Suffolk News-Herald

Pamela J. Thomas has won two bouts with cancer. She’s defeated or gotten control over spina bifida, panic attacks, and a blood disease, thrombosytosis.

&uot;I was never supposed to walk, but I do,&uot; said Thomas, a Suffolk native now living in Bassett. Her mother, Peggy S. Luter, and stepfather, John W. Luter, still live in Suffolk.

Thomas’ life is about beating the odds – and now she wants to share her success stories with her hometown.

Thomas, in the process of publishing her third book of poetry, will be Peanut Fest on Oct. 2. She will be selling and signing copies of her first book, &uot;Hearts and Crossroads,&uot; at the festival.

Thomas has been writing since she was nine and became entranced with a poem she discovered on her mother’s dresser. She found it to be particularly therapeutic after the November 1982 death of her father, Melvin Carroll, from pancreatic cancer.

Thomas is at work on the third book, which features poems and short stories about people with diseases. &uot;I wrote it to keep my father’s memory alive,&uot; said Thomas. &uot;I wrote the first book within two weeks and God would not let me stop writing. I have a second book that should be out by Peanut Fest.

&uot;This eight-volume series is being written to keep alive the memory of the ones we have loved and lost to many diseases and to inspire the ones that fight the fight of life everyday, just as I do,&uot; said Thomas. Eventually, she is hoping to come out with a card line that will be geared toward people with illnesses and disabilities.

&uot;Many people don’t go see sick people – particularly the terminally ill – because they don’t know what to say,&uot; Thomas said. &uot;When people close the terminally ill out of their lives, they don’t realize it but they are really hurting them.&uot;

A portion of the proceeds from her book sales at Peanut Fest will be donated to the American Cancer Society and Suffolk Rockin’ Relay for Life, Thomas said.

&uot;I write my books for charity,&uot; Tomas said. &uot;It is to give back so much of what has been given to me over the years.&uot;

Thomas has won several awards for her writing in recent years, including the International Poet of the Year Award and the Shakespeare Trophy of Excellence. She also received the Who’s Who in Poetry this year, with her poem being published in the organization’s book in August.

A former private investigator, Thomas is now on disability. &uot;I am seeking sponsorship because I am disabled as well,&uot; she said.

People can get more information about sponsoring from Thomas by calling 276-629-5368 or via email at pamela_thomas2002@yahoo.com.