Tamika story living with End Stage Renal Failure

Hi, My name is Madelene. I am seeking donations on behalf of my niece Tamika Scott. First, I must say this young woman truly is amazing she's been through so much both mentally and physically over the years, living with End Stage Renal failure, yet she has never once complained. She holds true to the belief that God wont put no more on you than you can bare and knowing there's always someone, somewhere worse off than her.

Let me tell you a little about Tamika, and why your kind and generous donation will make a difference in her life. She's very friendly, loves to laugh and always has a smile on her face . She enjoys life and constantly strives to live it to the fullest no matter how she’s feeling. She enjoys traveling, family get-togethers, sports events, spending time with friends and even though she doesn't eat much she's a true foodie. Tamika raised her only son as a single mother and now she's a proud grandmother. Her greatest joy is spending time with her beautiful 2yr old granddaughter Ava, and her adorable support dog, Stormie. Although in the past few years due to Renal failure, she hasn’t been able to partake and truly enjoy her interest as much as she would like.

Despite her own medical issues Tamika is a caring person at heart, always looking out for the welfare of others. Because of her caring nature, she uprooted and relocated to Syracuse in 2001 to help her elderly grandmother, due to her previous experience in the medical field, she immediately got a job working at Upstate University Hospital, where she worked as a Nursing Station Clerk.

However, in 2007 Tamika, a very healthy young woman became suddenly severely ill. After an emergency trip to the hospital, she found out she had no kidney function and was diagnosed with End stage Renal failure and was immediately put on Dialysis at the age of 28. In 2008, Tamika excitedly went back to work after adjusting to her new way of life that included several drs apt and dialysis three times a week. She was given the same position and was welcomed with warm hearts and open arms by her coworkers. For the first few years, she worked part time , juggling the responsibilities of raising a young son, but with numerous medical bills, and living expenses; it was necessary to start working full-time. The piling responsibilities in her life began to take a toll on her body, dialysis treatments are extremely exhausting, and rest is needed but with the support of her co-workers I lovingly refers to as the “A-Team”, she was able to adjust her work schedule and always completed her duties without fail .

For years she was doing well, taking care of herself, raising her son, resting, following her renal diet and enjoying her job all while going to her dialysis treatments 3 times a week.

Things began to change abruptly in 2018 throughout the year she began to have unexplainable rashes in which some dialysis patients will develope, the rashes and treatments began to changed her complexion and she broke out with bumps all over her body, various creams and pills didn’t help it itched so bad that she scratched constantly for relief, leaving scars all over her body. Through it all and a little self conscious of her appearance Tamika continued to work and soldiered on with the confidence of her dear departed grandmother.

In the fall of 2018 she suffered from numerous infections in her fistula, which is a small port surgically put in the arm to connect to the dialysis machine to filter her blood. She toiled through numerous procedures to fix and reposition the fistula, through all of which she remained optimistic.

In the winter of 2019 and the start of 2020 the unimaginable happened Covid, the Pandemic that changed life as we knew it all around the world, especially in the hospital. Tamika's appetite began to change she lost her taste for food, ran a fever and started loosing weight over 75 lbs. The doctors could not explain what was going on. She was not diagnosed with Covid but in retrospect she had all the symptoms. Also due to Covid restrictions her family especially her mother was unable to visit and comfort her during her illness.

In January of 2020, unaware while sleeping her fistula exploded which caused her to bleed out. Her dog frantically began barking, which alarmed her son, who called 911. The EMT worker on the scene even commented that she had been to crime scenes with less blood loss. After multiple hospital visits after many hospital stays she eventually recovered.
Even though this was one of the most a devastating event in her life Tamika gained the strength needed to overcome yet another battle.

Unfortunately, that would not be the end of Tamika’s trials. A few months later on Labor Day 2020, she attended a family gathering in her honor. Her tongue swelled to such an extent that she was rushed to the ER. She had developed a shellfish allergy to one of her favorite meals later in life, which revealed itself during the family fish fry and resulted in her being placed on a ventilator with anaphylactic shock.

Currently as of July 3 2021 she was in the hospital undergoing a major heart surgery to repair a hole in her atrial value. She is now home, with family and her mother who is lovingly doing what moms do caring for her daughter  during her long recovery. Even though she has the strength and love of family on her side, the mounting costs of her multiple surgeries and hospital visits are starting to take a toll, which is why I'm requesting donations on her behalf.

Due to her illness Tamika isn't able to continue her job at the present moment and has not received any financial assistance, so once again the bills are piling up and your donations will help her to catch up on bill: medical bills, household bills , rent and car payments which enables her to go to Dialysis and continue to live an independent lifestyle .

I hope after reading a little about Tamika's story Living with End Stage Renal Failure, your heart has been inspired to help in her time of need.

Thank you.

Aunty Madelene Barkins

PS,

Tamika will continue to do what she always does trust God and enjoy the life shes been given and keep on smiling

Please find it in your heart to support