Tomas Young out of coma; doing much better - pictures

[proud2BlibKansan]

We had a vigil today for Tomas right down the street from his hospital. His mom came. So did Ellen Spiro, who directed BODY OF WAR.

Cathy (Tomas's mom) said he is much better today and was not only out of his coma but talking and telling jokes.

Here is Cathy telling about something Tomas did.



We had some great signs which Cathy took back to Tomas.









Here is Cathy and Ellen.




Cathy said Phil Donahue came to see Tomas and Eddie Vedder will be here in a few days. She said Eddie sent a gorgeous flower arrangement in a beautiful vase but when they put Tomas in intensive care he couldn't keep the flowers. So Cathy went down to the maternity ward and gave the flowers to a mom who was taking her new baby home. The mom said thank you and Cathy said you can thank Eddie Vedder. The baby's dad started crying; turns out he is a huge Eddie Vedder fan.

How neat is that?

While we were at the vigil, Cindy Sheehan called Cathy. She had also sent flowers.

Cathy said to thank everyone for their love and prayers.

She also had a picture on her phone she had taken this afternoon of Tomas in his hospital bed holding up the peace sign for us. She said he is just alert enough today to be overwhelmed by all the support he is getting.

Please send cards:

Tomas Young
St Luke's Hospital
4401 Wornall
Kansas City, MO 64111

[Hissyspit]

1. So glad to hear that, thanks!

Cool Eddie Vedder story, too!

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. The more I hear about Eddie the more I like him

We were saying it would be so neat if he comes to see Tomas on Tuesday and comes by our Tuesday vigil.

[Maat]

2. This is GREAT news! Thanks (n/t)!

[Bozita]

3. Great news! Great pics. I'm kinda partial to the sign in the 3rd pic.

Thanks.

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. That's my favorite one too.

LOL

[kas125]

17. OMG, that is the best sign I've seen in a very long time.

Great news about Tomas, I'm gonna pass this along to everyone I know. Thanks!

[babylonsister]

4. Rec'd. Thanks for the update, proud! I'll be sending a card to Tomas. nt

[SeattleGirl]

5. Wonderful news!

Thanks so much for the update, and for the pics!

And continued prayers for Tomas.

[AzDar]

6. Kick...

:kick:

[midnight]

7. Sadly I had to google to see who this young man was. I didn't

see the body of war. The photos I did see put a lump in my throat. Bless you young Tomas. I know I'm a broken record. But again-Bring them home.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. It is a wonderful movie

Tomas has been in a coma for a week. He had numbness in his arm and went to the VA. They gave him oxycontin and sent him home. His mom took him to St Luke's and by that time they found a blood clot that had traveled to his lung. He lapsed into a coma last week and just woke up last night.

We love Tomas. He is a hero to us and we are so proud to know him.

[EFerrari]

18. I believe there is video of his interview with Amy at her site.

You'll love him. He's a remarkable, loving, caustic, funny young man. :)

www.democracynow.org

[roguevalley]

8. beautiful news, beautiful story, beautiful people all of them. thank

you. card on its way

[klook]

12. Wow, thanks so much for letting us know.

I saw Ellen Spiro and Phil Donahue on Bill Moyers Journal today talking about their documentary, with footage of Tomas and family. What a great bunch of folks. I wish them all the best.

I'm sending him a card that I've been saving for years for just the right occasion. It has a beautiful photo of a purple iris on the front, and inside this quote from William Arthur Ward:
"If you can imagine it, you can create it.
If you can dream it, you can become it."

(Oddly enough, the card attributes the quote to Albert Camus. I looked it up on the Internets to see where he wrote it, and discovered it's actually by Ward! So I'm correcting that on the card. )

I'm also making a donation to Iraq Veterans Against the War in solidarity with Tomas.

Please send our DU love to Cathy, Tomas, and family. :patriot:

[Blue_In_AK]

13. Thanks for the update and good news, Proud.

My prayers continue to be with Tomas and his family.

[Pyewacket]

14. Tomas Young

This is a bloody awful story that we have not heard in Australia. Why is he back in hospital? Did he take a turn for the worse?
Poor thing, I hope he gets better.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. He had a blood clot in his lung

It caused him to lapse into a coma. Thankfully, he is much better now.

[EFerrari]

15. Kick for great news.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

19. Without a doubt

Tomas Young has been one of the central figures in the anti war movement. His own stories and his insight bring the real war to the myopic public. He was only in Iraq for 4 days when his unarmored humvee was struck - He knew he was paralyzed and asked his fellow soldiers to "just kill me." It is too bad that the average person will not ever know who Tomas Young is. If you happen across this post and wonder "who is Tomas Young" please read this piece in The Nation: http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060327/richards

You can see a conversation with Tomas Young and Eddie Vedder here: http://www.bodyofwar.com/eddie-conversation.php

Please, if you can, send a note, a card a letter to Tomas. I am having my kids make cards to send him.

Peace Now!

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. He said he had not even fired his weapon yet when he was shot

because all he had seen so far were women and children running from bullets.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

23. Kicked

This needs to be at the top of the list.

Please send a card to Tomas.

[malaise]

20. K & R

Good news.

[lonestarnot]

21. Thank God! wonderful news.

[proud2BlibKansan]

24. Kick