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Dr. Lydia Thomas

Dr. Lydia Thomas was a Black American pediatric otolaryngologist (ENT physician) practicing in Portland, Oregon, the wife of Marshall Thomas, and the mother of Zoey Linnea Ross. She and the Thomas family were part of the support network that helped Danny and Darren during the 2013–2014 custody proceedings and the brothers’ move into a new apartment. Lydia later welcomed Darren into the family home at sixteen; he eventually became her son-in-law.

Support for Danny and Darren Ross

Main article: 2013–2014 Portland Custody Battle

Lydia and her family provided continuing support while Danny sought guardianship of Darren. After the court appointed Danny as Darren’s legal guardian, the Thomas family helped paint the brothers’ two-bedroom Portland apartment.

Around 2018, when Darren was sixteen, he asked to move into the Thomas home to reduce the caregiving pressure he believed Danny was carrying as Danny and Jess managed Caleb’s medical needs. Lydia agreed without hesitation. Marshall agreed with clear household expectations, which Darren followed closely.

Family

Lydia was Zoey’s mother. She and Marshall conceived Zoey through in vitro fertilization on their final attempt after the cost of treatment had put serious strain on their finances. They were close to their daughter and protective of her. Lydia sometimes worried that sheltering Zoey too much would leave her unprepared, while Marshall, who owned a successful Portland construction company, was strict but fair. Zoey was born in Portland on January 1, 2003, skipped a grade, and became a close friend of Darren and Gabe Brooks in sixth grade.

Lydia’s family lived at 477 Laurelwood Avenue, across from Jon, Chrissie, and Rachel Williams at 482 after the Williams family’s late-2013 move to Portland. Rachel and Zoey’s friendship connected the households. Following Chrissie’s early-2014 illness, Lydia agreed to accompany her and both girls to Lloyd Center, allowing Jon to remain home. Rachel had hesitated to accept the invitation because she understood the work outings imposed on her father; Lydia’s calm organization made it possible.

Before the trip, Jon showed Lydia how to unfold the wheelchair and gave her written emergency information listing Chrissie’s medications, seizure protocol, his number, and their hospital. Lydia promised updates and photographs. During the outing, she stayed patient with Chrissie’s excitement and fatigue, brought the wheelchair for rest, and photographed her enjoying time with golden retriever puppies. When Chrissie slowed down and rubbed her eyes around 1:30 p.m., Lydia encouraged her to use the chair rather than push through fatigue. Rachel’s reassurance helped Chrissie accept it despite her embarrassment.

On returning, Lydia found Jon asleep and Chrissie difficult to rouse in the car. She asked Rachel to wake him for help with the transfer, reported that the outing had passed without a seizure or wandering, and encouraged him to rest too.

Zoey and Darren began dating as teenagers and later married. Their son, Daniel James “DJ” Ross, was Lydia’s grandson.

Lydia remained close to Zoey as an adult and was proud of her work in medical-malpractice law and the firm she founded, Ross and Associates.

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