My name is AJ and for almost two years now I have watched Tay Brown, an incredible human that I'm honored to call a my friend, deteriorate. A small team of Tay's close friends and myself have rushed Tay to hospitals spanning from Roanoke to Richmond. Each time holding on to a hope for answers and relief to the pain she is enduing, each time things only seems to get worse once leaving the hospital. Tay has stayed as long as a month at a time in a few of these hospitals and upon release her issues would return and progressively became worse. At the beginning of this year her health started looking up, Tay took a job, found a home for her and her four children and began to regain some of herself. Still in the process of setting up her new home she has also been attending multiple follow up appointment to continue to find the cause of all of these resurfacing health issues.

Last week she called to tell me she received a prognosis of stage 3 pancreatic cancer. Followed with a "I have to work three doubles in a row so I wouldn't be able to tell you in person." WAIT, WHAT??? My mind immediately went to NO! you need to worry about your health for your babies, they are the most important right now, them and your health. But I don't live in Tay's shoes, I don't know what it's like to have two sets of twins, or what it's like to have to raise them without a father because their father passed away three years ago, I don't know what it's like to do it all by yourself and I don't know what it's like to have a stranger tell me I'm dying.

Hope is not gone. Tay has a lengthy surgery June 5th. Potentially the first of many mixed with treatments. They will be removing her spleen, part of her pancreas, and attempting to remove the nodes where the cancer has metastasized. With all the risks involved, Tay's children, family, friends, and all who rely and love her need her to focus on staying strong and recovering well. I ask that if you have the resources to please donate, not to cover medical bills but cover her rent, utilities, and food. The bare necessities for her and her children while she recovers and prepares for the next fight against this horrible decease.

In addition if you cannot help financially but know of a resource we can reach out to, please share. If you have free time to help change out a dryer plug, fix a faucet etc. reach out. She had not yet gotten settled in her new home when she found out about her prognosis, there is still so much to be done before surgery. Her neighbor has kindly mowed her yard, not sure if that will continue.

The help you provide could mean the difference of a lifetime for Tay and her four beautiful children, if you cannot help please share.