Hello everyone, my name is Jennifer Pajazetovic. I am one of Tanja’s younger sisters and I’ve decided to put this together as I feel that Tanja and her family could use a little help due to unexpected and unforeseen circumstances. Tanja being as generous as she has always been, I feel this could be an opportunity to reciprocate some generosity towards her and her family. As many of you know Tanja is an all around amazing person, mother, friend, wife, daughter and overall human being. Among all of those amazing qualities she possesses, she is also my best friend and a person closest to my heart. Tanja is facing a new challenge that we are asking for your prayers and positive thoughts. Tanja is so much to so many people. She is a mother of 4 wonderful children that just adore her.  She is a homeschool teacher to her son Jaxton who is Autistic. She has always strived to never miss a game, school event, special occasion for her children or friends. Tanja is always thinking of others and would give the shirt off her back to help someone in need. Tanja recently was rushed to the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix, AZ on Aug 21, 2022, for unknown bruising and possible internal bleeding. After being assessed and many tests, it was determined that her blood platelets were at 3,000, which is extremely low (normal range 150,000-450,000).  She was admitted to Mayo Clinic Hospital and a team of doctors began treating her with large amounts of steroids to try and bring her platelet levels up out of the danger zone.   Tanja was diagnosed with ITP which is an Auto Immune Disease, which explained the bleeding and bruising all over her body.  Further tests were conducted to make sure she did not have a brain bleed or any other internal bleeding.  In those tests a 2.8cm tumor was located on her left kidney.  The tumor is malignant cancer and although it hasn’t metastasized it has been hypothesized that her ITP was triggered because of it as well as her spleen not functioning properly. However, they are unable to operate on Tanja until her blood platelets reach over a “safe” limit, that has yet to be determined at this time. Her platelets as of now remain in the danger zone for bleeding out during surgery. Tanja was released after 8 days in the hospital to come home and continue IV Infusion Treatment, continuous labs, and Dr. appointments frequently throughout the week at Mayo Clinic outpatient building.  Tanja did her blood work yesterday, Sept 5, 2022, and her blood platelets had dropped significantly again to 2,000.  She was told by her team of doctors to go to the Emergency Department again and they would begin IVIG, Nplate shots, to try to bring her blood platelets back up. Tanja was admitted to Mayo Clinic Hospital again for the second time. Tanja will continue to be in the Mayo Hospital until they can figure out how to bring her platelet levels back up so they can remove her spleen and her cancer on her kidney.  Tanja is a fighter and is prepared to fight this battle in every way possible.  Tanja is a 1-time cancer survivor already from 20 years ago.  Tanja at age 22 was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.  She underwent 1 year of chemotherapy and radiation.  She fought for her life and was blessed to continue to live here on this wonderful earth.  Tanja was told she would not be able to have children most likely due to the cancer treatment. Tanja surprised all and had 4 beautiful children who make her wake up and smile every day.  Tanja has a special zest for life, having once been so close to death before, she wants to spend time with her family, friends, and future grandchildren. Tanja, a family photographer, was so proud to have set up her entire fall photography sessions and to be completely booked out.  It is with great sadness she had to cancel all of her sessions this fall to focus on healing and fighting this cancer and severe ITP. . If you know Tanja, you know how much she loves photography and capturing those special moments for her clients. It broke her heart to have to cancel knowing she will be getting treatments for her cancer and ITP this fall.   Her husband Matt has been struggling for years with back pain from a fall injury while he was a police officer.  His surgeon and he have decided it is now time to have back surgery to help alleviate the compression which is causing neuropathy in his feet making it difficult to stand, walk or sit. It was decided that a lumbar laminectomy will help create space between the spinal cord and spinal canal. He will be out of work and in recovery for 3-6 weeks once he has the surgery. With both Tanja and Matt being out of work for their medical conditions and having an insurance policy with an out of pocket deductible ($10,000), their financial situation has been drastically affected by these recent emergencies.  Tanja is so blessed to have been able to go to the best hospital in Arizona and have the greatest doctors around helping solve Tanja’s most recent medical problems.   Many unknowns right now for Tanja and her family.  She is sad to be away from her family and friends, and not be able to do all the wonderful things that she did as a mother, friend and wife but filled with gratitude and hope.  Any and all assistance would be so greatly appreciated by the Pearson family.