EVANSTON — Tamika Hernandez, a local 35-year-old woman, is currently fighting for her life with both stage 3 thyroid cancer and heart failure.
Hernandez, who is a single mom of five …
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EVANSTON — Tamika Hernandez, a local 35-year-old woman, is currently fighting for her life with both stage 3 thyroid cancer and heart failure.
Hernandez, who is a single mom of five biological children and two bonus kids, ranging in age from 2 to 18, has recently befriended two other local women, Kerri Lamb and Angie Hintz, who have stepped in to help the Hernandez family raise funds.
“I’m seeing the good in this community,” Hernandez told the Herald. “When you have wonderful ladies like these in your corner, having them is a tremendous help. I’m so grateful.”
In the fall of 2020, Hernandez found a lump in her throat. She was subsequently diagnosed with stage 2 thyroid cancer, requiring the complete removal of her thyroid and 100 surrounding lymph nodes and neck tissue.
After receiving the first of three post-op radiation treatments, Hernandez discovered that she was pregnant with her fifth child.
“At that point we were pretty hopeful. They thought they got the majority of the cancer,” she said of ending the radiation treatments early.
Hernandez, who had begun experiencing chest pains during pregnancy, gave birth to her daughter in June 2022 via emergency cesarean section. One month postpartum, Hernandez was suffering from shortness of breath and lethargy.
“I couldn’t hold the baby. I felt weak, like I was going to pass out,” she said.
An X-ray discovered fluid around her heart. A follow-up electro cardiogram (EKG) at the University of Utah determined that Hernandez’s heart was functioning at just 10%, at which point she was diagnosed with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM), an uncommon heart failure condition that affects women in the late stages of pregnancy and/or in the months following delivery.
While Hernandez was eventually released from the hospital once her heart functionality improved to a mere 30%, a mid-December screening with her oncologist discovered that her thyroid cancer had returned.
“I noticed lumps in late summer/early fall. The tumors came back and have grown,” she said.
Hernandez was advised by her cardiology team that “my heart is too weak to undergo surgery again or radiation.” She is also currently ineligible for a heart transplant because of the cancer.
The priority, Hernandez says, is to try to stabilize her heart and increase its functionality from 30% to 50%. She is scheduled to have pacemaker and defibrillator devices implanted in late January.
“Everything is working against your heart,” Hernandez said she was told by several experts.
Her cardiologist is hoping to extend her life at least another one to five years and until significant heart function returns, cancer treatment is postponed indefinitely.
Over the past 5 years, Hernandez has endured one health crisis after another, including a three-day coma from cardiac septic shock and diabetes complications from Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY) in 2024.
She’s also been recently diagnosed with Addison’s disease, an autoimmune disorder that further complicates a variety of treatment options.
“I don’t wish this on anyone, but I wouldn’t change it,” Hernandez said of her journey.
“She didn’t ask me for help; she’s pretty humble,” Hintz said.
Close friend, Lamb, who’s become Hernandez’s chosen family, added, “She never complains. She always has a good attitude.”
Both women say they chose to help Hernandez after enduring their own health setbacks then fortunately experiencing community support and generosity firsthand.
“I was so grateful, I want to give back,” Hintz said.
“People were good to me,” added Lamb.
The fundraising goal is $25,000 as Hernandez does not have life or burial insurance. All funds will be used to assist with those expenses and any extra will be allocated for her children. Lamb and Hintz are also still looking for donations and sponsors.
They are hosting an online Facebook auction called the “Tamika Hernandez fundraiser” through Feb. 3. There is also a donation account for the Hernandez Family established at First Bank in Evanston.
A Caribbean barbecue fundraiser dinner will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Evanston Youth Club. Cost for adults is $25, and $10 for kids 10 and under.