Tammy's Fund- Fight Against Cancer
Donation protected
Tammy Tizard is a 41 year old woman who is the kindest, most honest person I have every met and the best friend anyone could ever ask for! She has one daughter who is 24 years old, named Jamie Brooks. Tammy has always been an amazing mother and fantasic person. Not many people may know, but she lives in Coeur D' Alene, Idaho, and most of her family is still is Southern California. She has lived up here for about 3 years, and works at the Coeur D' Alene Resort as the Front Desk Manager.
In the beginning of May 2015 Tammy started feeling pain in her abdomen. She went to the Urgent Care and had blood work done, and scheduled for an appointment with her family doctor. After her visit to her family doctor, she had a sonogram performed and discovered that there was a mass the size of a small watermelon on her right ovary.
The doctors suspected that it was a cancerous tumor, and we were referred to one of the best Gynecologic Oncologists in the Pacific Northwest. She went for further testing and a CAT Scan at Cancer Care Northwest in Spokane. The surgeon that was assigned to her had a very strong feeling that this was in fact ovarian cancer, and we had her surgery scheduled right away.
On May 21st, 2015, Tammy was admitted to Sacred Heart of Spokane, in the womens surgical unit for her surgery. Her surgeon, Dr. Elizabeth Grosen gave us 3 possibilities of what the surgery would look like. The first possibility was the tumor could have only affected her ovaries, and they would do a partial hysterectomy. The second possible outcome would be that the tumor had spread to both ovaries, and she would need a full hysterectomy. Finally, the third and worst case scenario would be that the cancer would have metasticized to other local organs, and Tammy would be in surgery for a longer period of time in order to remove all of the cancer.
We had prayed for the best possible outcome, but while we waiting in the hospital while Tammy was in surgery, the O.R. called the waiting area. The surgeon, Dr. Grosen, had found the worst possible scenario. We listened on the phone, shocked, shaking, terrified, as one of the operating surgeons explained on the phone that cancer had spread maliciously throughout Tammy's abdomen. The surgeons had a 1 hour surgery turn into a 5 hour surgery. We waited and prayed... still praying for some miracle of good news. Praying for the life of my best friend, praying for the life of a mother, praying for the life of this AMAZING human being who is a gift from God.
The cancer had spread to both ovaries, the uterus, appendix, and intenstines. Tammy had her uterus, ovaries, ovarian tubes, appendix, part of her colon, lymph nodes, and omentum removed. There were large tumors lining her abdomen wall that were removed as well. The doctors tried their best to remove all visible cancer. The surgery was so extensive that her original 2 day hospital stay was mandatorily extended to a week. Her daughter and her friends were with her, taking turns documenting every little thing that happened, and taking turns caring for her.
The final diagnosis came back from the pathologists on June 4th, 2015. The cancer was not ovarian cancer, but is a very rare form of Appendix cancer. We went to see a specialist for chemotherapy, and received this news. The snowball effect of bad news that was happening was not letting up anytime soon. Appendiceal Cancer is very rare, and very dangerous. This form of cancer is a fast growth, malignant, and terrifying cancer. Tammy was also staged at this time... and she has stage 4 cancer. The worst possible scenario. We still pray, and we will not give up.
As of right now, the medical bills are adding up, and will continue to do so. Tammy is unable to work at this time. We are told from our doctors that she will be undergoing intraveinous chemotherapy for 3 months, head back to surgery to remove (debulk) more cancer and remove more of her transverse colon, and then will undergo abdomial chemotherapy for aproximately 6 to 8 months. The doctors told us that there is a chance of recovery in the sense that we can slow the growth of the current cancer in her body.
We go for a full PET Scan on June 9th, 2015... and we are praying that the cancer has not spread to her lungs, liver, or brain.
This is a hard time for us, and Tammy has never been the type of person to ask for help. At this moment, we NEED help. Anything, really. Prayers are strongly appreciated!!!
If you can find it in your heart to donate to Tammy, please, I beg of you, donate. Anything helps.... if all of our friends donated any amount, we would be eternally grateful.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read this.
In the beginning of May 2015 Tammy started feeling pain in her abdomen. She went to the Urgent Care and had blood work done, and scheduled for an appointment with her family doctor. After her visit to her family doctor, she had a sonogram performed and discovered that there was a mass the size of a small watermelon on her right ovary.
The doctors suspected that it was a cancerous tumor, and we were referred to one of the best Gynecologic Oncologists in the Pacific Northwest. She went for further testing and a CAT Scan at Cancer Care Northwest in Spokane. The surgeon that was assigned to her had a very strong feeling that this was in fact ovarian cancer, and we had her surgery scheduled right away.
On May 21st, 2015, Tammy was admitted to Sacred Heart of Spokane, in the womens surgical unit for her surgery. Her surgeon, Dr. Elizabeth Grosen gave us 3 possibilities of what the surgery would look like. The first possibility was the tumor could have only affected her ovaries, and they would do a partial hysterectomy. The second possible outcome would be that the tumor had spread to both ovaries, and she would need a full hysterectomy. Finally, the third and worst case scenario would be that the cancer would have metasticized to other local organs, and Tammy would be in surgery for a longer period of time in order to remove all of the cancer.
We had prayed for the best possible outcome, but while we waiting in the hospital while Tammy was in surgery, the O.R. called the waiting area. The surgeon, Dr. Grosen, had found the worst possible scenario. We listened on the phone, shocked, shaking, terrified, as one of the operating surgeons explained on the phone that cancer had spread maliciously throughout Tammy's abdomen. The surgeons had a 1 hour surgery turn into a 5 hour surgery. We waited and prayed... still praying for some miracle of good news. Praying for the life of my best friend, praying for the life of a mother, praying for the life of this AMAZING human being who is a gift from God.
The cancer had spread to both ovaries, the uterus, appendix, and intenstines. Tammy had her uterus, ovaries, ovarian tubes, appendix, part of her colon, lymph nodes, and omentum removed. There were large tumors lining her abdomen wall that were removed as well. The doctors tried their best to remove all visible cancer. The surgery was so extensive that her original 2 day hospital stay was mandatorily extended to a week. Her daughter and her friends were with her, taking turns documenting every little thing that happened, and taking turns caring for her.
The final diagnosis came back from the pathologists on June 4th, 2015. The cancer was not ovarian cancer, but is a very rare form of Appendix cancer. We went to see a specialist for chemotherapy, and received this news. The snowball effect of bad news that was happening was not letting up anytime soon. Appendiceal Cancer is very rare, and very dangerous. This form of cancer is a fast growth, malignant, and terrifying cancer. Tammy was also staged at this time... and she has stage 4 cancer. The worst possible scenario. We still pray, and we will not give up.
As of right now, the medical bills are adding up, and will continue to do so. Tammy is unable to work at this time. We are told from our doctors that she will be undergoing intraveinous chemotherapy for 3 months, head back to surgery to remove (debulk) more cancer and remove more of her transverse colon, and then will undergo abdomial chemotherapy for aproximately 6 to 8 months. The doctors told us that there is a chance of recovery in the sense that we can slow the growth of the current cancer in her body.
We go for a full PET Scan on June 9th, 2015... and we are praying that the cancer has not spread to her lungs, liver, or brain.
This is a hard time for us, and Tammy has never been the type of person to ask for help. At this moment, we NEED help. Anything, really. Prayers are strongly appreciated!!!
If you can find it in your heart to donate to Tammy, please, I beg of you, donate. Anything helps.... if all of our friends donated any amount, we would be eternally grateful.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read this.
Organizer
Krystal Starr
Organizer
Coeur d'Alene, ID