Pink Ribbons in Heaven with Tammy Ratliff's Name on Them
She smiles everywhere, almost all the time. Her name was
Tammy. I met her at a Luncheon years ago. We quickly discovered we had been
diagnosed with cancer the same year, within one month of each other! In 2007, same exact pathology, same staging.
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| Camper Buddies |
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| Tammy welcoming others |
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| Christmas Parties |
Tammy Ratliff worked for a staffing agency at the time and I worked in print sales. We did business together as I worked on brochures for her employer; she was a great liaison to the account! We then
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| Camp Bluebird |
both joined an ABC ( After Breast Cancer support group sponsored by the Y). Once we connected at those meetings, she talked me into attending Camp Bluebird sponsored by St. Thomas. This is a bi-annual camp for camp survivors and is fun, support building from nurses and other volunteers strictly funded via donations. She broke me down over a year trying to convince me I 'd love it. And I did! One of my very closest friends I met at that very CAMP! I developed a brunch group, post Camp, with Tammy's input, with about 8-10 mutual friends and we met monthly at each other's homes. This really gave ongoing support and bonding as a few of the women had Metastatic Cancer. Too often, folks with long-term cancer are forgotten long after the diagnosis. Over the years, we stayed in touch but some of those groups fell by the wayside.
Tammy’s breast cancer came back, though we had the exact same treatment protocol. It appeared in her liver when it was first detected again. Cancer is insidious, evil cells.
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| Some of our Luncheon Group |
Hers put her in a treatment regiment from there on. And she dealt with it with poise, a positive attitude and tried to keep herself busy, on the good days. But her life evolved around doctor appointments, treatments, repeat scans and blood work. And long term treatment does take a toll on your body and your mind. You are never the same. But you would never know it by looking at her. She didn't talk about herself, her diagnosis, she was always there to listen, and smile. That was Tammy.
She flew away to meet her maker yesterday. Forever at peace. Tammy found serenity and freedom from cancer eternally. For that I am
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| Good-bye, but only for now! |
grateful for her. For me and many others, I will miss so many sweet things about Tammy. The pictures attached only catch a fragment of my memories as our life intersected. I do feel blessed to have had her presence in my life. I think all of us that are still survivors feel “Survivors Guilt” when someone dies of this terrible disease and we are still here to tell their story. But I will always remember what she said, "you just go on the best you can." So, Tammy, I will soldier on and encourage others to do the same!
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| Rest in Peace Tammy Ratliff |
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