Tabitha Putnam
Donation protected
I've always thought Go Fund Me was somewhat ridiculous, I'll be completely honest, but then I sat completely helpless when I realized a good friend of mine needed help and there is literally nothing I can do. I met a woman named Tabitha Putnam about a year and a half ago when our kids took to each other at the Norfolk Zoo. It was an instant connection between our two families, but mostly the two of us. Tabitha is another military wife and a mother of 5 beautiful children. She puts her heart and soul into her family, he had her son when she was young and any type of adulthood she has ever known has been taking care of her kids. Not only is she the most amazing mother you will ever meet, but she is one of the most selfless people I will ever know. Putting herself last in just part of her soul, it comes natural to her. When my daughter, Daisy, was 3 weeks old I had to have emergency surgery and being a military wife there was no one there to help take care of my kids for my 5 day stay. Without hesitation, Tabitha (who was pregnant with her 5th child herself) took care of the kids for 2 days while we waited for my mom to fly back into town. On top of just being a mother of 5 kids, one of her middle children has autism.
I decided to share all of this with you because I want you to get a glimpse of the type of person my friend is. Tabitha doesn't have time for herself, and even if she did, she wouldn't be spending it on herself like she should. She would be trying to take care of other people.
In 2019 after years of doctors, specialists, and 15+ diagnosis/conditions/diseases (and counting) Tabitha received yet another devastating medical hurtle. Scleroderma has been added to the long list, of debilitating medical conditions Tabitha and her family are faced with on a daily basis. Scleroderma, or SSc, systemic scleroderma is a chronic rare auto immune disease in which normal tissue is replaced with dense, thick, fibrous tissue. Normally, the immune system helps defend the body against disease and infection. In the patients with scleroderma, the immune system triggers other cells to produce too much collagen(a protein). This extra collagen is deposited in the skin and organs which causes hardening and thickening (similar to the scaring process). Scleroderma is sadly affecting Tabitha’s skin, gastrointestinal tract, throat, lungs, kidneys, heart, blood vessels, muscles, and joints. Scleroderma is a progressive disease, which means it gets worse over time. Today medication and therapy can slow scleroderma and reduce discomfort but there is no cure.
As you can imagine the diagnosis added to the already long list, and it was shocking to Tabitha, her family, and friends. Since finding out, life has changed dramatically for Tabitha, her husband, and their 5 children. There are countless changes they had to make in their daily lives. New additions to the home to make it more accessible and equipment to provide relief for Tabitha at home. As well as endless, doctors, specialty, therapies and appointments. Sadly much of this is not covered by their insurance.
Tabitha’s progression has accelerated recently and now more than ever Tabitha and her family need help from outside sources.
Tabitha was hopeful she could finally get some answers after traveling to the John Hopkins Medical Center where she could see specialists that just aren't available in our area. And then she was sent an email that her appointment was moved from the end of May to December of this year. It was a huge blow to Tabitha and her family.
Now she is faced with the choice of what is the next best step and she thankfully found a doctor with a holistic approach but the appointments and most of the prescriptions won't be covered by insurance.
Tabitha is a proud and private person and has been very resistant to any financial help thus far. However, we know Tabitha and her family need direct help as well and the time has come. There are many expenses coming in the form of devices, home health care needs, therapies to help with the crippling pain and disintegration of skin, joints, and muscles, doctors appointment, more specialists, traveling far for a majority of these appointments as well as lodging.
We are hopeful that as a community we can raise enough money to reduce the financial burden that scleroderma can have on a family and allow the Putnam’s to not worry as much about that part of this fight.
Tabitha has done for others for years; the time has come where she needs our help and they need it fast. Scleroderma is an unforgiving disease and stoping or slowing the progression is necessary NOW. Time is not on our side.
Tabitha, we are all so proud to call you our friend. Nobody deserves to have to endure what you have in the last couple years. We are with you and your family through every step of this process and will do all we can do to help all of you now and forever. We will continue to hope and pray, to find a cure. Let us help you, I know it's not easy for you to let others help, but for you and your family, let us do this. We all love you!!
I decided to share all of this with you because I want you to get a glimpse of the type of person my friend is. Tabitha doesn't have time for herself, and even if she did, she wouldn't be spending it on herself like she should. She would be trying to take care of other people.
In 2019 after years of doctors, specialists, and 15+ diagnosis/conditions/diseases (and counting) Tabitha received yet another devastating medical hurtle. Scleroderma has been added to the long list, of debilitating medical conditions Tabitha and her family are faced with on a daily basis. Scleroderma, or SSc, systemic scleroderma is a chronic rare auto immune disease in which normal tissue is replaced with dense, thick, fibrous tissue. Normally, the immune system helps defend the body against disease and infection. In the patients with scleroderma, the immune system triggers other cells to produce too much collagen(a protein). This extra collagen is deposited in the skin and organs which causes hardening and thickening (similar to the scaring process). Scleroderma is sadly affecting Tabitha’s skin, gastrointestinal tract, throat, lungs, kidneys, heart, blood vessels, muscles, and joints. Scleroderma is a progressive disease, which means it gets worse over time. Today medication and therapy can slow scleroderma and reduce discomfort but there is no cure.
As you can imagine the diagnosis added to the already long list, and it was shocking to Tabitha, her family, and friends. Since finding out, life has changed dramatically for Tabitha, her husband, and their 5 children. There are countless changes they had to make in their daily lives. New additions to the home to make it more accessible and equipment to provide relief for Tabitha at home. As well as endless, doctors, specialty, therapies and appointments. Sadly much of this is not covered by their insurance.
Tabitha’s progression has accelerated recently and now more than ever Tabitha and her family need help from outside sources.
Tabitha was hopeful she could finally get some answers after traveling to the John Hopkins Medical Center where she could see specialists that just aren't available in our area. And then she was sent an email that her appointment was moved from the end of May to December of this year. It was a huge blow to Tabitha and her family.
Now she is faced with the choice of what is the next best step and she thankfully found a doctor with a holistic approach but the appointments and most of the prescriptions won't be covered by insurance.
Tabitha is a proud and private person and has been very resistant to any financial help thus far. However, we know Tabitha and her family need direct help as well and the time has come. There are many expenses coming in the form of devices, home health care needs, therapies to help with the crippling pain and disintegration of skin, joints, and muscles, doctors appointment, more specialists, traveling far for a majority of these appointments as well as lodging.
We are hopeful that as a community we can raise enough money to reduce the financial burden that scleroderma can have on a family and allow the Putnam’s to not worry as much about that part of this fight.
Tabitha has done for others for years; the time has come where she needs our help and they need it fast. Scleroderma is an unforgiving disease and stoping or slowing the progression is necessary NOW. Time is not on our side.
Tabitha, we are all so proud to call you our friend. Nobody deserves to have to endure what you have in the last couple years. We are with you and your family through every step of this process and will do all we can do to help all of you now and forever. We will continue to hope and pray, to find a cure. Let us help you, I know it's not easy for you to let others help, but for you and your family, let us do this. We all love you!!
Organizer and beneficiary
Annie Schara
Organizer
Norfolk, VA
Tabitha Putnam
Beneficiary