Memphis Mom Needs Kidney Transplant: #TimeForTammy

I’ve been communicating with our dear friends, Tammy and Roc Johnson over Facebook lately to stay up-to-date on her condition and tossed around the idea of writing a post about Tammy’s health situation. Not wanting to be overly dramatic, we felt it would be a good opportunity to share her struggle and raise awareness about one of those diseases that nobody seems to have heard of. But time has a way of smacking you upside the head, and after speaking with Roc a few hours ago, I’ve realized that we have to rally for Tammy – now.

As Roc recalled the events of the last 24 hours, I could only imagine how traumatic it has been to see Tammy receive CPR while trying to calm their kids, and now sitting beside his wife of 18 years in the CVICU at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis, TN awaiting test results. I’m pretty sure I lost my words while trying to express our love and concern for them. You know that feeling when you want to make a situation better but it is far beyond your control.

In this world of social media and blogs, so many stories come across our news feed. I often think how nice it is when I see an online mom rally. That’s what I call it – when a group of women try to lift each other up rather than cut anyone down. Tammy is just like me, or you, or any other mom. She is just like all of us, trying to do the best for her family, and enjoy life together – and she could really use a mom rally right about now.

Here’s a little bit about my friend, Tammy Johnson. She is a 41-year-old wife, mother to Natalie (11) and William (7), and passionate dog lover. Roc and Tammy have filled the quota on health struggles so many times, it feels unfair to see what they have had to endure, including the loss of a son born at 23 weeks. Yet their relationship has always been one that I admire. Equipped with a sharp wit, endless supply of humor, and ability to capture the attention in a room, Tammy is the life of a party and the nucleus of her family.

She was born with a congenital heart defect and had one of the first open heart surgeries performed in Memphis as an infant. In her 20’s, she was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) which seems to be a disease that stays under the public radar and doesn’t receive much attention. Even as a nurse, admittedly, I had not been very familiar with this disease process. Basically, PKD is an inherited disease which causes cysts to develop within the kidneys.

In 2012, Tammy had to undergo a partial hysterectomy and open heart surgery for pulmonic valve replacement and repair of her tricuspid valve. Yet she managed these major health challenges while keeping up with their young kids and maintaining her spunky energy. This past year has been filled with emotional and financial tolls, but the biggest toll has been the physical toll on Tammy after months and months on dialysis. Just before the new year, Tammy had both of her kidneys removed due to the effects of PKD. Since then, she has been on an endless rough road while on the kidney transplant list. Friends and family that love Tammy know that she is tough and resilient – she has demonstrated these traits throughout her life, but this time is different. She is in desperate need of a kidney donor – soon.

Last week was particularly rough, and Tammy was experiencing weakness, shortness of breath, and issues with her blood pressure. As of today, she is in the CVICU at Methodist University Hospital. She collapsed yesterday with Roc, Natalie, and William by her side, and is currently undergoing a series of tests. Just a few weeks ago, Tammy messaged me explaining how she just had no energy but she was more worried about Roc, her college sweetheart. That’s the kind of person, and mom that she is. She has always taken time for someone else and now it’s #TimeForTammy.

What can you do?

Tammy is O+ and needs a kidney donor. If you would consider becoming a living donor, please email: do***********@***il.com
All inquiries are completely confidential.

If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to assist in any out-of-pocket expenses related to her kidney disease, hospitalizations, and treatment, please visit: http://patients.transplants.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=485635&supid=403580543#

*All donations will be set aside to assist in any out-of-pocket expenses related to her kidney disease including kidney transplantation, subsequent life-long daily medications as well as living donor expenses not covered by insurance if she is fortunate enough to find a living donor.

If you’d prefer to send a gift by mail, please send it to:

NFT Tennessee Transplant Fund
5350 Poplar Avenue, Suite 430
Memphis, TN 38119.
Please be sure to write “in honor of Tammy Johnson” on the memo line.