In Memory of Donald Thomas

By Lou Bank

Abuse isn't the only threat to children. Last week my friend, Donald Thomas, was taken by the monster known as cystic fibrosis. He was twenty-one years old. CF is a genetic disease primarily affecting the lungs, filling them with a sticky mucous that makes breathing a real struggle. But while CF gave Donald's lungs a beating, it never laid a finger on his spirit.

Donald loved women. Not some women—all women. Every woman that came within a five-foot radius got asked on a date. Every woman. Tall, short, fat, skinny, young, old, married, engaged, single ... every nurse, every waitress, the girl taking tickets at the theater, the lady at the Starbucks ... every woman. And, to be clear, it wasn't a desperation play, wasn't even like he was playing the law of averages. The way he asked them out, it was like he was confident one of them would have the right answer—like he was playing three-card monte and got three chances, he knew eventually one would be the Queen of Spades.

In what were to be his final days, I sent a gorgeous blonde up to see him, to deliver some of his favorite Japanese candy. "He's an incorrigible flirt," I warned her, "and will probably try to get you to stay the night." But, she told me, nothing of the sort happened. He didn't ask her out, didn't ask for his trademark hug ... nothing. I was worried—that's not my Donald. So I called him.

"My mother was in the room, Lou," he explained ... and I finally got to see the color of his kryptonite. "But let me tell you, if Mom hadn't been here, that girl would be going out with me now instead of you." And of that, I have no doubt.

I don't know what lies beyond this experience, but I do know this: Whatever it is, wherever it is, my brother is waiting for me—and when I get there, he'll have the rundown on where the best poker game is dealt, where the best sushi is served, where we can catch the WWF pay-per-view matches ... and where we can find the ladies.

I miss you, bro.

To learn more about cystic fibrosis, visit the Web site for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: http://www.cff.org.

To make a donation in the memory of Donald Thomas, click here: https://secure.cff.org/ways_to_give/donate.cfm