Help Tammi Shreve Jenkins #CrushCancer #TeamTammi

Crush Cancer with Team Tammi

In 2009, my sister, Tammi, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

With a 99% survival rate, doctors consider thyroid cancer a “good cancer.” For a thirty-one-year-old single mother of two precious girls, cancer is terrifying and destructive. Nothing about it is good.

Her thyroid was killed, and Tammi was supposed to be on the mend. But “the mend” never really happened. There were infections, complications, and medications that didn’t perform as anticipated. Tammi had blocked salivary ducts so painful that she was often unable to eat, drink, or talk. Although it has improved slightly over time, she has lived with complications and pain for thirteen years.

In November 2021, Tammi was again diagnosed with cancer, this time of her Parotid glands. She underwent surgery to remove the tumor and glands and had further complications. Less than a year later, in May of 2022, she was diagnosed with high-grade stage 4 salivary gland cancer. More surgery on her neck, face, and skull was required. The tumor surrounded her facial nerve, and this was a complicated surgery. Tammi had several post-surgery infections, recovery has never fully occurred, and the cancer is still there.

In August, the doctors gave Tammi two choices: radical parotidectomy with facial nerve grafting or six weeks of daily radiation and chemotherapy. Risks of the surgery include loss of facial function, including the ability to smile, speak or eat normally, which may never return. The risk for the second option is that she may go through all of the sufferings of radiation and chemo, it may not destroy the cancer, and she will need the surgery anyway. Tammi chose the second option, hoping that the radiation and chemo technique would work and she could avoid the potentially debilitating surgery. She now goes for radiation five days a week and receives chemotherapy one day a week.

Through it all, Tammi’s attitude is that this is just another blip, albeit a big one. She is treating this like an inconvenience to be dealt with. She is truly battling this disease with strength and courage.

Tammi is the baby of our family. As a child, she was coddled, spoiled, loved unconditionally, and was everyone’s favorite. She has grown into a strong, independent, intelligent woman and has raised her daughters, Kali and Kasey, to be the same. Tammi’s husband, Eric, is a hard-working, loving man who provides for and takes care of his family. They have tightened their belts and live as frugally as they can, but nobody can prepare for cancer's financial and emotional burdens. Through all of this, they have never asked anyone for help.

I think it is time to ask for help, and I am asking you all to help Tammi and her family. Travel expenses to and from the clinic, medications, and medical bills are all excessive - and that’s just for treatment. Everyday expenses don’t take a break for cancer. Daily expenses still cause so much extra stress when survival is the only thing Tammi should have to worry about. Help my sister Tammi crush cancer. All positive thoughts, vibes, and donations are appreciated beyond measure.