Tammi (our fellow Tiger) was born premature and as a result has had lifelong medical complications.

This beloved preemie Tiger cub had multiple surgeries for her stomach and digestive system.

She’s suffered with pancreatitis, gastroparesis, and dysphagia. These all have left her with chronic symptoms. Recently, Tammi has been battling aspirational pneumonia due to her conditions.

She deserves (as we all do) the best treatment available. Unfortunately, local hospitals haven’t been able to help, so she has to travel to The Cleveland Clinic in Ohio where the hospital gastroenterologists are specialists with gastroparesis. Tammi doesn’t drive and must pay for rides from Pittsburgh to Cleveland.

She’s been in need of an endoscopy dilation procedure for her dysphagia for some time but can’t make it there due to finances.

This procedure is important because she only has 20 percent of her esophagus left due to achalasia. Her trachea was removed in 2010, and the endoscopy dilation procedure is done for dysphagia. This leads to emergent conditions like the present aspirational pneumonia.

Tammi has had to deal with this her entire life. I can’t even tolerate a headache longer than 30 minutes. I can’t imagine what it’s been like for her. Tammi is a champ!!!

She’s in constant pain with nausea and regurgitating food, and the dilation procedures help to mitigate these specific issues.

I don’t remember much of high school, but I always remember Tammi being so happy and sweet to everyone regardless of what she’s been through. She loves art and sends drawings and crafts daily and wants nothing more than to spread love, hope, and smiles.

Lets help our fellow Tiger continue to fight!