Steer Vs Scharck, photography is a dangerous business!

Tamara Scharck is organizing this fundraiser.

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My name is Tamara Scharck. I have worked hard my entire life; until, I had a major neck and back injury. Asking for help is one of the hardest things for me to do but, I need your help.

In 2017, I was volunteering at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) taking pictures at the steer auction. A steer was stopped in the crowd behind me. Someone spooked him and he jumped to the side slamming about 1500lbs into my back. My spine whipped from the base of my back to the top of my neck. It flattened my lower back, dislodged 3 levels in my neck & caused multiple fractures on C7. I am also getting scoliosis of my thoracic spine which I never had before. My brachial nerve was crushed and still causes me extreme pain 24/7. My forearm and hand are in a Charlie horse all the time. It feels like someone is driving a railroad spike Into my left hand. I’m told I will have horrible spinal pain for the rest of my life. Because the steer flattened my lower back, it could cause my discs to keep failing one by one!

In 2018, I lost my insurance.
In2020, I had 2 surgeries postponed due to Covid.
In 2021, my entire neck was fused anterior and posterior. In January 2021, I had a 4 hour neck surgery. In August 2021, I had another neck surgery, this one was about 6 hours.
In 2022, I had carpal tunnel surgeries.
In 2023, I had L2-3 lateral fusion in August. The disc had completely dispersed. I was lucky because that normally pushes the disc towards the spine, mine was so traumatically injured it completely dispersed. Otherwise it would have paralyzed me.
In 2023, I was rear ended at a stop light in October. Thank God my fusion held!
In 2023, I had to have a major hand surgery in November. They removed a bone in my hand, shaved the arthritis down, took a ligament from my wrist and secured it with a temporary pin in my thumb.
In 2025, I just finished moving into a new place in January. It really messed up my hand surgery packing and moving. My hand may need to be redone.
In 2025, During the snow storm in Houston, late January my L1-2 completely failed. It’s rare that L1-2 has to be fused due to trauma. There’s an 85% chance my neurosurgeon will have to remove part of a rib to go straight at my spine. They cannot go at an angle.
In February 2025 I saw a brachial nerve specialist, Dr Barone at Houston Methodist. After a number of tests, he determined that my nerve damage is at the root where it exists the spine and there’s nothing surgical that can be done at this time. I have extensive nerve damage in both hands. My nerves were pinched so badly on my left side I have lost about 70% use of my left hand. I have what they call a "Ulnar and median nerve CLAW HAND." My fingers are cramped and I cannot open or close them all the way.
In 2025, My surgery was scheduled for Monday, March 24. Early Saturday morning, March 22nd I was repeatedly bitten by a Brown Recluse Spider in my arm pit! My surgery had to be delayed to prevent the venom and infection from spreading to the surgery site, and my spine.

Working is just not possible at this time. I am not eligible for Texas Medicaid until I am approved for SSI. I have not received an DIME from the HLSR, Social Security or any other service except SNAP and that didn’t start until I drained everything from my savings; 3 almost 4 years after my accident in 2020.

I am unable to pay my insurance premiums and deductibles, medical expenses, travel to my appointments and living costs. If you can assist me financially with my fight to achieve the surgeries physical help I need, I promise you, I will work tirelessly to do everything in my power to regain my independence. I wasn’t able to sue

I have to pay my deductible and copay before my surgery!

Pictures are a little out of order so I’ll post some info on each.

My 1st neck surgery was actually 9months before the steer accident- due to a car accident. I met with several surgeons until I found one who (THANK GOD) wouldn’t fuse my neck. The other doctors wanted to fuse C2-C6. Since my fractures were on C7, it’s most likely I would have either been a quadriplegic or killed instantly. Dr. David Cech did a bilateral laminectomy and forminotomy on C2-C6. I kicked butt in physical therapy and was about 100% better and pain free for the first time in 5 years!

GoFundMe Steer V Shark (Scharck)

THE STEER ACCIDENT

I am a lifetime member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. I volunteered on the Commercial Exhibit Committee, CXC, for several years then on the Lamb and Goat for several more. I volunteered my services as a photographer for both of the Committees. Some of my friends nicknamed me 'Tamara with the Camera!' A friend asked me to take pictures at the Steer Auction. The Steer Auction is one of the largest and most prestigious events of the rodeo. It is also the 2nd or 3rd biggest fund raising operation of the rodeo.

I was in the VIP area where the kids bring their steer, after being purchased, for a photo with the buyer(s). I was standing talking to the owner of the photography company about a job when I was suddenly hit in the back and thrown forward. I stumbled to keep from falling and breaking my camera or landing on my face. I was in shock and had no idea what had hit me. I was told the steer got spooked and jumped sideways slamming about 1500 pounds into my back. I spent 2 days in the hospital and 4 months in a hard collar neck brace. I couldn't drive or go anywhere.

I still have to deal with my neck pain from all the hardware, breathing when my thoracic spine is shifting, and lower back pain. I will be getting inj

I already have extensive out-of-pocket medical expenses, and the bills are still coming. I have not been able to work since 2017. I supported myself for the first 3-4 years and have struggled very hard to get by the since then with the help of some good friends and a few family members. I was lucky to have had the savings I did at the time of my accident and I was living below my means.

Now, I really need some help to get through this! Another surgery and months of rehab.

I am going to do everything in my power to get my life back, have fun, go dancing and do a little fishing again! I want to be able to work and have an income, and I pray every day that I will get there. I have to pay for expensive insurance to keep my excellent neurosurgeons.

I will update this to keep everyone informed of what's happening.

THANK YOU FOR ANYTHING YOU CAN HELP WITH! Even the smallest donations help!!!

God Bless You!

EAT MEAT & WEAR LEATHER!

Oh and to top things off… the meds and stress on my body have caused, hypertension, Graves’ disease, and a fatty liver.

In 2022, it was discovered that my silicone implants both have intracapsular ruptures and need to be replaced asap! I just have had other priority surgeries and no money to pay for the surgery.

I believe they are both leaking silicone into my body now. They have to come out as soon as I recover from my back surgery! Luckily my heart is good!