On the 13th of September, 1854, his first child was born--Ephraim, who brought cheer to the hearts of his parents, and as they became more used to their surroundings they felt more reconciled, and indulged in the hope of soon acquiring enough means to take them to the mountains. They bought another forty acres of land on time, and Thomas spent every hour that he could spare, when not working for others, at fencing and improving his own property. While so engaged, in the fall of 1855, he hurt his knee very severely, when working in the timber, and, thinking it was only a temporary hurt, and not caring to worry his wife about it, he said nothing about it until the pain became so intense he could bear it in silence no longer. A doctor was sent for, and he prescribed for him, but no relief resulted from his treatment. He was told that an abscess was forming on the knee joint, and he could hope for no relief until it would burst. The limb continued to swell four or five weeks until it was larger in circumference than his body, and the pain almost drove him to distraction. His wife was almost worn out in caring for him, and his own prayers seemed of no avail. Most thoroughly and sincerely did he regret and repent of having wandered away from the Saints, where those bearing the Priesthood might have rendered him assistance. Finally the abscess burst, and the discharge from it saturated the bed and ran down upon the floor. He was so weak and helpless that the only way those surrounding him could tell that he still lived, was by holding a mirror over his face, and watching upon it the effects of his breath. However, he continued to live, and in course of time to show a slight improvement. In May, 1856, however, he had a relapse, and the doctor was hastily sent for. He attended him for several days and then declared he could do nothing more for him; he could not possibly recover, and he could not last more than a few days. After the doctor had gone the patient dosed off for a few moments, and when he awoke he saw his wife standing by his bedside with tears streaming down her pale cheeks. Rallying his slight remaining strength, he said: "Ann, dry your tears, for I am going to live to go to the mountains, and shall there build a large house." It was thought at first that he was delirious, and little credence was given to what he said, but later on he repeated the declaration and explained that the mountains and valley had passed before his mind in vision and he had seen the very place where his home was to be, and the spirit bore testimony to him that he would live to realize it. He was not shown what he would have to endure before the vision would be realized, but the assurance had a stimulating effect upon him.