Fox News is mourning the loss of Memphis reporter Tom Dees after he was diagnosed with a rare health condition – what happened to him?
The Fox13 News reporter passed away on February 9 at his home in Desoto County before his 58th birthday, which would have been on Saturday.
As many took to social media to pay tributes and send prayers, his family recently revealed the health condition Tom was diagnosed with.
The FOX13 family is mourning the loss of our friend and colleague Tom Dees. The longest-tenured member of the FOX13 News team, Tom died this morning at his home in Desoto County after an illness. He would have turned 58 this Saturday. >>
— FOX13 Memphis (@FOX13Memphis) February 9, 2023
What happened to Tom Dees? Rare health condition explained
The beloved Fox13 reporter was born in Indiana and graduated from Mississippi State University. He then spent his career in broadcast news.
Tom passed away after he was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), a rare illness which affects the lungs and leads to difficult breathing.
A GoFundMe page created by his family explained the disease wasn’t rare in their family tree because Tom’s father was diagnosed with the same illness. Tom’s father passed away in April last year.
The Memphis reporter’s family said that the “road ahead for Tom will include many, many doctors visits, diagnostic testing, travel, medications, and evaluation to see if he is a candidate for a lung transplant”.
“If he is fortunate enough to receive a donor match and healthy enough to get a transplant, he will be on immunosuppressive medication for the rest of his life,” his family added.
Saddened by the news of the passing of my friend @TomDeesFOX13. It was a good day when you saw Tom out on a story. It was always a spirt of collaboration not competition. Tom was a salt of the earth kind of guy. I hope he rests easy.
— Kelly Roberts (@KellyRobNews) February 10, 2023
His family set up the GoFundMe page
Tom leaves behind his wife, Cathy, and their three children together, called Amelia, Ally, and Austin.
His daughter Ally is the one who set up the GoFundMe page above to raise funds towards costs of her father’s medical treatment. The fundraiser has raised $35,090 of its $50,000 goal at the time of writing this.
“My dad has spent the past 25 years being the best father me and my two siblings could have asked for,” Ally wrote in the description. “We have had the privilege of meeting so many wonderful people in the Mid-South community because of him, and we have absolute faith that this community will rally to support him during this time.
“We also want to thank all of the healthcare workers who have supported our family through this difficult time. We are so grateful for the incredible care you have provided for our family.”
Tributes paid to Memphis reporter
Poignant tributes poured out to Tom after fellow colleauges and viewers learned of his passing.
His former co-worker Matt Stark wrote: “So sad to hear about the passing of my former colleague, Tom Dees. He was the definition of unique, but so much more than that.
“Talented. Hard working. No one could take a mundane story and turn it into something memorable like Tom. Thinking of his family and friends tonight.”
Another viewer said: “So sorry to hear about his passing. The Fox 13 team and his family are in my thoughts and prayers.”
Someone else wrote: “His upbeat spirit will be truly missed!”
