Tammie graduated from Paxon High School 35 years ago. In 1995, she married Kenny Collier and they’ve been happily married for 19 years. She was a foster parent for Children’s Home Society for six years and she adopted four children from there in 2006. She was awarded the Foster Parent of the Year award in 2003, but because of her declining health, was forced to resign from the foster care program which she loved dearly.

Tammi had juvenile diabetes and in 2001 had to begin dialysis. She contracted an infection in her heart (endocarditis), and had to have a heart valve replaced. This caused her kidneys to weaken even more, leading to a diagnosis of kidney cancer in 2004. This caused her to lose both kidneys and need a kidney transplant.

In order to be considered for a kidney transplant, Tammie had to be cancer-free for five years. She has now done that and is on the list for a kidney transplant. Transplants are life-saving but very expensive and Tammie needs your help because she can’t afford to do this on her own. The Mayo Clinic is requiring that Tammie raise a minimum of $10,000 to cover her share of the costs.

To help with this financial burden, a fundraising campaign in Tammie’s honor has been established with HelpHOPELive, a nonprofit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for 30 years. All donations are tax-deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the Southeast Kidney Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Donate Now button.

For more information, please contact HelpHOPELive at 800.642.8399.

Thank you for your prayers, support, and generosity,

Judy Gunter (friend)
904-764-8251