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Wondra not complaining about his rollercoaster ride with cancer
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By Andrew Kuehl
akuehl@kewaskumstatesman.com
KEWASKUM- You could call Tom Wondra of Campbellsport an expert in Murphy’s Laws of cancer. However, since his fight began, he’s been fighting hard, with a smile and his chin held high. Friends and family are holding a fundraiser in Lomira this coming weekend to help assist with his medical expenses.
Tom’s cancer rollercoaster began when doctors discovered renal cell cancer in 1999. He subsequently underwent surgery to remove a kidney. From that time until September of 2005 Tom went cancer free. While doing work at home, Tom broke his arm.
During care it was discovered that a tumor was forming on the bone. The cancer weakened and ate through the bone causing the fracture. The following month the infected bone was removed and replaced with donated bone allowing a reconstruction of his humorous (arm). Two metal plates were also installed on each side of the bone to aid in healing and to strengthen the bone.
As a precautionary measure, in January of 2006, a cat scan was performed to watch for other potential places the cancer may have spread. It was discovered that another tumor had started in Tom’s femur. Another surgery, more metal parts, and a pin was placed in that bone.
Subsequently, the screws broke in his repaired humorous and a second similar surgery was performed in April 2006. This time a pin was placed inside the bone and connected to the stable bone to make the arm stronger.
In August of 2006 a staph infection was discovered from the first surgery. A third surgery needed to be performed to clean out the infection and Tom subsequently went through eight weeks of daily intravenous injections.
Tom continues to fight bone cancer but is well on his way to recovering. He has not been able to go back to work at Regal Ware in West Bend since his rollercoaster ride began. Regal has held his job for him so that when he fully recovers, he can return.
“I wouldn’t change any of this. I have so many people caring, giving calls, cards and letters,” Tom stated.
Getting back to the way things used to be
Tom works on his therapy seven days a week, two hours a day, on his own at home. He supplements that with care at Back in Action Rehabilitation Center in Kewaskum and at The Health Hut in Campbellsport.
Tom began his care at Back in Action in Fond du Lac with Dave Schmitz and when Dave transferred to Kewaskum, he continued care with Dave.
“There is so much individualized care. It’s fantastic. He (Dave) does everything with you. He’s a great friend,” stated Tom
Back in Action maintains three satellite offices in Kewaskum, Mayville and New Holstein with a larger facility in Fond du Lac. Dave says the goal of the satellite clinics is to provide convenient one-on-one care for these smaller communities.
Dave has been with Back in Action for over 12 years, with the last one-and-a-half at the Kewaskum office. He brings over 20 years of orthopedic therapy experience to his patients. He specializes in shoulder, spine and lower extremity rehab and movement retraining.
“You have to want to get better,” Tom concluded.
Benefit planned this weekend
A fundraiser to help Tom with his enormous medical expenses is slated for this weekend, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 5, 6 and 7 at Midwestern Shooters Supply near the Highway 41 and 67 intersection in Lomira. Friends and family will grill out and sell brats and burgers. A bake sale and raffle is also planned.
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