Cancer survivor leads Air Force survival school Published April 23, 2014 By Airman 1st Class Janelle Patiño 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- "I'm thankful that it was me and not my wife or kids," said Col. William "Bill" Thomas, on his diagnosis with throat cancer while studying at the Air War College in February 2011. According to the Mayo Clinic, throat cancer refers to cancerous tumors that develop in the throat, larynx or tonsils. It's when cells in the throat develop genetic mutations, which causes cells to grow uncontrollably. "I have never smoked a cigarette in my life, yet I got diagnosed with it," said Thomas, 336th Training Group commander. "As soon as I was diagnosed with stage four throat cancer I went through all kinds of emotions and my priorities started shifting accordingly. I basically had to go into survival mode." Going through stage four cancer while being an active-duty military member, Thomas was given more trials and challenges than most; however, he never gave up and was given a second chance. According to da Vinci Surgery, stage four is when the cancer has spread to another organ. Thomas had to face a Medical Evacuation Board, which is conventional for the circumstance, and was retained. He was then offered an opportunity to compete for command and selected to come to Fairchild's survival school. "It really is ironic for me to be picked as the commander for the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape School because I, also, am a survivor from a personal journey," he said. "Leading the 336th TRG through some relatively difficult circumstances over the last couple years has been an honor and a privilege for me. I am blessed to have meaningful work and a sense of purpose about what we do and am fortunate to be affiliated with them." Thomas' wife, Meredith, spoke of the day they received the news. Thomas and his wife were high school sweethearts, dating since the age of 14. They were married at 21 years-old and now, 21 years into their marriage, they have three kids. "Stages of grief swept in like a hurricane and our world immediately turned upside down," Meredith recalled. "He had just nailed his physical fitness test weeks prior, and then there we were staring death in the face in the blink of an eye. I remember going into my closet every night, writing in a journal and bawling my eyes out." Even if it hurt, Meredith had to be strong for her husband and children; and according to her, their marriage definitely got stronger. Thomas finished his treatment in June 2011 and was told he survived this trial in August. "After watching Bill survive the treatment and the intense pain he went through, I have profound new respect for his strength and courage," she said. "He downplays everything, but survival was the name of the game." The Thomas family couldn't have done it without the love, support and prayers of their immediate and Air Force family. They are all thankful for all the help they have gotten over the past few years. "I was blessed to have my siblings and Bill's families rotate down to Alabama to help me," Meredith said. "The Air Force support was also amazing for they gave us the gift of time; people brought us meals every night, offered to watch the kids, and most importantly, prayed for us. I wouldn't have made it through without them - and most of them I had never even met." While going through treatment, Thomas' school was ongoing. He completed all assignments and tests from home and the hospital and even graduated on time. "He received his Air War College diploma from the general in the hospital room while he was going through treatment," Meredith said. "He was the consummate officer and gentleman he's always been - even facing death." With everything they have faced, Meredith believes if God wouldn't have been there for her family, they wouldn't have made it this far. Prayers, for her, were the most effective tool they had. "The greatest realization for me happened one night when I just fell to my knees under a starry Alabama sky and cried out to God," said Meredith. "I told God that I didn't want to lose my husband and I didn't want him to take the father of my three boys, but that I would accept whatever his will was for us... as long as he didn't let go of my hand." According to Meredith, a feeling of peace swept over her that night like nothing she has ever felt before; that God keeps his promises because to this very day, he's never let go of her hand. "Our family is proof that God makes good out of even the worst of circumstances and he's still in the miracle business," Meredith said. For the colonel, cancer never goes away and he's never out of the woods. "The doctors will say you're never cured," Thomas said. "They have what they call the 'absence of evidence of disease' and that's where you hope to find yourself. With each passing year, I go through lesser frequency. I went from every quarter to every six months and now I am going through an annual cycle visit for tests." Thomas is still thankful for what he has done and where he is now. For him, having cancer made him appreciate the value and fragility of life and taking nothing for granted. "This was pretty much a journey for me and my family," he said. "A lot of compassion, kindness, selflessness, love and more were revealed through this trial and circumstance. This experience, I'm sure, made me a better person, husband, father, officer and commander." According to Thomas, his experience is for others to realize that we're given tests in our life whether it is physical, financial or relationship test for a reason. These tests happen for a reason and serve to make a better human being. "If you live your life and treat everyone as if you or they are going to be dead at midnight, you conduct yourself and treat people differently," he said. "We don't know if we're going to have another day, a month, a week, a year. Once you have a significant event, physical or emotional, in your life, the lesson learned from it will be with you forever." Both Thomas and his wife take it one day at a time, and always have hope for a better future. Thomas' two-year command tour here at the Air Force survival school will conclude in June when he will retire after 24 years of service.