DO IT FOR TARA
Donation protected
My wife Tara has been struggling with a sciatic pain since before her pregnancy in late 2014. Tara is an athlete and avid runner so we suspected the injury was related to her training. Being the pillar of health that she is, we never suspected that her injury was something much more serious. After the birth of our baby girl Savannah in June of 2015 her pain has progressively become worse. During the Christmas of 2015 Tara’s pain began to become debilitating. Tara began to struggle with her workouts. We tried physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic and massage which provided little to no relief. Finally the pain became incapacitating and we rushed her to the emergency room. We soon discovered that Tara had lesions on three of her vertebrae tumors on her spine, liver, and lungs. Tara was assigned an oncologist who advised us that Tara had Stage 4 Melanoma Cancer and that her chance of survival would be slim.
I met Tara when I was 30 in the summer of 2011. The first thing I noticed about Tara besides her beauty was her endless amount of energy. She had an energy about her that made me feel good about being with her. We spent our first day together on the beach and have been inseparable ever since. I knew that I was going to marry Tara the first day I met her. She embodied all the qualities that I was searching for in a woman to not only be my wife but my best friend as well. I remember how excited I was when I bought Tara her engagement ring. I wanted to tell all my friends and family my plans for the proposal. I remember getting choked up when I asked her father for his blessing. I proposed to Tara in front of both our families in July of 2012, exactly one year from the day we met. Tara and I were married in July of 2013. Our wedding was modest but filled with love from all
our friends and family. As I watched her walk down the aisle towards me I remember fighting back the tears and overwhelming feelings of excitement, so that I was composed enough to recite my vows. October 2014 was the month we found out we were pregnant. We technically were only trying to get pregnant for 3 months, but to Tara it was a lifetime. She was so excited to have a baby and become a mother. By the first month she was already researching birthing centers and different methods of birth. By the time Tara gave birth to our baby girl Savannah she was an expert. My admiration and respect for Tara infinitely grew when I witnessed her endure 27 hours of labor without any drugs or medical intervention. Tara knew she wanted a natural birth from day 1 and nothing was going to sway her from her goal. On June 20th 2014 or gorgeous baby girl Savannah was born. Savannah was every bit as feisty and stubborn as her mother. Savannah put us through 6 months without sleep. Once again Tara’s determination paid off. Tara would not hesitate to wake up every 2
hours to breastfeed Savannah. Watching the mother daughter bond between Tara and Savannah solidified my love for her. She is the perfect mother.
Tara is such an amazing woman. She continues to wake up with a bright smile and hope everyday despite her struggles with the pain of cancer. Tara remains strong and positive despite the excruciating pain she experiences day to day. I know Tara will never give up and I will never give up on her. My mission in life now is to restore the health of my wife. I would do absolutely anything for my family. Tara has such an amazing and unique spirit. My wife enriches the lives of the people closest to her. Tara extracts happiness, joy and love from the people she meets. The past week has revealed how much influence she has had over people she knows well and even some that she has only met several times. There has been and out pouring of love and support from our family and friends.
Tara deserves a fighting chance to watch her daughter grow. She deserves a long enough life to walk Savannah to her first day of school, to help her braid her hair, answer the million questions Savannah will have as a toddler, ride a bike for the first time and grow into a woman that shines as bright as she does. Tara deserves to cry when she sees Savannah in her prom dress, cry as she watches Savannah drive off to college, cry when she watches Savannah walk down the aisle at her wedding and cry when Savannah gives birth to her grandchild.
Please support my wife so that she can live the life she deserves.
I met Tara when I was 30 in the summer of 2011. The first thing I noticed about Tara besides her beauty was her endless amount of energy. She had an energy about her that made me feel good about being with her. We spent our first day together on the beach and have been inseparable ever since. I knew that I was going to marry Tara the first day I met her. She embodied all the qualities that I was searching for in a woman to not only be my wife but my best friend as well. I remember how excited I was when I bought Tara her engagement ring. I wanted to tell all my friends and family my plans for the proposal. I remember getting choked up when I asked her father for his blessing. I proposed to Tara in front of both our families in July of 2012, exactly one year from the day we met. Tara and I were married in July of 2013. Our wedding was modest but filled with love from all
our friends and family. As I watched her walk down the aisle towards me I remember fighting back the tears and overwhelming feelings of excitement, so that I was composed enough to recite my vows. October 2014 was the month we found out we were pregnant. We technically were only trying to get pregnant for 3 months, but to Tara it was a lifetime. She was so excited to have a baby and become a mother. By the first month she was already researching birthing centers and different methods of birth. By the time Tara gave birth to our baby girl Savannah she was an expert. My admiration and respect for Tara infinitely grew when I witnessed her endure 27 hours of labor without any drugs or medical intervention. Tara knew she wanted a natural birth from day 1 and nothing was going to sway her from her goal. On June 20th 2014 or gorgeous baby girl Savannah was born. Savannah was every bit as feisty and stubborn as her mother. Savannah put us through 6 months without sleep. Once again Tara’s determination paid off. Tara would not hesitate to wake up every 2
hours to breastfeed Savannah. Watching the mother daughter bond between Tara and Savannah solidified my love for her. She is the perfect mother.
Tara is such an amazing woman. She continues to wake up with a bright smile and hope everyday despite her struggles with the pain of cancer. Tara remains strong and positive despite the excruciating pain she experiences day to day. I know Tara will never give up and I will never give up on her. My mission in life now is to restore the health of my wife. I would do absolutely anything for my family. Tara has such an amazing and unique spirit. My wife enriches the lives of the people closest to her. Tara extracts happiness, joy and love from the people she meets. The past week has revealed how much influence she has had over people she knows well and even some that she has only met several times. There has been and out pouring of love and support from our family and friends.
Tara deserves a fighting chance to watch her daughter grow. She deserves a long enough life to walk Savannah to her first day of school, to help her braid her hair, answer the million questions Savannah will have as a toddler, ride a bike for the first time and grow into a woman that shines as bright as she does. Tara deserves to cry when she sees Savannah in her prom dress, cry as she watches Savannah drive off to college, cry when she watches Savannah walk down the aisle at her wedding and cry when Savannah gives birth to her grandchild.
Please support my wife so that she can live the life she deserves.
Organizer and beneficiary
Minna Melman Herskowitz
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
John Walker
Beneficiary
