Amanda Tennyson has been a fierce advocate for recovery from substance use, especially in the realm of harm reduction. Her hard work and dedication within Winnebago County Public Health, helped the county secure vending machines to make harm reduction supplies, such as Narcan and fentanyl test strips, more easily accessible within our community. Amanda has dedicated her life to saving the lives of others within her community.

In January, Amanda began struggling with her health and dealing with a lot of pain which resulted in a left hip surgery due to arthritis and a tear in the hip joint. That recovery process was going well until the arthritis and another tear in the right hip, flared up which caused issues in the healing process of the previous surgery. Due to Amanda’s health, she was forced to take a leave of absence from her job. Her employer does not offer short-term disability. Amanda has applied for long-term disability which is a 60 day waiting period without the option for back pay. During this time, Amanda has no income which leaves her unable to pay her $1300 a month rent, utilities, phone, groceries and other household expenses for her and her children. If Amanda is approved for long-term disability, it will be 2/3 of her income and still will not cover all her monthly expenses to survive. Amanda recently found out that between now and December, she will have a surgery on her right hip and on December 17th, she will be having a full left hip replacement which is about a 3 month recovery period. As of right now, Amanda will be unable to work until about March 2025. It is my hope that this go fund me will provide Amanda with her financial needs for a few months to help her relax and heal from her first surgery and soon to be second and third surgery.