The phrase, “If you need anything let me know” runs deep in Reeltown.
Angel Thornell was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in January. Their whole family had come down with a virus and Thornell was not recovering like the rest. She went to the emergency room and was diagnosed with strep throat.
Thornell went back home but she kept getting weaker. Thornell returned to the emergency room and that’s when a leukemia diagnosis was on the table. After staying overnight at Tallassee hospital, she was sent to Birmingham by ambulance the next day.
During her stay at Birmingham, Thornell was diagnosed with leukemia and stayed for roughly 46 days in the hospital. She was home for a week and a half before going back to Birmingham for consolidation chemotherapy.
Thornell will continue that treatment until she can get a bone marrow transplant. The hospital found a match with hopes of doing the transplant at the end of April.
After the bone marrow transplant, Thornell will need to be in the hospital for 30 days and will need to stay near the Birmingham area for 70 days thereafter with two to three appointments a week. Her daughter-in-law, Jennifer Spain, will become her full-time caregiver during that time while taking a break from work.
Thornell is also a government employee who works from home. This past month has been especially difficult with government job uncertainties, but she has worked some the last few weeks while receiving treatment. Once Thornell goes in for the bone marrow transplant, she won’t be able to work for a period of time.
After the transplant date, Thornell will need to go to appointments for about a year, but they will gradually decrease in frequency. Spain said all of the family is from Reeltown, grew up there and went to school there. Thornell and her husband, Clark, are also members of First Baptist Church of Reeltown.
While Spain has been the main person traveling with Thornell to her appointments recently, it’s been a group effort. Thornell’s son, Travis, came to help and worked remotely for the short time he could before returning to California. Her other son and Spain’s husband, Jason, has helped with the caregiving when he is not at work. Thornell’s daughter Carrie Spain has also helped with the treatment process.
“We have had a lot of support from the church,” Thornell said. “They have watched over my husband and kept him fed. Everybody stepped up so big my family, my church family, my other relatives.”
Thornell’s husband had a stroke about a year ago. Clark is unable to work and also needs a caregiver himself. Their niece Alicia Diego has taken care of him every day. This has taken a weight off Thornell, knowing her husband is being cared for while she is away receiving treatment.
Next Saturday, there will be a benefit for Thornell at Reeltown Baptist Church from 4 to 7 p.m. Individuals can purchase a spaghetti plate for $10 or two charity bingo cards for $20. Extra cards are $5 each.
The benefit will accept cash, checks, Venmo and Cashapp. The serving of plates will begin at 4 p.m. and bingo will begin at 5 p.m.
“It’s a small community but a big family,” Spain said. “We just hope everyone will come out and show support.”
Spain added the last thing you want to think about when you are sick is finances and a little help really goes a long way. Reeltown has been so supportive already throughout this process and it shows what a blessing living in a small town can really be, Spain said.
For more information about the benefit, contact Spain at 334-850-5386.
