Help Cure Tammy
Donation protected
On December 8th 2014, my dear friend Tammy was diagnosed with breast cancer at the young age of 38. Tammy's diagnosis was unexpected and shocking. She had found a suspicious swollen lymph node under her arm, she got an ultrasound and decided to find the very best surgeon. He biopsied the node and planned to remove it but her biopsy came back positive for malignant cells. Tammy proceeded to have a mammogram which revealed a 1.5 cm mass, which was then biopsied. That is when she was diagnosed by her OBGYN with her2pos invasive duct breast cancer. Tammy went to Smilow Cancer Center at Yale New Haven Hospital to meet with an oncologist and a treatment plan was designed for her.
Unfortunately, Tammy found out her treatments would last a year; they would include chemotherapy, surgery and then radiation; and they would cause her to not be able to work per doctor's orders. Tammy has been a CNA at Sharon hospital for 16 years since October 1998, caring for other's loved ones. I was fortunate enough to be able to work with Tammy at Sharon for a few years. During those years Tammy taught me not only a lot about caring for other people but a lot about life too. I am blessed to have such a wonderful friend in my life. She is funny, smart, compassionate, thoughtful, generous and has one of the biggest hearts of anyone I know.
Tammy is also one of the strongest and most courageous women you will ever meet. In November of 1995 Tammy brought a beautiful baby boy into this world named Joshua Alexander. At 13 months old, Joshua was diagnosed with a neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma is a malignant tumor that develops from immature nerve tissue usually in infants and children. Tammy's son underwent chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and finally a bone marrow transplant. He went into remission but quickly relapsed after only 2 months. Sweet Joshua passed away in January of 1998. Not only has Tammy had to recover from the loss of a child but she now has to relive the memories of the chemotherapy, radiation and surgery as she faces a similar treatment.
Tammy now has a wonderful eleven years old son named Zach who is full of life. When talking to her about Zach you can tell that he is her pride and joy. Tammy has already raised a young gentleman. He is a sweet and thoughful boy, much like herself. Tammy is just the epitame of a wondeful mother!
Unfortunately, Tammy has to fill her deductible through her insurance company this year (2014) and start all over again and fill her deductible for 2015 starting January 1st. Tammy went on family medical leave at work on the 14th of December. This leave is only approximately 16 weeks long and after that Tammy will be an inactive per diem employee at Sharon. Inactive per diem employees do not get benefits. She will no longer have health insurance after this. The treatment plan that Tammy is receiving is actually a very promising trial study, and the last thing any of us want is for her to be dropped from the study due to insurance or financial reasons. Tammy will be paying large expenses out of pocket for her medical treatment throughout the next year. Her boyfriend Mick will also be taking some time off work to bring Tammy to appointments. The financial burden will be immense on their household.
You would never expect someone with so much hardship to have as much positivity and courage as this woman does. She has been fighting from the minute she got her diagnosis, she does not show an ounce of weakness and she is the true definition of bravery. Tammy needs the support financially and emotionally throughout this next year to get her and her family through this. It's a long road to recovery but if there is any woman in this world that can make it happen it is Tammy.
Tammy, Zach and Mick will be sacrificing a lot in the near future. Let us donate to help her and her family kick cancer's butt!
Unfortunately, Tammy found out her treatments would last a year; they would include chemotherapy, surgery and then radiation; and they would cause her to not be able to work per doctor's orders. Tammy has been a CNA at Sharon hospital for 16 years since October 1998, caring for other's loved ones. I was fortunate enough to be able to work with Tammy at Sharon for a few years. During those years Tammy taught me not only a lot about caring for other people but a lot about life too. I am blessed to have such a wonderful friend in my life. She is funny, smart, compassionate, thoughtful, generous and has one of the biggest hearts of anyone I know.
Tammy is also one of the strongest and most courageous women you will ever meet. In November of 1995 Tammy brought a beautiful baby boy into this world named Joshua Alexander. At 13 months old, Joshua was diagnosed with a neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma is a malignant tumor that develops from immature nerve tissue usually in infants and children. Tammy's son underwent chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and finally a bone marrow transplant. He went into remission but quickly relapsed after only 2 months. Sweet Joshua passed away in January of 1998. Not only has Tammy had to recover from the loss of a child but she now has to relive the memories of the chemotherapy, radiation and surgery as she faces a similar treatment.
Tammy now has a wonderful eleven years old son named Zach who is full of life. When talking to her about Zach you can tell that he is her pride and joy. Tammy has already raised a young gentleman. He is a sweet and thoughful boy, much like herself. Tammy is just the epitame of a wondeful mother!
Unfortunately, Tammy has to fill her deductible through her insurance company this year (2014) and start all over again and fill her deductible for 2015 starting January 1st. Tammy went on family medical leave at work on the 14th of December. This leave is only approximately 16 weeks long and after that Tammy will be an inactive per diem employee at Sharon. Inactive per diem employees do not get benefits. She will no longer have health insurance after this. The treatment plan that Tammy is receiving is actually a very promising trial study, and the last thing any of us want is for her to be dropped from the study due to insurance or financial reasons. Tammy will be paying large expenses out of pocket for her medical treatment throughout the next year. Her boyfriend Mick will also be taking some time off work to bring Tammy to appointments. The financial burden will be immense on their household.
You would never expect someone with so much hardship to have as much positivity and courage as this woman does. She has been fighting from the minute she got her diagnosis, she does not show an ounce of weakness and she is the true definition of bravery. Tammy needs the support financially and emotionally throughout this next year to get her and her family through this. It's a long road to recovery but if there is any woman in this world that can make it happen it is Tammy.
Tammy, Zach and Mick will be sacrificing a lot in the near future. Let us donate to help her and her family kick cancer's butt!
Organizer
Kristen DeVecchis
Organizer
Mount Washington, MA