Help Tammy Schmahl’s Family Preserve Her Legacy

Recently Tammy was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic colon cancer and is currently hospitalized with hospice on the horizon. The medical and end-of-life expenses are going to be extensive and any aid would help her and her family tremendously.

Thank you so much for taking the time to look at this gofundme page and for any generous donations given. We know anything given was done so with love and we appreciate it beyond measure.

As a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and “adopted” or “bonus” mom to so many, Tammy has always been a caring, reliable, and selfless person. She has always gone above and beyond to care for others, even to the point of her own detriment. Now, it’s our turn to show up for her and her family like she has for so many of us.

In 2021, Tammy dropped everything to move into her parents house to care for her mother, who was dying of lung cancer and her father who was also recovering from illness. In late summer of 2022, when her mother was in her final stages, Tammy began to fall ill and yet continued to care for her and her father until she became bedridden herself. In August, she became so sick, she was unable to say goodbye or attend her mother’s funeral. That same month, she was taken to the ER with severe migraines and crippling vertigo. During her initial stay in the hospital, they were given a tough diagnosis: Stage 4 metastatic colon cancer. By the time it was discovered, it had already spread to other organs including her brain. After an emergency brain surgery to give her some much needed relief, she continued on to begin chemo treatment. In late November it was discovered that the tumors in her brain had returned and she underwent a round of concentrated radiation to combat the cancer. When the radiation was complete, she traveled from GA to TN to see her kids and grandkids for the holidays. The day after Christmas, she was unable to get out of bed and was barely responsive, at which time she was taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital. She has remained in a hospital bed ever since. She has been fighting for her life for two weeks now, but her body is beginning to give out. Hospice will be the next step at this point.

The medical bills are already piling up and, due to her emergency treatments and hospital stay out of state, a large amount of the expenses aren’t likely to be covered by her insurance. The financial strain of these last few months alone is significant and overwhelming.

But also, as the hospice stage approaches, we are now faced with the realization that potential end of life plans need to be made immediately. As of this moment, there have been no set plans or preparations put in place. So we’re desperately trying to take the necessary steps to honor her wishes, both in life and death. Unfortunately, the costs of funeral and burial expenses are astronomical and no one was prepared to bear such a heavy burden.

Please consider a donation in any amount that’s meaningful to you to support her and Jay during this challenging time.

We will post periodic updates here on how you can continue to support Tammy and her family as we have more details.