This weekend Saturday, March 12, friends and family will be hosting a benefit for the Thomas twins, Rhett and Rhyder. The event will be held at the Devine VFW with BBQ chicken plates and all the trimmings, followed by a bake sale, corn hole tournament, silent auction, and dance with the Jeremy Richards Band. Plates will be $7 and served until they run out. The plate sale kicks off at 11 am and the Jeremy Richards band will start at 8 pm and play till 12 with a $10 entry fee.
One of the twins, Rhyder, is on oxygen and a feeding tube, and he has a loving family who fights each and every day for the health of their miracle baby. With the twins almost 8 months old, the young family is just happy to be together after many long months with little brother in the ICU.
Rhett and Rhyder are the sons of Matt and Kelsie (Lorraine) Thomas, of Lytle. Proud Grandparents are Brett and Cheryl Lorraine, Mike and Celina Thomas, and Randy and Debbie Hutto.
SILENT AUCTION: A Silent auction will run all day. $1 tickets with drawing taking place that evening.
CORNHOLE TOURNEY: At 2 pm we will have a corn hole tournament. The cost is $20 per person. Bring your own partner. 1st and 2nd place will be getting prizes.
The darling Thomas twins made their appearance into this world on July 21, 2021, delivered in an emergency birth at 29 weeks due to concern over twin transfusion.
Little Rhyder Hayes Thomas weighing only 1lb 9oz, and his brother Rhett Mitchell Thomas weighing 3 lbs 10 oz, were soon rushed to the NICU, where the brothers have overcome great obstacles.
Rhett graduated from the NICU after 51 days, but it was nearing Christmas time when Kelsie and Matt were finally able to bring baby brother Rhyder home, after 132 long and uncertain days in the ICU.
Mama Kelsie Thomas describes that day as “the happiest she’s ever been.”
“Since Rhyder has joined us at home, we feel complete. Even though the boys were split up for a few months, they remembered each other and love being side by side. Rhett has been able to stay up to his birth age, as far as development goes. He is patient with Rhyder and even helps us do breathing treatments,” Mrs. Thomas said.
“Rhyder has many appointments that keep us busy. Our friends and family have helped make this transition easier. He has improved tremendously. He came home only taking in food from his tube, to now drinking 20 MLs by bottle. He is laughing, talking, rolling over and enjoying life. He is still on a nasal cannula and the button for feedings, but doesn’t depend on it as much as he used to. We take it day by day and continue to stay positive as we enjoy every second with our boys. We had some great news recently as the neurologist called him our “miracle baby”. He was so impressed with how strong Rhyder is after all he has been through. Both boys are true fighters and make us proud each and every day,” the Thomas family said.
The Thomas family extends a huge thanks for all the prayers and support…. “We are truly blessed with the kindest family, friends and community.”
If you have something to contribute or donate, please contact Brandi Hinton (210) 508-2489.
By Kayleen Holder
Editor
