Help Tammy Jam - Medical Fund
Donation protected
Our dear friend, Tammy (Rica) Wallace, needs your help! She's met again with ongoing and increasing medical expenses that she can no longer afford. Around Easter of 2014, Tammy was diagnosed with cellulitis in her arm, which spread to her back, and lead to the discovery of an abcess on her spine. Though the removal of the abcess was a success, she was then paralyzed from her chest down. She has since lost her husband, been diagnosed with cancer, and is experiencing severe illness. Please consider donating, so that she can continue to get the care she needs right now and in the future. Read on for more details, or skip to the bottom of Tammy's story for other ways you can help.
What Happened In 2014:
After a severe cellulitis infection and a trip to the ER, Tammy was released. Within 24 hours, she was back at the ER with numbness and pain, which is when they discovered the abcess on her spine. She was admitted to surgery right away, which was a success, but a possible combination of the abcess and the surgery caused Tammy to be paralyzed from the chest down. After healing from surgery, she went through intensive physical therapy before coming home. In addition to at-home care, she also needed a motorized wheelchair, as well as the equipment she needs at home, like a lift to get in and out of bed, shower equipment, and a ramp to her front door. Those of you who know her helped make our first fundraising event, Tam Jam, a huge success! Thanks to you, Tammy has been able to pay some of those bills, purchase a tablet so that she has access to a computer while in her chair, and pay for her at-home health care.
What Happened In 2015:
Though she has experienced some improvement with movement in a few toes on both feet, she continues to require daily care from a health professional, and from her family and friends. She experiences chronic nerve pain along with the paralysis, and is unable to complete certain tasks at home without assistance. Due to the expense of the care, at approximately $500 a week since the summer of 2014, most of the money we raised for her in October of 2014 has been spent, and she has had to cut back the health care professionals' hours. A lot has happened since then that has also lead to more expenses and medical bills.
Tammy’s husband, Calvin Wallace, a retired Fort Worth police officer, had just completed rehabilitation for a hip replacement when Tammy came home. He also suffered from dementia, so they were both unable to work, neither qualified for assisted living, and both required at-home care. They continued to live together successfully, caring for each other however they could, but, on March 10, 2015, Calvin passed away. As you can imagine, that loss took both an emotional and financial toll.
On December 17 2015, Tammy was admitted to the hospital for severe hemorrhage. The blood loss was so severe that she had to receive 9 pints of blood during her stay. The biopsy they performed while she was there was positive for adenocarcinoma of the endometrium (a type of cancer of the glandular tissue of the lining of the uterus.) Due to her existing health issues, she has not been a candidate for a hysterectomy, or chemotherapy or radiation. They inserted an IUD as an alternative, to help prevent future hemorraging.
What's Happening Now:
Tammy was able to come home from the hospital in time to spend Christmas with her family. Unfortunately, she was re-admitted with a fever, vomiting, and 50 lbs. of retained fluid since her last hospital stay. [Edit/Update:] Tammy passed away from liver complications on 2/4/16 at the hospital, peacefully, and surrounded by family and friends. All of the funds raised here will go to her family to help pay outstanding expenses.
Tammy was a pillar of our community, and gave so much by working in the school system, supporting local businesses and artists, and being such a kind, thoughtful, and loyal friend. Please donate what you can to help her family pay for any outstanding bills, and any arrangements they need to make.
If you're unable to donate, please share this GoFundMe page, and/or the TamJam Facebook page with your family and friends.
Thank you so much for your support! Every bit of help is appreciated. Please continue to keep Tammy's family in your thoughts and prayers.
What Happened In 2014:
After a severe cellulitis infection and a trip to the ER, Tammy was released. Within 24 hours, she was back at the ER with numbness and pain, which is when they discovered the abcess on her spine. She was admitted to surgery right away, which was a success, but a possible combination of the abcess and the surgery caused Tammy to be paralyzed from the chest down. After healing from surgery, she went through intensive physical therapy before coming home. In addition to at-home care, she also needed a motorized wheelchair, as well as the equipment she needs at home, like a lift to get in and out of bed, shower equipment, and a ramp to her front door. Those of you who know her helped make our first fundraising event, Tam Jam, a huge success! Thanks to you, Tammy has been able to pay some of those bills, purchase a tablet so that she has access to a computer while in her chair, and pay for her at-home health care.
What Happened In 2015:
Though she has experienced some improvement with movement in a few toes on both feet, she continues to require daily care from a health professional, and from her family and friends. She experiences chronic nerve pain along with the paralysis, and is unable to complete certain tasks at home without assistance. Due to the expense of the care, at approximately $500 a week since the summer of 2014, most of the money we raised for her in October of 2014 has been spent, and she has had to cut back the health care professionals' hours. A lot has happened since then that has also lead to more expenses and medical bills.
Tammy’s husband, Calvin Wallace, a retired Fort Worth police officer, had just completed rehabilitation for a hip replacement when Tammy came home. He also suffered from dementia, so they were both unable to work, neither qualified for assisted living, and both required at-home care. They continued to live together successfully, caring for each other however they could, but, on March 10, 2015, Calvin passed away. As you can imagine, that loss took both an emotional and financial toll.
On December 17 2015, Tammy was admitted to the hospital for severe hemorrhage. The blood loss was so severe that she had to receive 9 pints of blood during her stay. The biopsy they performed while she was there was positive for adenocarcinoma of the endometrium (a type of cancer of the glandular tissue of the lining of the uterus.) Due to her existing health issues, she has not been a candidate for a hysterectomy, or chemotherapy or radiation. They inserted an IUD as an alternative, to help prevent future hemorraging.
What's Happening Now:
Tammy was able to come home from the hospital in time to spend Christmas with her family. Unfortunately, she was re-admitted with a fever, vomiting, and 50 lbs. of retained fluid since her last hospital stay. [Edit/Update:] Tammy passed away from liver complications on 2/4/16 at the hospital, peacefully, and surrounded by family and friends. All of the funds raised here will go to her family to help pay outstanding expenses.
Tammy was a pillar of our community, and gave so much by working in the school system, supporting local businesses and artists, and being such a kind, thoughtful, and loyal friend. Please donate what you can to help her family pay for any outstanding bills, and any arrangements they need to make.
If you're unable to donate, please share this GoFundMe page, and/or the TamJam Facebook page with your family and friends.
Thank you so much for your support! Every bit of help is appreciated. Please continue to keep Tammy's family in your thoughts and prayers.
Organizer and beneficiary
Chelsea Keesler
Organizer
Arlington, TX
Denice Hall
Beneficiary