I am a Navy Veteran who married another Navy Veteran. Together we are raising a family of daughters who also want to serve our community.
After a 4 year battle with stage 4 breast cancer that almost took my life more than once, I was well enough to support my husband in following his dream of becoming a Police Officer in New Smyrna Beach.
With everything going as planned I became a Patient Care Tech working in the Progressive Care Unit at Advent Health New Smyrna. We were living the dream.
October 2nd as I was working I had a stroke, was coded and sent to the ED of my own hospital. Since then I have learned that I am having uncontrolled seizures every hour. Some are minor and some are full-blown petite mal seizures. My husband has tried his hardest to stay by my side and care for me but as we all know the bills never stop coming.
I hate to have to ask for help, but our simple life is more than the Police department pay can handle. I am hopeful that by the end of the year my doctors will figure out what is happening and get me back to work. But I am terrified that I may be put on permanent disability. I'm a worker and don't know where to turn to cover the gap between now and then.
My husband's brother in arms has afforded us the opportunity to turn to all of you for help. We do so with heavy hearts and a face full of tears. We don't know what the future looks like but we need your help to get there.
As we pay the endless doctor bills and co-pays to keep moving forward with treatment we keep falling further behind and I don't want my husband worried about finances, I want his mind clear to protect the community he swore to protect and be vigilant and keep himself and his shift mates safe.
Our goal for this campaign is just to survive this journey and be able to continue to live. Please find it in your heart to help our blue family and help in any way. We promise to do the same when we are out of our storm. This to shall pass, we believe this with all our heart.
Thank you in advance from the bottom of our hearts.
Updates
43? I can't believe it! I never thought that I would be grateful to be this age. But after Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer at 36, countless infections, infinite and continuing reconstructive breast surgeries, a mini stroke which brought out a seizure disorder at 42, while working. So I am overjoyed and blessed to be 43 today. My daughter had to give me a sumatriptan injection for a migraine which almost always leads to a seizure. She is a brave girl and wise beyond her 17 years. Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes, the continuing love, support and well wishes. I am truly blessed and I could not do this without each of you. Thank you. I truly love and appreciate all of you. Love Tonya❤
Good morning to our beautiful community, family, and friends. It's been a few days since I've given y'all an update. I'm not sure if I told you in my last update about my most recent MRI results, but my neurologist says that the lesions look the same and that nothing has changed with them which is a good thing. I'm now at 150mg of Topamax in conjunction with 3000mg of keppra for my seizure disorder. Next week I will begin 200mg of Topamax which is what my neurologist is thinking will be my max dosage. so far I think I agree. I honestly feel better than I have since before all of this came crashing down on me, October 2nd. I'm thinking a little bit more clearly with each passing day, I'm a bit more stable on my feet, I'm having more complete sentences and praise God, I believe that this is day #5 without any seizures! That's the longest without seizures since this nightmare began. I am hopeful and prayerful that this progress will continue and that we are on the right track with treatment and meds and that hopefully I won't have to go to Mayo clinic. All I'm doing is taking it one day and sometimes 1 hour at a time. I'm still going through breast reconstruction surgeries from cancer and I meet with my amazing surgeon next week to discuss and plan the next surgery. I hope that everyone has a great day. Thank you all for blessing my family in every way imaginable. Lots of love, The Beatty's
Here's an update from today's neurology appointment as promised....
I saw my neurologist today. She's happy with the progress that I'm making with the Topamax, but we I am not quite where she needs me to be. I've had 2 seizures since my last appointment. 1 induced by a virtual eye exam and one like the day when things started at work. But her train of thought is because I'm making such good progress with Topamax that once I reach my max dosage of 200mg the week of 12/14 Jessica thinks that I should be ready to come back to work after my next appointment on 12/21. I feel much better each day. although I do have moments of setbacks. some big. some small. I am praying so hard to come back to work after my next appointment it'll be the best Christmas present I could ask for. I'm being cautiously optimistic. I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends With love and thanks, Tonya
Tomorrow is another follow up appointment with my neurologist. Hopefully they'll have the results from the MRI that I had this past Wednesday and it'll shed some light on things. These appointments make me so nervous and fill me with so much anxiety. it's like when I meet with my oncologist.... the fear never lessens. This neurology journey is quite different. Scarier in a lot of ways. My oncologist put it best at my last 6 month check up "the brain is so unknown It's such a mystery." Maybe that's why it's so scary for me. it's so unknown and every pill, every test is almost like a guessing game to see if it's going to work or what's going to happen. After I have my appointment tomorrow I will post another update Thank you again for all of the prayers and support
Happy Thanksgiving to my Fund the First family, beautiful community, family and friends. I began my day by watching Fund the First's segment on CBS at 0840 and learning more in depth about why and how they are able to do so much good for our big first responder family. Thank you to everyone at Fund the First for everything that you do for First responders behind the scenes. With gratitude, love and appreciation The Beatty family ❤
Donations & Comments
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Reply from Tonya Beatty3 years agoThank you David for your encouragement and well wishes. My family and me appreciate your kindness and generous donation and appreciate your support.
Be well
Reply from Tonya Beatty3 years agoTbank you so much Joyce. Every day is just a little bit better. Thabk you for generously donating to my family ❤
Reply from Tonya Beatty3 years agoThank you for your kindness and generosity. My family and I appreciate your donation very much and we hope that you you know how much of a difference you have made in our lives. ❤
God Bless and prayers for you and your family.
Reply from Tonya Beatty3 years agoThank you Dave for your prayers and blessings. Thank you for your generously donating to my family in our time of need. Without the kindness of people like you, I honestly don't know what we would do. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and please know how grateful we are for you
barb sez she misses your conversion at the coffee shop
Reply from Tonya Beatty3 years agoNow I'm crying 😢 I absolutely adore Barb. She always made even the longest, most draining days better. She could always make me laugh. Thank you both from the bottom of my heart. You're a great guy too Tony.... a big ole teddy bear. I promise not to tell anyone. Thank you both. and may God bless you tenfold ❤
Prayers and Strength.
Reply from Tonya Beatty3 years agoThank you so much. it's people like you who give me the strength to make it through another day. I have never felt so much love and support in my entire life and I am so incredibly grateful for you being so willing to help in my family in our time of need. Thank you for all that you do to protect and serve our community. I pray for you and the safety of every officer and staff member every morning. ❤
Reply from Tonya Beatty3 years agoKaren you are so sweet to donate to my family. We are truly grateful for your kindness. Thank you very much ❤
Wishing you well
Reply from Tonya Beatty3 years agoThank you for your well wishes Susan and your heartfelt donation to my family. We are very thankful for your kindness and generosity.
Prayers for your ongoing recovery and for your family. Stay strong.
Reply from Tonya Beatty3 years agoKathy and Jerome you are a true answer to prayer. Thank you for praying for me and thank you for being a willing vessel. Your message is so encouraging. Thank you for being so generous and selfless and for blessing my family with your donation ❤
May God bless you and your family and bring you great healing and comfort.
Reply from Tonya Beatty3 years agoLaura you have brought me comfort by your sweet message. I hope that one day I can give you a hug and thank you in person. Thank you for your prayers and generosity. I pray that God blesses you and your family tenfold ❤
I wish you and your family the best. Stay strong