Dr. Tara M. Catterson-Brougham

My daughter Tara (41) and l (her mom) have been best friends her whole life. On her day off on March 4th, she and I spent the day walking around the Biltmore Gardens. When we got home she told me we had walked 11,000 steps, something as a hard working hospital pharmacist she was used to but as a retired school teacher/grandmother, that was amazing. I was puffing at times but Tara was perfectly fine all day.

The next day, Tuesday March 5th she worked at her hospital job, and according to her colleagues in the pharmacy and nurses in the ICU she was her usual pleasant self; dedicated to helping her patients get the best care.

Wednesday March 6th she woke up with flu like symptoms - vomiting and diarrhea with a temperature of 104, and her husband David was not able to get her off the bathroom floor; laying beside her until those symptoms subsided, and then helped her shower and dress. The home COVID test was negative and we called her doctor's office to schedule an emergency visit. Due to having a fever the office would not let her come for an appointment and we were told to go to get a flu test at ER. A few hours after trying to eat crackers and drink gatorade, she suddenly started experiencing severe pain (and I begged God to take away her pain) we rushed her to ER. When the staff came to get her, her face was discolored and she was immediately started on oxygen. Due to the drop in oxygen and discoloration with extremely low blood pressure it was thought she was experiencing a blood clot in her lungs. Due to the severe pain she was still experiencing (like childbirthing pains), and the low blood pressure and low oxygen she was unable to receive any pain medication. Upon being intubated, her husband David broke down in tears and disbelief as she was taken for an MRI of the lungs and abdomen.

We sent for her brother who was watching her children, to get here right away. He stayed calm and positive to comfort me.The results from the MRI showed she had pneumonia in both lungs but no clots, however an ischemic (dead piece)bowel was found and needed surgery immediately. My heart was pounding. -How? How did my baby get so critical so fast. Again, we were begging God. She is an awesome mom, wife, daughter, and sister.

In the early morning hours of March 7th, They removed the dead part of her bowel. And we took a breath of relief. But NO, the doctor said that wasn’t what was killing her ,once it was removed. He thought he’d find infection all through her abdomen but NO. He said they didn’t know what was happening to her.

We called her sister to leave work and come immediately to ICU. She was stunned, confused and frightened. This was not possible. She wasn’t suppose to die today! We were living a nightmare, an unbelievable TV movie. How can her husband, live without her, the love of his life? Her children? How can I live without her? But her oxygen and blood pressure kept on going lower. Six bags of medicine were going into her for; blood pressure and antibiotics. Myself, her husband, her brother and sister were all around her. The oxygen was still going lower. When the intubation oxygen wasn’t going in, nurses - who she had helped their patients yesterday, took turns hand bagging her with oxygen; when one got tired another one stepped in. They were her last lifeline,until her oxygen went to 0 and blood pressure dropped off. It was a horror - sick to death in hours. Healthy 41 year old active mom of 3 boys: Brendan (15), Colton (11) and Laiken (5).

God help us! It is 3 weeks the medical examiner has not released a cause of death (but we are awaiting results).I hope this never happens to you but many of us are shocked to experience the death of a young member of our family. Tara was the main bread winner. We cannot access any funds to keep the children in the home they were born in. My grandchildren’s healthcare ended a week ago, they were on their mom's plan which was taken out of her salary. Insurance does not accept a “Pending” death certificate. My family and I have always contributed to many charitable organizations my daughter always tithed to her church since college graduation. But now we need help. My three grandchildren go to Christian schools and that was my daughter’s dream that they hear about Jesus every day. She was told she couldn’t have children as a teen. God loved her and he brought the first son via means of adoption, a second miracle biological child and a third final addition through adoption. Please help us with the children - they were Tara’s greatest gift.

Venmo: @Bromy13

PayPal: David Brougham

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