had already won so many battles with this disease, he would prevail once and for all this time. On Saturday, May 5, John did prevail, but in a more profound way.

At approximately 3:15pm on Saturday, May 5, John experienced an unexpected complication from the surgery.  He had just finished watching the Kentucky Derby with his wife, Tracy, and was waiting for the rest of us to arrive.  Our sister Donna, brother-in -law Charlie, his wife and I had been with him throughout the week, visiting and sleeping at the hospital. I had left the hospital that morning to take a shower and pick up a change of clothes.  His nurse Angela was wonderful. I knew he was in good hands that day.  John needed rest and my hope was he would sleep for awhile. The last thing I said to my brother was "I'll see you later!" As I left his room I told the nurse's aide helping him get washed, "Be gentle with him."  Off I went, which I now deeply regret, not knowing that was to be our final farewell.

Tracy arrived around 1pm and John was awake and ready to visit. They watched the NASCAR race together, the Derby, and then the unthinkable happened.  We have been told a suture broke, causing an artery to rupture in his throat.  John's heart stopped and despite every effort, the team at the hospital could not bring him back. Instead, God brought him home.

John spent the last few hours of his life with his wife, whom he deeply loved, as it should have been. Tracy had the chance to share with him the news that Christina (his step-daughter) had been accepted into the University of California Berkley. He was elated, extremely proud. 

The shock and grief is beyond words for our parents, siblings, aunt, cousins, and friends, but his inspiration and life will live on in each of us. He has endured unimaginable challenges for the past 2 years, always with a smile, extraordinary courage and faith. In his honor, we will try to walk through this difficult time by his example.
 
Many of you have asked for information regarding the memorial service. My family would be honored to have you join us if you are in the area and wish to do so. John loved life. We hope to make the next 2 days a celebration of my beautiful brother.

~Michelle Thompson

Comments

[Judi and Bob Hamann]

Thompson family,
We cannot pretend to understand the deep grief you are going through. We send you our deepest sympathy and prayers. You are such a wonderful family. I'm sure John being a part of such a loving, caring family made his tragic and painful journey a little easier.
love,
Judi and Bob Hamann