Support for Tawni and Brigit
Donation protected
I feel like before I describe the situation, I should say a bit about who Tawni is, for those who may read this and don't already know her..
Tawni is one of those people who can talk to anyone, she's charming. She's a badass, a fighter, and a dork. A loving mom, partner, and strong community advocate. She's also open and vulnerable, honest about her flaws and the things she's working on. She is a best friend, an inspiration, a motivator, she's got the backs of people near and far. Life has been tough for Tawni at times, and she has pushed through so much to get to be the brilliant human she is today. She survived trauma, was a teen mom, lost her own mom as a young adult, and much more.
About a month ago, after struggling for years with worsening chronic health problems, my best friend Tawni received the heartbreaking news that she has a rare and life-threatening complication of chronic Epstein-Barr Virus. The disease is so rare that there is currently only one viable treatment option, which would involve months of chemotherapy followed by a stem cell replacement. Without this treatment, the prognosis is grim. Unfortunately, being on state health insurance, Tawni is having to fight through a medical system that doesn't want to help her. But she wants to fight and live, not only for herself, but for her daughter Brigit. Having lost her own mom to Lymphoma 3 years ago, Tawni doesn't want Brigit to experience another loss at such a young age. So we need to help Tawni to fight!
Currently, Tawni's daily life consists of debilitating and drastic changes in blood pressure, muscular atrophy, extreme fatigue, severe nerve pain, hot and cold flashes, fevers, confusion, and terribly swollen lymph nodes that require frequent ultrasounds. It is becoming increasingly difficult for Tawni to work even part time, and so her work has graciously allowed her to take a leave of absence and still get her job back if she is able to return to work in a few months. She will use this time to focus on getting to and from her many doctor appointments, getting everything in order for SSI/Disability, fighting to get access to the life saving stem cell replacement therapy that she needs and deserves, and trying to be the best mom possible to Brigit as they move through this incredibly difficult time.
We as a community can make a huge difference for Tawni and Brigit right now. We can take some of the financial strain off of Tawni and her partner, allowing them to focus on what is important. We can help Tawni be able to advocate for the treatment she needs. We can give a family that has made a huge difference in so many peoples' lives the support they need. I set the goal for $5000, as that is about what their living expenses and bills are for a 3 month period of time, but I really think we can and should surpass that! Let's make this go viral and get Tawni enough to pay for the stem cell replacement!
Tawni is one of those people who can talk to anyone, she's charming. She's a badass, a fighter, and a dork. A loving mom, partner, and strong community advocate. She's also open and vulnerable, honest about her flaws and the things she's working on. She is a best friend, an inspiration, a motivator, she's got the backs of people near and far. Life has been tough for Tawni at times, and she has pushed through so much to get to be the brilliant human she is today. She survived trauma, was a teen mom, lost her own mom as a young adult, and much more.
About a month ago, after struggling for years with worsening chronic health problems, my best friend Tawni received the heartbreaking news that she has a rare and life-threatening complication of chronic Epstein-Barr Virus. The disease is so rare that there is currently only one viable treatment option, which would involve months of chemotherapy followed by a stem cell replacement. Without this treatment, the prognosis is grim. Unfortunately, being on state health insurance, Tawni is having to fight through a medical system that doesn't want to help her. But she wants to fight and live, not only for herself, but for her daughter Brigit. Having lost her own mom to Lymphoma 3 years ago, Tawni doesn't want Brigit to experience another loss at such a young age. So we need to help Tawni to fight!
Currently, Tawni's daily life consists of debilitating and drastic changes in blood pressure, muscular atrophy, extreme fatigue, severe nerve pain, hot and cold flashes, fevers, confusion, and terribly swollen lymph nodes that require frequent ultrasounds. It is becoming increasingly difficult for Tawni to work even part time, and so her work has graciously allowed her to take a leave of absence and still get her job back if she is able to return to work in a few months. She will use this time to focus on getting to and from her many doctor appointments, getting everything in order for SSI/Disability, fighting to get access to the life saving stem cell replacement therapy that she needs and deserves, and trying to be the best mom possible to Brigit as they move through this incredibly difficult time.
We as a community can make a huge difference for Tawni and Brigit right now. We can take some of the financial strain off of Tawni and her partner, allowing them to focus on what is important. We can help Tawni be able to advocate for the treatment she needs. We can give a family that has made a huge difference in so many peoples' lives the support they need. I set the goal for $5000, as that is about what their living expenses and bills are for a 3 month period of time, but I really think we can and should surpass that! Let's make this go viral and get Tawni enough to pay for the stem cell replacement!
Organizer and beneficiary
Lauren Waldinger
Organizer
Portland, OR
Tawni Squire
Beneficiary