In late October, Tami suffered a serious fall on concrete stairs that resulted in a fractured spine. After several weeks of ongoing pain and multiple hospital visits, she began to lose feeling in her feet and eventually became unable to walk. She was admitted to Akron General before being transferred to the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus, where she was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, or GBS. GBS is a rare autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the nerves, causing weakness and paralysis that can take months or even years to fully recover from.

During her hospital stay, Tami received immunoglobulin therapy to treat the GBS. Unfortunately, she experienced a severe allergic reaction to the treatment, which led to a stroke and massive hemorrhaging in her spine. The brain bleed then caused dangerous vasospasms, or spasms of the blood vessels in the brain, requiring intensive and ongoing care.

After four weeks of treatment at the Cleveland Clinic, the majority of which was in the intensive care unit, Tami was transferred to an inpatient rehabilitation facility. There, she is participating in physical, occupational, and speech therapy nearly every day. While she is making steady progress, the road ahead remains long and challenging as she works toward regaining her independence.

Tami has been a dedicated real estate agent for nearly a decade and truly loves her work. However, as a self-employed professional, she does not have disability insurance and will likely be unable to fully return to work for at least a year. We are raising funds to help cover basic living expenses, mounting medical bills, and necessary mobility-related modifications to her home once she is discharged from rehab. Although Tami is unable to work at full capacity during her recovery, her colleagues are ensuring her clients are well cared for. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any real estate needs while she continues to heal.

Any contribution, no matter the amount, will make a meaningful difference during this challenging time. We are deeply grateful for your support, generosity, and kindness.

With much gratitude,

Tami’s Son, Curtis McDiffitt