Help cover Tara Chandler's medical expenses

Hi everyone! My name is Lindsey Becker and Tara Chandler is my best friend. Tara lives in Virginia Beach, VA and I live in Tennessee. Although she and I live over 700 miles apart, I have never had a friend who has been there for me or that has meant as much to me as she does. Currently, she is facing some very serious medical battles. Because I do live so far away, I feel that it is my duty as her friend to do something to help her. I have never met anyone as selfless as Tara. We have grown up together. She was in my wedding and she has been my partner in crime since we were about 16 years old. Over the span of our 20-year friendship, we have traveled all over the country over together. She was there for me when I faced and beat cancer myself. Throughout that journey (and so many other milestones) Tara has been there for me. I truly cannot imagine my life without this incredible friend of mine.

Over the past few years, I have watched Tara struggle financially as she has been faced with several medical conditions that have created issues within her body. Tara has gone through various kidney surgeries to remove the bilateral staghorn kidney stones that have caused her kidney disease over the past 4 years. Most recently, she has been diagnosed with Calciphylaxis. She also has been dealing with Hyperparathyoidism which is a result of her kidney disease. Calciphylaxis is a very rare diagnosis where there is a buildup of calcium in the blood as a result of high parathyroid hormone typically seen in dialysis patients who have been noncompliant with their dialysis care plan for many years. This is not the case for Tara though because she only recently began receiving dialysis treatments in the past couple of weeks. The prognosis for Calciphylaxis is typically fatal with patients usually only living for 1-2 years after their diagnosis.

Right now, Tara has an opportunity to receive treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL where they are very knowledgeable of Calciphylaxis. The clinic treats 300 patients with Calciphylaxis a year. While Tara DOES have insurance, the Mayo Clinic will not take her insurance as an out of state patient. Just to be seen as a patient, they require an upfront payment of a minimum of $5,000. Any additional payments will need to be paid out of pocket. This does not even factor in the cost of additional treatments she might need if she is able to make it to Jacksonville. Additionally, because Tara was also born with a birth defect called Spina Bifida (which can sometimes cause paralysis, limited sensation and poor circulation in the legs), Calciphylaxis creates tiny wounds on the skin which Tara’s body has a hard time healing due to the poor circulation in her legs. At times, these wounds do not fully heal, which can leave her susceptible to infection. This means (in addition to going to dialysis a couple of times a week) that she is also seen at a wound care clinic a couple of times a week as well. Insurance is only covering minimal bandages for the wounds and Tara is now paying (out of pocket) for her bandages for her wound care when she runs out.

In everything that Tara has faced, never once has she asked for help. She has maintained a job the entire time. She has a heart of gold that is unmatched with anyone else I have ever met in my life. To watch my best friend go through any of this is gut-wrenching and heartbreaking. Even as I share her story and I know personally how strong she has been, I am still trying to wrap my mind around everything she is facing right now. This is the one opportunity for me to help her in some small way and I hope you will support her too.

Your contributions will help relieve some of the financial burden she is currently facing. The money raised on gofundme will help cover the $5,000 minimum payment for her to be seen at the Mayo Clinic, her travel expenses to go from VA to FL and will help offset some of the medical bills she has already been faced with.

Any support you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!

Lindsey