Terry's Unicorn Fund

What a difference a day can make . . ..

We call this campaign Terry's Unicorn Fund, because each day, we hope that the medication she receives works to transform her body back to wellness.

For those who do not know me, my name is Iris Gavin, and I am blessed to be married to Terry’s son, Shawn Gavin. This page is a collaboration between all of us who love her, including Shawn and me, Terry’s daughter, Kim; husband, Bob; son-in-law, Chris; and her mother, Carmella. 

Let’s start at the beginning. 

Terry was tired. Who isn’t, right? This beautiful existence can be exhausting at times. The cold medicine was not working, the cough kept lingering, and exhaustion took over. The day Terry woke up with splotches on her legs and blood coming out of her ears was the day she knew something was not right.

When she visited with her primary care doctor, she was admitted to hospital right away, her blood platelet count dangerously low.

This tilted her world on its axis.

Shawn flew to Atlanta to be with her and the family while the doctors and nurses ran tests. For a week, the treatment was plasma exchange for the diagnosis of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP). Each day we hoped her platelet number would go back up to a safe level, but they didn’t, even after 40 bags!!

Wow, the feats of human ingenuity are amazing! 

Her body was not responding as quickly as anticipated. At that point, her doctors decided to transfer her to the hematology floor at Emory University Hospital. It was a welcome change after being in ICU for days. 


Emory University Hospital is the best place, besides John Hopkins, to treat what looked like a rare blood disease. This is the place they cured Ebola when it came to the US. Surely these highly trained specialists would be able to figure things out. Lots of different diagnoses were put forward. Could she have “Myleodyplastic Syndrome” (MDS), an autoimmune disease? Some type of leukemia? Many different possible diagnoses were suggested, each with its own acronym. 

The uncertainty of not having a diagnosis is horrible. It’s days of waiting in fear and doubt, wondering, “Why can't these doctors figure things out?”


Shawn was there making everyone laugh, asking questions, and brightening the world. Through that came PSP, which became our family acronym for Patience, Strength, and Positivity. Hey, if the doctors can have their acronyms, so can we! This acronym has been crucial to Terry. Every day it is her mantra to fight, to have strength, to remain positive, and, above all, to have patience as her body regains its health. 

So, where are we now? How is Terry’s body changing? Why a unicorn? Her diagnosis is Aplastic Anemia, which, amusingly, has no acronym. Halleluiah, we have a diagnosis! One that does not have the words “cancer” or “leukemia” attached to it. Great, doctors, let’s get started. How do we treat it? What’s the prognosis? How long ‘til she’s back to “normal”? By the way, can’t you do it any faster? See? We all need a little PSP into our lives.


Last week, Terry was readmitted to Emory to start her immunosuppressive therapy. This treatment is a combination of Anti-Thymocyte Globulin (ATG) and Cyclosporine that has a 70% full recovery rate. We love these odds, and while it’s not 100%, PSP keeps us looking forward.

So, here is where the unicorn enters the equation. ATG is created by injecting human white blood cells (T-cells) into a horse or rabbit and then extracting the antibodies produced. In studies, the cells from horses have a higher overall response rate. This is the type Terry has been given for the past week. We joke that she is being injected with ponies or, in her case, unicorns, because we all need a little magic.


In the process of healing her, this treatment is basically killing her immune system, leaving her fragile and weak. It will require a long period of continued monitoring, blood transfusions, platelets, and about 20 pills per day. Some of the pills are for the side effects (which are many, but so far, she has had only a few), and others are to support her immune function. 

We are at the beginning of this process. There are going to be many good days and many bad days. PSP!  

Many friends have asked, “What can we do to help?”

She cannot have flowers, due to the harmful pesticides, and she even has to be careful about exposure to insects. So, here are some ways you can help. 

1. Pray. This strong lady has a long way to go in this fight.
2. Give her a lift—literally and figuratively. Are you in the Atlanta area? There will be times when Terry needs a ride and some company during her treatments.
3. Donate. We don’t know how long it will be before she is cleared to go back to work. Even when she is, she will not have the strength to work as often as before. The medical bills will be astronomical. Insurance will pay for most of it, but she and Bob will still have a big deductible to pay off, and all the pills she requires are expensive, too.
4. A job: Oh right, and here is the kicker folks. Two weeks before Terry went into the hospital for the first time, Bob was laid off. That took a two-income home down to one, and the remaining income has been reduced to disability. Do you know of a job in the Gwinnett area that would be a fit for Bob? A lead on that would be welcome, too. 



The stress of being sick combined with the stress of money can wreak havoc on everyone. We want Terry to focus on healing her body. We send light into the darkest spaces in everyone’s heart right now. The focus is health and healing. Please, if you can, your donation will go to keeping this brave lady, her wonderful husband, and her elderly mother, who is living with them, afloat.

We have faith in her body’s ability to heal and that the doctors are doing the right things to make this happen. Most importantly, we have faith in our heavenly Father, who holds our lives in His hands. 

Thank you you for sharing this message and your donation.
These funds will be used to pay the out of pocket insurance deductible, and any medication that is not covered under insurance.
They will go directly to Bob and Terry, into an account that has been created for this fund. 

Please donate and share this message far and wide!