I am really saddened by our loss of Tom. I think of him as “every-man’s friend.” He was so personable.

With so many treatments today for CLL/SLL, I find myself being lulled into thinking that we are invincible but of course, we’re not. Even if our blood cancer is under control, we are still vulnerable to other maladies like COVID19 & pneumonia. Any disease or infection that would normally be fought off by our immune system must be fought vigorously by other means if our immune system is weak.

It has been awhile since the blood cancer community has been hit by the loss of one of our most well known CLL advocates. However, that all changed on Wednesday night when we lost Thomas Henry CLL Pharmacist (and CLL advocate). Like others, I was shook deeply when I read the news of his passing on Thursday morning.

Of course, most of knew he was in hospital with COVID19, and many of us were sending him encouraging notes and praying for him.

About 1-1/2 years ago, I first saw posts by Tom Henry showing up on Facebook. Within a short time, I discovered his website, and he began showing up on Zoom calls with other CLL patients that I participated in like Blood cancer uncensored, , CLL Society DFW, and AnCan.

Tom had developed an extensive international list of over 500 CLL specialists that he was sharing with CLL patients. His knowledge and compassion were evident as he listened to and shared with other CLL patients on Zoom calls.

I saw that other CLL patients were becoming Facebook friends with Tom so I sent him a friend request. He accepted my friend request and frequently commented on my FB page.

Besides his own website and participation on Facebook, Tom also was involved with Patient Power (Andrew Schorr) and CLL Society (Dr. Brian Koffman). Tom served on the Expert Medical Council with the CLL Society.

Examples:
On CLL Society’s web page,Thomas Henry fielded pharmaceutical questions.
https://cllsociety.org/2021/03/ask-the-pharmacist-q1-2021/

And here is a 12-minute video on Patient Power with Andrew Schorr interviewing Tom Henry about COVID19 boosters just 2 months ago on December 8, 2021.

https://patientpower.info/cancer-pharmacist-weighs-in-on-covid-19-boosters/

Link to Tom’s CLL Pharmacist web page:
https://cllpharmacist.com/

Some of us have shed a few tears over the loss of our dear friend, and certainly our heads have been hung low. We will miss him, and we are concerned for his family and wish to express our condolences to them.

However, I think if Tom could speak to us, he would say,

Crossing the Bar
Alfred Lord Tennyson – 1809-1892

Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have cross’d the bar.

On today’s Zoom call we will start with a brief moment to pause and reflect on Tom’s death. If you are not in our whatsapp or facebook groups email us on bloodcanceruncensored@gmail.com for the log in details.