My name is Michael-Ryan Pattison and today I'm writing to ask for your help on behalf of a dear friend.

A brief backstory about myself for those of you who may not know me. In 2005, I suffered a severely debilitating spinal cord injury that left me paralyzed from the shoulders down. Life has been a relentless struggle, and I’ve experienced many profound losses. Nevertheless, I’ve been uplifted by an incredibly supportive community, especially family and close friends. One such close friend is Netha White, affectionately known as Tia.

Shortly after my injury, I was introduced to Tod Leiweke, who was then the CEO of the Seattle Seahawks. Along with the rest of the front office, he welcomed my family and me with open arms. They helped raise funds while I was in the hospital, provided season tickets, granted on-field access during pregame warm-ups, and made substantial contributions to my nonprofit, which I ran until 2016. With their help, we achieved many important goals—most of them focused on improving the lives of people who had faced similar setbacks. But that’s not why I’m writing today.

Through time spent at Seahawks headquarters, practices, on the field pregame, and in my seats during games, I met many exceptional employees. One of them was Netha White. From our first on-field meeting in 2006, her radiant smile and compassionate spirit shone through, and our friendship has endured ever since.

My own physical battles are evident due to my power wheelchair. Tia’s health struggles, however, were hidden—not at all noticeable at a glance. It was only later that she confided in me that she had a disorder called Behçet’s disease in which she has battled since childhood and has only compounded Health complications over the years.

Tia last worked full-time in her “dream job” with the Seahawks until 2010, when a major blood clot forced her to retire. She later worked part-time to pay down medical debts from Behçet’s disease flares. Unfortunately, additional complications and diagnoses have significantly increased her healthcare costs.

In May 2024, Tia was diagnosed with microvascular ischemic (MVI) brain disease following an April concussion. Six months later, in October 2024, she suffered a severe fall resulting in a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Now, she battles imbalance, unsteady gait, short-term memory loss, and a host of daily “hiccups” due to the combined effects of MVI, Behçet’s disease, and TBI. Her daily life now revolves around doctors, brain therapy, home care, and two recent brain/neck nerve surgeries to relieve persistent headaches, vertigo, and 24/7 brain pain.

Before the TBI, Tia led a remarkably active life, despite ongoing health challenges at age 69. Her weekly routine included three-mile power walks, three-to-five-mile bike rides, swimming, golfing, and she had just taken up pickleball. She balanced two part-time jobs, maintained a rich social life, and volunteered regularly with seafarers, youth in need, and disaster relief efforts.

Today, Tia—Ms. Netha—needs our help. She faces daily risks of brain bleeds, hemorrhaging, and early dementia. She’s now required to wear a protective helmet 24/7 and cannot drive, fly, or participate in any activities where further brain injury could occur. With a fixed income, the increasing medical costs are overwhelming. She has exhausted her retirement savings, stocks, 401(k), and IRAs. Because Behçet’s disease is so rare, insurance coverage remains limited and medical bills continue to mount. She has lost much of her strength, which has reduced her mobility and created the added expense of home health aides, as well as occupational, physical, and specialized brain therapies.

We humbly ask that, in addition to prayers and encouragement, you consider supporting her GoFundMe campaign with a goal of $23,200. This will help pay down existing medical debt and cover recent expenses related to her concussions and TBI. Recovery remains long and arduous—especially at this stage in life.

Despite everything, Tia’s daily joy, adventurous spirit, sense of humor, iron-clad determination, and that ever-present smile remain intact—even on the hardest brain days, she continues to inspire hope and encouragement in all of us.

It is an honor to assist one of the most extraordinary, caring, and resilient god-fearing individuals I know.

Thank you, and God bless.