Remembering Ms. Tawdri Hipburn
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House of Hipburn Fund — “I never thought this would be about me...”
Known for her comedy, “Everyone’s favorite drag queen”, Ms. Tawdri Hipburn is Las Vegas’ Premier Trans Comedian who has called the Vegas valley her home for more than 20 years. As an adopted child, Tawdri began her life as a transgender child forced to suppress any female traits and live as a boy. She made her mark in the comedy world bringing her struggles in life to the stage, sharing humor to heal the pain. Accepting the unimaginable is possible, Tawdri’s comedy brings people together to make the most of this crazy thing we call life! She has made such an impact on people. She has built her own family of close friends and extended family on love. I am honored to call this fantastic person my friend, soul sister & family. Through all the struggles, this Wonder Woman has touched so many hearts and now she needs OUR help more than ever!
In December 2019, Tawdri began having serious changes in her health. First, a diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes. This brought on significant changes to diet and the addition of medications. On the plus side, Tawdri lost a great deal of weight and was feeling quite content with managing her diagnosis. With the change in diet and exercise, minor changes began to be noticed throughout her body; pains that would lead her back to her doctor during a historic global pandemic.
Between April & May 2020, Tawdri was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It was nearly two weeks of labored breaths before learning she had a collapsed lung requiring two thorasentisis procedures followed by the transfer of care to an oncologist and palliative team at OptumCare Cancer Center of Las Vegas. As more testing commenced, we learned that this was extremely serious as the cancer had spread throughout the body, from head to toe. Th results were terminal: End-Stage Pancreatic Cancer (Stage IV). With more testing it was discovered as a genetic mutation without the option for targeted treatment. At this point Tawdri was deemed permanently disabled without a timetable or a cure. There would not be any more work, for pleasure or employment.
By June 2020 it was determined that Tawdri would require two surgeries, the first, a port placement in her chest for future treatments which went extremely well. One week later a plural lung catheter would be implanted to allow for better breathing and the ability to routinely drain the liquid that would continually fill the left lung due to the spread of cancer. Once again, Tawdri would go under the knife, yet this time it would be only six hours before rushing into the Emergency Room with severe complications. She was admitted into the hospital for one week, with limited visitation from noon to 8pm. It was the longest and most grueling week to endure, let alone witness. As the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the healthcare system entirely, it became urgent to get Tawdri home as soon as possible before she was no longer permitted guests at all. It is an honor to act as her medical power of attorney and make sure her voice is heard.
While still hospitalized it was determined that her only option for treatment was to flood the body chemotherapy ultimately eliminating her quality of life. The hard choice had to be made; do we continue naturally and accept the facts, or do we try to stop the progression?! With one last test it was found that the cancer had spread from the pancreas to surrounding organs, both lungs and as deep as the bones, from the skull to the spine to the pelvis. The decision had to be made by Tawdri, choosing quality of life over extending the inevitable. The next step was to get her home, however the only option was constant care by way of Home Hospice Care.
At this time, Tawdri is struggling to endure the continuous changes occurring, from extreme wasting to severe constipation to limit ability to digest foods or keep active to enjoy the little pleasures in life. She is under continuous care remaining isolated due to her weakened immune system and unable to have many visitors at all. Thankfully Tawdri has her best friend Willo with her 24/7, keeping her spirits high with messages from friends and loved ones, as well as meals and companionship through these trying times. Every day brings a new struggle, be it the multitudes of medications or the failure of vital organs like the liver and lungs. We honestly never know what tomorrow will bring or how much time we have with her. Without the ability to recover from this, Tawdri will not be able to return to entertaining and is therefore financially unable to maintain a stress free life.
It is for her benefit that we have created this online fundraiser as the one and only way to allow all those who love Tawdri, the opportunity to give back and show their support in any way they can. All donations will go into a House of Hipburn Fund to maintain Tawdri’s home life, to maintain her humble lifestyle while in the best care possible, for as long as possible. From utilities to groceries to medical expenses, these funds will remove the stressful situations surrounding these uncertain times she is enduring. Tawdri will not endorse any functions claiming to raise funds in her name outside of this GoFundMe. If you have any further questions, we will keep you informed here by continuous updates as much as possible, sharing your words of kindness with Tawdri and her family. Please find it within you to donate what you can, then share this story to all you know. I am inspired by her life and the love she has shared with so many of you. Tawdri unites worlds, spreading joy & laughter wherever she goes. She is the reason we know one another and with your help, we can make her last days as joyous as the memories that will live on forever. We truly are in this together. Thank you for respecting her wishes and contributing to her support through this fight for life.
Known for her comedy, “Everyone’s favorite drag queen”, Ms. Tawdri Hipburn is Las Vegas’ Premier Trans Comedian who has called the Vegas valley her home for more than 20 years. As an adopted child, Tawdri began her life as a transgender child forced to suppress any female traits and live as a boy. She made her mark in the comedy world bringing her struggles in life to the stage, sharing humor to heal the pain. Accepting the unimaginable is possible, Tawdri’s comedy brings people together to make the most of this crazy thing we call life! She has made such an impact on people. She has built her own family of close friends and extended family on love. I am honored to call this fantastic person my friend, soul sister & family. Through all the struggles, this Wonder Woman has touched so many hearts and now she needs OUR help more than ever!
In December 2019, Tawdri began having serious changes in her health. First, a diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes. This brought on significant changes to diet and the addition of medications. On the plus side, Tawdri lost a great deal of weight and was feeling quite content with managing her diagnosis. With the change in diet and exercise, minor changes began to be noticed throughout her body; pains that would lead her back to her doctor during a historic global pandemic.
Between April & May 2020, Tawdri was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It was nearly two weeks of labored breaths before learning she had a collapsed lung requiring two thorasentisis procedures followed by the transfer of care to an oncologist and palliative team at OptumCare Cancer Center of Las Vegas. As more testing commenced, we learned that this was extremely serious as the cancer had spread throughout the body, from head to toe. Th results were terminal: End-Stage Pancreatic Cancer (Stage IV). With more testing it was discovered as a genetic mutation without the option for targeted treatment. At this point Tawdri was deemed permanently disabled without a timetable or a cure. There would not be any more work, for pleasure or employment.
By June 2020 it was determined that Tawdri would require two surgeries, the first, a port placement in her chest for future treatments which went extremely well. One week later a plural lung catheter would be implanted to allow for better breathing and the ability to routinely drain the liquid that would continually fill the left lung due to the spread of cancer. Once again, Tawdri would go under the knife, yet this time it would be only six hours before rushing into the Emergency Room with severe complications. She was admitted into the hospital for one week, with limited visitation from noon to 8pm. It was the longest and most grueling week to endure, let alone witness. As the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the healthcare system entirely, it became urgent to get Tawdri home as soon as possible before she was no longer permitted guests at all. It is an honor to act as her medical power of attorney and make sure her voice is heard.
While still hospitalized it was determined that her only option for treatment was to flood the body chemotherapy ultimately eliminating her quality of life. The hard choice had to be made; do we continue naturally and accept the facts, or do we try to stop the progression?! With one last test it was found that the cancer had spread from the pancreas to surrounding organs, both lungs and as deep as the bones, from the skull to the spine to the pelvis. The decision had to be made by Tawdri, choosing quality of life over extending the inevitable. The next step was to get her home, however the only option was constant care by way of Home Hospice Care.
At this time, Tawdri is struggling to endure the continuous changes occurring, from extreme wasting to severe constipation to limit ability to digest foods or keep active to enjoy the little pleasures in life. She is under continuous care remaining isolated due to her weakened immune system and unable to have many visitors at all. Thankfully Tawdri has her best friend Willo with her 24/7, keeping her spirits high with messages from friends and loved ones, as well as meals and companionship through these trying times. Every day brings a new struggle, be it the multitudes of medications or the failure of vital organs like the liver and lungs. We honestly never know what tomorrow will bring or how much time we have with her. Without the ability to recover from this, Tawdri will not be able to return to entertaining and is therefore financially unable to maintain a stress free life.
It is for her benefit that we have created this online fundraiser as the one and only way to allow all those who love Tawdri, the opportunity to give back and show their support in any way they can. All donations will go into a House of Hipburn Fund to maintain Tawdri’s home life, to maintain her humble lifestyle while in the best care possible, for as long as possible. From utilities to groceries to medical expenses, these funds will remove the stressful situations surrounding these uncertain times she is enduring. Tawdri will not endorse any functions claiming to raise funds in her name outside of this GoFundMe. If you have any further questions, we will keep you informed here by continuous updates as much as possible, sharing your words of kindness with Tawdri and her family. Please find it within you to donate what you can, then share this story to all you know. I am inspired by her life and the love she has shared with so many of you. Tawdri unites worlds, spreading joy & laughter wherever she goes. She is the reason we know one another and with your help, we can make her last days as joyous as the memories that will live on forever. We truly are in this together. Thank you for respecting her wishes and contributing to her support through this fight for life.
Organizer
Jennifer Drumm
Organizer
Las Vegas, NV