Team Tammy 2021
Donation protected
Everyone who knows Tammy White loves her. And the more you know about her, the more you like, trust and respect her. She is so dedicated to her family (home family AND work family), to her friends and to our patients.
At age 26...
At age 26, Tammy found a lump in her left breast. On July 5, 2005, Tammy was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. She had chemo and radiation, a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction.
Later that same year, her husband, Rocky, was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. The bad news, and the bills, really stacked up.
Their family ended up having to declare bankruptcy, due to overwhelming medical expenses, despite the fact that they both worked full time through their illnesses. Tammy and Rocky's daughters, Kamryn and Peyton, had to do fundraisers each year to attend a camp designed for kids whose parents have cancer.
In 2008 Tammy, as result of her chemo, had a hysterectomy. She then had what she describes as "fifteen beautiful years cancer free."
Then came 2020...
Take everything that we all went through in 2020 as humans. Then add that Tammy is a healthcare worker- a dedicated Medical Assistant in our primary care clinic (that is designated as rural and underserved- a community hard hit in many ways by 2020).
Then add that in February of 2020 Tammy's regular follow up scans showed that, after 15 years, her cancer was back. And it spread- to her brain, her bones, her lungs and her liver. Back to chemo and radiation she went, but not without the extra hassles and delays that 2020 provided us all.
The minute Tammy was allowed to go back to work, she did. She worked every day, doing everything that our hospital would allow her to do safely. Every day she offered to help all of us and do everything she could to lessen the effects of COVID stress on our work family.
It was clear on some days at work that she was suffering. She was tired. She had headaches. On her worst days she might ask for an ibuprofen, or a heating pad. If you asked how she was she would answer, "I'm great. This stuff really works!" Then she would offer to work overtime to cover colleagues with COVID or to help with all of our new duties. She is tough. And she is a hard worker. Tammy is a fighter.
The good news is that Tammy is now on oral chemo tablets, and her most recent MRI showed some good progress. Her hair is growing back and is adorable and soft and curly. Her oldest daughter, Kamryn, graduated from high school, and her youngest daughter, Peyton, is learning to drive.
Why we should all give as much as we can to help Tammy and her family...
Our workplace, Sparrow Hospital, has a program that can offer help to employees who have medical bills, once their PTO is completely depleted. Tammy has applied to this program. Last year our work family helped plan a fundraiser at the VFW, but it also had to be cancelled due to COVID.
Meanwhile it is 2021 and the clock just restarted Tammy's medical deductibles. This on top of thousands of dollars of medical bills from 2020. Tammy and her family could use our help. Tammy would NEVER ask for help. She did say it was okay if I asked on her behalf. And so I am asking.
Let's pull together and help make 2021 better for Tammy and her family.
At age 26...
At age 26, Tammy found a lump in her left breast. On July 5, 2005, Tammy was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. She had chemo and radiation, a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction.
Later that same year, her husband, Rocky, was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. The bad news, and the bills, really stacked up.
Their family ended up having to declare bankruptcy, due to overwhelming medical expenses, despite the fact that they both worked full time through their illnesses. Tammy and Rocky's daughters, Kamryn and Peyton, had to do fundraisers each year to attend a camp designed for kids whose parents have cancer.
In 2008 Tammy, as result of her chemo, had a hysterectomy. She then had what she describes as "fifteen beautiful years cancer free."
Then came 2020...
Take everything that we all went through in 2020 as humans. Then add that Tammy is a healthcare worker- a dedicated Medical Assistant in our primary care clinic (that is designated as rural and underserved- a community hard hit in many ways by 2020).
Then add that in February of 2020 Tammy's regular follow up scans showed that, after 15 years, her cancer was back. And it spread- to her brain, her bones, her lungs and her liver. Back to chemo and radiation she went, but not without the extra hassles and delays that 2020 provided us all.
The minute Tammy was allowed to go back to work, she did. She worked every day, doing everything that our hospital would allow her to do safely. Every day she offered to help all of us and do everything she could to lessen the effects of COVID stress on our work family.
It was clear on some days at work that she was suffering. She was tired. She had headaches. On her worst days she might ask for an ibuprofen, or a heating pad. If you asked how she was she would answer, "I'm great. This stuff really works!" Then she would offer to work overtime to cover colleagues with COVID or to help with all of our new duties. She is tough. And she is a hard worker. Tammy is a fighter.
The good news is that Tammy is now on oral chemo tablets, and her most recent MRI showed some good progress. Her hair is growing back and is adorable and soft and curly. Her oldest daughter, Kamryn, graduated from high school, and her youngest daughter, Peyton, is learning to drive.
Why we should all give as much as we can to help Tammy and her family...
Our workplace, Sparrow Hospital, has a program that can offer help to employees who have medical bills, once their PTO is completely depleted. Tammy has applied to this program. Last year our work family helped plan a fundraiser at the VFW, but it also had to be cancelled due to COVID.
Meanwhile it is 2021 and the clock just restarted Tammy's medical deductibles. This on top of thousands of dollars of medical bills from 2020. Tammy and her family could use our help. Tammy would NEVER ask for help. She did say it was okay if I asked on her behalf. And so I am asking.
Let's pull together and help make 2021 better for Tammy and her family.
Organizer and beneficiary
Linda Chermak
Organizer
Okemos, MI
Tammy White
Beneficiary