8.25.2010

TISH'S STORY BY DENIZ TEK



WRITTEN BY DENIZ TEK:

Tish is a unit coordinator in the Emergency Department where I work. All of us who work there were shocked a couple of months ago to hear the news that Tish had been diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer ... a disaster, as she's a young single mom.

Tish's Story (in her own words)

"My name is Latisha Madrid. I was born and raised in Billings, Montana. I met my husband, Junior, we married and had a son Jesus, now 13. We moved to Phoenix in 2000. Had two more kids Alex, 8; and Emma, 6.


In March of 2005 we moved back to Billings. A week after we arrived we found out I was pregnant with our fourth child, Junior, now 4. One week later my husband passed away in a car accident. I felt like a huge rock fell on me. No home, no job, pregnant, with 3 kids. I knew I had to stay strong for my kids.After I had the baby I got a job at St Vincent Hospital. I worked hard and eventually, I was buying my house and we were doing well. I couldn't have done any of this without my family.

At the end of May 2010 I got a call from my doctor about my test results. I have gastric cancer. That was the worst news I could hear at this point in my life. Not just for me, but for my kids.

They already lost their dad. I am not going to let them grow up without a mom. I've gone through chemo and radiation already. That was a tough road. A lot worse than I expected. The kids adapted well to my being sick and in bed a lot. Today as I write this I feel wonderful. Trying to catch up with doing things with the kids and being a normal family before surgery on August 30th.


We are hoping and praying that we are able to get all the cancer out and I will be done with everything after surgery. With everything I've been through so far all I can say is have faith and live for today because you never know what tomorrow will bring you.----

Some of the nurses and Deniz Tek are organizing a benefit for Tish ... on 10 Sept we will have a fundraiser at The Rockpile, Billings, Montana, 6p - 1130p with live music from Tek and a local version of the Soul Movers; Nina Frost's new lineup Hypocrite Like Me; and the SOB's ("Sons of Billings") fresh from their gig at the Magic City Blues Festival. The Parker boys acoustic duo "Eyes On Skies" will also be there.

If you have ever been to one of their ER parties, you know how wild and over the top they can be ... this one promises to go nuclear. Anyone wishing to donate to Tish's fund can send money via Paypal to hiwatt01@gmail.com or send a check to Latisha Madrid direct, care of Emergency Department, Saint Vincent Hospital, Billings, MT 59101.

5 comments:

Connie Spencer Garmany said...

Great story you posted, heartbreaking!
Please save me a Retro Kimmer button; what a great job your daughter did! Fun!
Connie

Dee Gilbert said...

This one touched my heart.I am going to send something to help her and children to the hospital.What a courageous woman.We are so lucky to have our health Kim, fame, fortune,material things cannot compare to having one's health.thank you for this story.I am so grateful today for what I do have.

Deniz said...

Thank you so very much, Retrokimmer, for taking the time from your hyperbusy schedule and posting this.

Knowing Tish personally, I want to thank all who help. You cant imagine what a little contribution does! Not the cash itself so much, but the positive energy she will feel from knowing that total strangers care about her and her children.

I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Deniz

Retro Kimmer said...

You are welcome Deniz and this is the number one story on RK for 2 days now. Hopefully all our facebook friends will help Tish and her family too. Happy to help.

Kim

Geri Rubello Gillespie said...

this is so unfair, her and her beautiful children are in my thoughts.

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