Prayers for Tommy "TJ" Long

FRENDS/FAMILY.... Please go register for Tommy’s benefit 5K scheduled for Saturday, 3/24 at 8am and join our family in the fight against cancer. Over this last year, Tommy has had a tremendous battle not just against cancer but also West Nile and the damage it has done physically to his body. Against all these odds, he has NEVER given up & continues to fight everyday....

I know that a marathon may not be your thing, or could be difficult for you, but just like him...please show up for him and fight through it like he does everyday. I ask this of you for him and all the others that are battling cancer right now, but continue fight. We would love to have all our friends and family with us that day as we celebrate his achievements and what God has done and continues do in our lives! 💙✝️🎗

❤️ PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE!! ❤️

To register: http://fbchaughton.org/event/compassion-dash-2018/

**Register early to receive your t-shirt. They are first come first serve, since quantities are limited.

Compassion Dash 2018 (2018-03-24) Tommy Long (TJ) is a son, brother, father, husband, a local coach, and friend. He is married to Lindsey Long and has two children (daughter) Stormy Long, junior at Airline High School and (son) Cayden Long, 7th grader at Greenacres. Tommy has been coaching football, basketball, and baseball (b

UPDATE: Sorry it's been a busy last few days! Therapy has been pretty intense and TJ is making strides everyday. He finally got the wrap and brace off on Thursday and we got to see his knee for the first time. He has a pretty intense scar, but with all that we've been through; we will take it! They decided not to put him in another brace! They also set a "floating discharge date" of 9/23, but of course this can change based on his progress. They said he's done well, but he might need more time. Right now, they're working on trying to strengthen his leg and get it to bend, and working on range of motion. They're already starting to coordinate his outpatient therapy for speech, OT, PT five days a week. They are also assisting us in ordering his wheelchair and other equipment he will need in the days & months ahead. Due to the multiple blood clots in his chest, the doctors wanted to do an ultrasound of his left leg. They were very concerned, so they sent us back to main hospital for the test, but luckily it came back clear. They started him on some pretty heavy blood thinners. It seemed like we were able to start getting pain control until the brace came off. It's been much more intense since he hasn't had that brace supporting the knee. The also scheduled us to be back in Dallas a week after 23rd (if we get to leave) to meet with Nadler, the oncologist, to get a plan for next round of chemo and when he wants to do the next full body CT/PET scan.

Oh, almost forgot...after surgery Dr. Molly, told me that he believed that he got all the cancer but couldn't be 100% sure until the pathology report comes back, but he prays he does. Well, we did get the pathology report and it was completely clear of cancer! Praise God! Such a blessing!!

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All checked in, labs are done, and they took him back for surgery at about 9am. Surgery should take about 2-3 hours! I will keep everyone posted. Please, please keep the prayers coming. The power of prayer is incredible!

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Tomorrow is the BIG day...the day we have been waiting on since we heard those dreadful words "cancer" months ago. TJ is finally having the surgery to remove the osteosarcoma and do the knee replacement at 5:15am. At his doctors appointment last week, they made the decision to proceed. They're anxious to go ahead because the longer we wait the bigger at risk he is of it spreading. As we know, he could be at a bigger risk and/or have a longer recovery process due to the current state of his body from the West Nile. We're planning for at least 4 night stay at the hospital then he will be moved for Neuro/Physical rehab at Baylor Institute of Rehab. With all this said, we are believing that God didn't bring us this far to abandon us now. Please take a few minutes and say a prayer for him and our family. Thank you!

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Today's the day...we're at Baylor to see the doctors and decide what the next step for TJ's care will be. Everyday is a new day with a new set of challenges, but we continue to fight as a family. We're believing that we're gonna receive some good news today!

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UPDATE: As many of you know Tuesday, they took TJ off the ventilator and he was breathing 100% on his own. The next day, his breathing became very labored again and he needed support. This time they decided to try him on the bipap machine in hopes of helping but also to avoid having to reintubate him. In addition, his cell count tripled showing signs of an infection (other than West Nile). X-rays revealed he has pneumonia in his right lung, therefore they started him on several antibiotics. Yesterday, he was a little more alert was able to follow some commands and even eat some ice chips. Based on this, they've moved him to a "step down" room which is in between ICU and a regular room. We are making progress, that's what we are happy about! It's still too early to tell what the days and moths ahead will show. We've seen we can take a few steps forward and one back, and will probably see more of this along our journey...but we are standing firm that HE WILL BE HEALED!!

We are still limiting visitors to immediate family only right now. Thank you for understanding. Our family is so grateful for all you and all the love that you have shown us. I've been reading TJ all the messages daily. The power of prayer is amazing...please keep it coming!!

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UPDATE: Tommy is off the ventilator and breathing 100% on his own!! Hallelujah!! Yesterday we had a meeting with the doctors to decide how we were going to proceed, since we couldn't leave him on the ventilator much long or they would have to do a tracheotomy. They said sometimes you just have to take a risk with some patients and see how they do, which is what we decided to do and GOD INTERVENED!!!

His breathing is still more rapid than we want, along with his heart rate. He was alert but has no memory of coming in or being in the hospital. It's still too early to tell a prognosis, but we are claiming he is HEALED! Please continue to lift him up in prayer. 💙💙 💙💙

As many of you know, Tommy (aka TJ) is currently in ICU fighting for his life after recently being diagnosed with West Nile Meningitis. This is just on the heels of his 4th chemo treatment for Osteosarcoma (a rare bone cancer). These past several weeks have been a very difficult, however we've been so grateful for all the support we've received from everyone including family, friends and our community. So many of you have already helped in so many ways already that we can never say THANK YOU enough!!

We are steadily getting calls and texts asking if there's anything you can do to help and there is, please DONATE! For y'all that know us, know that this is hard for us to ask. Right now, I'm unable to return to work and I'm not real sure for how long that will be since that all depends on his progress and prognosis once he's off the ventilator. Again, any and all help is greatly appreciated!

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Click here to support COACH TOMMY LONG organized by Dawanda Dixon Coach Tommy is currently being treated at Baylor University in Dallas, TX for osteosarcoma of the knee. Any donation will help with travel expenses and medical bills. Thanks!! I know many of us can't begin to put into words how Coach Tommy and his family have impacted our lives!! This is somethin...

UPDATE: We just spoke with the doctor & his test results from the tap revealed that he has West Nile Meningitis. There is no cure or treatment for it just supportive care. Basically it's a waiting game. We have to wait and see how he responds to over the next several days. He is still in critical care on the ventilator and his breathing is calmer. His fever is down at the moment, however it has been spiking. We are standing strong on our faith that he is going to pull through. We are so overwhelmed with the outpouring of love. We've been trying to read all of your tests, return calls, etc. If we haven't, please know we love you dearly and are so grateful for your prayers.

WE WOULD LIKE FOR EVERYONE TO HAVE A MOMENT OF PRAYER AT 6:30PM TONIGHT. PLEASE JOIN US IN LIFTING HIM UP. THE WORD SAYS, WHEN TWO OR MORE JOIN TOGETHER THAT POWERFUL THINGS CAN HAPPEN!! 💙

UPDATE ON TOMMY:

His last treatment was on Monday but it's like he just hasn't been able come back around since. This round has been the hardest by far. On Sunday evening he started running fever and it got over 100.4 (which is a sign of infection in cancer patients), therefore we immediately brought him to WK Bossier ER. Within minutes they had done an IV, given him fluids, ordered labs, and done X-ray and EKG. One set of labs were good, but the other was high so they admitted him, so they can monitor him and give him antibiotics, etc. We've seen the doctor this morning, but are still awaiting the results of cultures and other tests. The biggest issue is his fever...it will break only to come back. Until we know what the cause is, we can't get it under control.

Please, please lift up my sweet hubby in your prayers right now and ask the Lord to wrap his loving and healing arms around him. ❤️

I haven't posted on here in a while, and several of you have asked for an update. TJ recently had both a CT and PET scan done, but the good news is that the results came back and ALL IS CLEAR!! The cancer has not spread any further, Praise God!! He just had his last treatment on Monday. We are going to have an MRI done on 7/25 and once we have that, we can finally get the long awaited surgery scheduled (but we are thinking early August). We are just so ready for that day to come! We are 1/2 way there!!

I want to personally thank each and every person that has and continues to lift him and our family up in prayer!! I'm forever grateful to you all.

Treatment day is upon us again and we are clinging to the promises of our Lord. We're believing that round #2 isn't gonna be tough.

Thank you again for your prayers and encouraging words. You help us more than you know get through each day. 💙