Tommy Dodd - Inside His Transplant Journey

[Larry Bressington]

Mrs Dodd, you are an incredible lady, and thank you for sharing that beautiful story, my heart is with you.

[Larry Baker]

Donna, our prayers are still with you. You and Tommy are very special people. I remember in Mt. Vernon steel show telling Tommy of my Eye surgery of which I was legally blind. My surgery went really well, and Tommy said to me, You had help from above. I will never forget that talk he and I had.. Much love and caring to you Donna. Larry and Jean

[Clyde Mattocks]

What a journey. We wish so much that it had turned out differently. God bless you Donna. Please stay with us on this forum. We need you.

[Kenny Davis]

I also never met Tommy, but saw him in Dallas. You can tell he really enjoyed himself.

Donna, you're a Saint and will have a special place in Heaven also.

[Ron Shalita]

Hi Donna.. just have to say Tommy was a very lucky man to have such a great lady in his life! Thank you for being you! I’m so sorry for you’re loss .. just lost for words here... thank you. Ron

[Tiny Olson]

God Bless You, Donna Dodd. Thank you for sharing the journey you and Tommy have been on together. Sure does touch the heart.

As I read through, I was so happy to read how Tommy knew and loved The Lord. With that in mind, we know how great a place he's in right now, with The Lord. Praise God..!!

Again, thank you and God Bless you.

Chris "Tiny" Olson

[Jim McGinnis]

Thank you for sharing your story. Prayers for you and yours.

[Skip Edwards]

Wow...what a journey. I knew it had been rough, but wow. To be honest, I'm not sure I could've gone through what Tommy did. I have a new found respect for his grit & determination. And the same goes out to you, Donna. God bless you both.
Thank you for sharing it with us.

[Duane Brown]

Dear Donna,
Thank you for sharing yours and Tommy's story.Praise God he had such a relationship with Jesus. Your story really got me. We know God places special people where they are needed most. You were and are one special lady.
Cyndy and I always enjoyed seeing you and Tommy at steel shows and I was looking forward to seeing you this year in Dallas. You are and will continue to be in our prayers.
Cyndy and Duane

[Don Sulesky]

Donna, thanks for sharing your journey with Tommy. It was so touching and I could feel every word you have in your heart for Tommy.
God bless you.

[Roy Carroll]

Donna, Thanks for sharing, I know it is hard to lose someone like Tommy. Our prayers are with you.
Thank you for all you do for the bunch of us.

[Stephen Abruzzo]

So sorry for your loss Donna. Thanks for sharing your well-written story about Tommy's fight and struggle.

[Marlin Gengenbach]

Thank you for sharing Donna. I can relate somewhat thinking back to when I lost my life's partner in 2008...and also with my present wife who had a liver transplant in 2013. I so admire the faith you and Tommy shared. So happy I had the chance to visit with Tommy on serveral occasions at the steel shows...what a great player he was, with so much modesty. God Bless you, Donna!

[Joel Johnston]

Donna - Thanks for that loving insight. I don't believe anyone in the world of steel guitar ever had as much fun cranking out a tune than did Tommy Dodd! I loved watching him work! His immersion in a song was total and unique.

I recall sitting in front of him in one of the jam rooms at the Phoenix show two or three years ago - it was recent because he had lost a ton of weight. He played Dancing Queen and Billy Jean, certainly a couple of trademark TD tunes that few players would even think of carving out on the steel guitar. Then he played "So Sad To Watch Good Love Go Bad" by the Everly Bros and gave everyone in the room goose bumps.

I will miss seeing and hearing Tommy at steel guitar events. Sending you deepest condolences Donna.

[Dan Robinson]

Donna, I can't help but be inspired by Tommy's strength and courage, and your dedication to one another. God bless you.

[Michael McGee]

Donna, God bless you and hold you in His arms.

[Stan Paxton]

Donna, you are such a great lady. I am so shocked at this lose of a great player. I hadn't heard of Tommy's passing til now. Didn't know Tommy, but had met him at a Debary, Fl steel show several years ago. In conversation I mentioned that I was only a student of the Pedal Steel. He so graciously said he also was still learning about the steel. - God be with you.

[Clark Doughty]

DONNA, OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. IT'S BEEN A REAL PLEASURE KNOWING YOU BOTH AND ALWAYS ENJOYE DOING BUSINESS WITH YOU BOTH. TOMMY LEAVES A MEMORABLE LEGACY...GOD BLESS...CLARK AND LUCY

[Joe Rogers]

Someone once told me that when an individual's personality and presence are larger than life, the absence of that presence leaves a huge void. Tommy's personality and presence were just that...larger than life. But Donna, know that had the tables been flipped and Tommy was the one left standing, the void would have been just as large for him. Your personalities were matched and together you two were a huge presence at every steel show I saw you attend. I know you fought with all you had to keep him here, and I know he fought with all he had to stay here. Beyond that, it is knowing you two made every second count for each other. It is quite evident you were his angel through all of this, and I want to share in everyone's thanks that you kept us all informed of Tommy's journey. When so many are sharing in thoughts and prayers, it transcends what we initially feel is a small circle around us. Pam and I were touched so many times by your words that you so graciously shared with everyone.

Joe Rogers

[Bill Nicholson]

Donna - I finally decided to write a few words on the "gone home" part of the forum to express our feelings and sorrow ....as well as our love and appreciation for you. You wrote a wonderful description of such a very difficult time in life that really only you and Tommy know the details of what you both went through. We are so grateful that Mary Ann and I were able to visit Tommy in the ICU at Duke University Hospital in January. Thanks for letting us stay with you and visit. We were so worried at that time and we saw first hand just a glimpse of the difficult daily process Tommy and you endured at Duke. 
I want to add a little bit to Tommy's journey you described. Only a few close friends and family were aware of the start of the IPF disease back in 2014. I was riding  with Tommy to the Dallas show and Tommy said something like " I still got this nagging cough" and  "I need to get this checked out when I get home". I called him a few weeks later and he had been to the doc.  Tommy said the X-rays showed spots on his lungs and they were going to do a biopsy. We kept in touch. Then, Tommy told me he had this awful disease IPF (Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis) which I had never heard of.  I immediately read about it and learned that most people do not survive beyond 5 years. Tommy asked us not to discuss his illness outside of the very few close friends that he confided in. We all respected his wishes and watched him perform his music like a champion for the next 4+ years, never mentioning his illness.  He was outstanding at the big shows as well as the smaller ones like our Georgia SG Association. He continued to play all over Atlanta, Ga., and many steel shows elsewhere.  I admired his courage. I admired his strength to go through the lung transplant process and the following complications. He was courageous in facing what life presented and he was able to do that knowing his faithful and loving spouse was at his side all the way. Remembering....the special song you guys shared...." Surely the Presence of the Lord".  Donna -  Thank you for everything. We love you guys.

[Bill Paisley]

May God's Comforting Love be with you

[Bishop Ronnie P Hall]

To Donna The Dearest of friends,
I find myself unable to write to you that I`m speechless, to the time of loss of "he who spent his love, an his life with you," and "you, with your life with Him." It is an arena that cannot be spoke of, for the both of you. I truly am still in shock, but "He" above all things "knows" and yet can sooth all our pains and sadness, {if needed}. At this time, I want to say I`m praying for you and the both your families!
From The Hall Families
With Love
Ron

[Ben Lawson]

Donna, you and Tommy have always been very special to us since we met. God gives us what we need which is not always what we want. You'll be reunited with Tommy at the time HE intends it to be. You both have been a Blessing to us and I thank God for the love you so unselfishly showed us through this difficult time. Your reward will be Heavenly!

[Susan Alcorn (deceased)]

Donna, thank you for sharing this. He was such a great musician - I remember seeing him play at the ISGC in St. Louis in 2012; he was playing an Emmons LeGrande, and I thought, "Oh, that's the tone I want to have" - he sounded so good (I was thrilled that you and Tommy came to see me when I was in Atlanta a dozen or so years ago). I'm glad that he had love and happiness (and you!) in his life. I'm picturing the two of you singing, dancing, and laughing.

You both have had such a journey. His is over,he's at rest, but yours is continuing, and I know that he is living in your heart, in your sons, and in all of us who were recipients of his wonderful music.

[Steve Spitz]

Donna ,
What a beautiful story told with such love. We all care about you both. So sorry for your loss.