Support Tamara (Tammy) Sullivan's Battle Against Cancer

Update: Tamara Sullivan sadly passed away on Wednesday, March 19th, 2025. Any remaining funds will go to help support Tammy’s two daughters, Savannah and Ashton. Thank you to everybody who took the time to donate and share my sister’s story.

Description:

Hi, my name is Debbie Clark, and I’m raising funds for my sister, Tamara Sullivan (Tammy). She noticed an odd sore on her tongue in May 2024 and was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma in July of 2024. Tammy is an incredibly strong and caring person, but right now, she needs all of us to come together and show her that we are here to support her.

When we think of Tammy Sullivan, we think of a devoted mother, friend, and respected colleague. Her strength, kindness, and dedication to her loved ones have made her a beloved figure to many, and it’s the love and connections we all share with her that bring us here today.

Tammy has always put others first. She dedicated her life to raising her two children, Savannah and Ashton as a single parent. She never smoked, ate healthy, and avoided alcohol. So when she was unexpectedly diagnosed with cancer it was and has been a devastating blow.

Her Journey:

After a long wait for a CT scan, Tammy’s surgeon initially dismissed the severity of her condition, stating that the cancer wasn’t that bad and she could expect a full recovery. However, two weeks later, when Tammy’s condition worsened—her inability to talk or eat worsened—her surgeon agreed to see her. It was then that we learned she would need extensive reconstructive surgery. By the time surgery was scheduled in early October, things took a tragic turn.

Tammy suffered a massive Saddleback Clot followed by a Pulmonary Embolism (PE) caused by the untreated cancer. In essence, she died and was brought back to life. To our horror, we also learned that her cancer had been misclassified as Stage 1-2 from the beginning, but in fact, it had already progressed to Stage 4. Tammy was given three possible treatment options, 1) have the extensive 12 hr. surgery to remove the cancer and perform the reconstruction of her tongue with a risk of dying on the operating table because of the damage to her heart from the PE; 2) have only ½ of the surgery to reduce the risk of death and then perform the second reconstructive surgery after chemo and radiation; 3) complete chemo and radiation than do a surgery to remove primary cancer. All three options leaving Tammy with a feeding tube, and tracheostomy for life and losing her ability to ever talk again. Tammy choose option 1 as recommended by the surgery team with the hopes of one day being able to eat, breath and communicate functionally.

However, as the surgery date approached Tammy’s health became more complicated, and surgeons recommended against surgery, and the options were narrowed down to chemotherapy and radiation in hopes of shrinking the tumor for future surgery. Tammy hopes were high and despite setbacks related to treatment she was always upbeat and tried her best to stay positive.

Current Status:

Since then, her condition has worsened. Despite conventional treatment options, in January the cancer had spread to her lungs creating 4 small spots of concern, and we were informed by Tammy surgery team that surgery was no longer an option and cancer will eventually lead to her death. Our family and Tammy, were devastated by this news because without removing the primary cancer we knew it was only a matter of time before it continued to spread.

In February of 2025 a, lung biopsy and CT scan was completed which revealed a pneumothorax (collapsed lung) caused by the cancer spreading to the lining of her lungs. Her cancer is spreading fast with no additional treatment being offered, at this time. Since then, it has also metastasized to her abdominal wall, lymph nodes and spleen. Tammy is currently in the hospital, battling an unknown infection. Despite all of this, she remains optimistic and courageous.

The Path Ahead:

Tammy’s family is focused on supporting her through this difficult journey. Conservative treatments like chemotherapy and radiation have had some success in reducing her primary tumor, but the road ahead is uncertain as she embarks on immunotherapy. As her family, we are doing everything we can to be by her side during this fight.

How You Can Help:

Tammy has always been a source of strength to all of us, and with your support, she can continue fighting with the same courage. We are now looking into all possible treatment options to help manage her condition. Any funds raised will help provide support for the family, comfort, and accessibility for Tammy during her recovery and treatment..

Every donation, no matter how small, will help Tammy, and will be greatly appreciated. If you can’t donate, please share Tammy’s story and help spread the word to support the Sullivan family as they fight this battle against cancer.

We are so grateful for the outpouring of love and support from friends, family, and the community. Thank you for your kindness and generosity. Every contribution makes a difference.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Thank you for your generosity and support.

Debbie Clark

On behalf of Tammy Sullivan and her family