Tatum Tillman

Our Tatum is battling cancer and has been for more than half his young life. Tatum and his family's lives now revolve around chemotherapy, appointments, various therapies (physical, speech, etc), medications, all while keeping as normal as a family life as possible, and put their hearts into their full-time jobs at Burnsville's schools. You will be hard-pressed to find a more loving, charitable, selfless, resilient family as the Tillmans. Even so, this is so hard and no parent should go through what they are going through. 

We are raising money to pay for all of the bills that Tatum's family are enduring through this journey. The costs that remain are unknown and we appreciate all support you can provide. Thank you all so much for your love and support! It means so much!

How we got here...
• A parent's worst nightmare.  During a regular six month check-up, a mass was discovered via an x-ray and Tatum was immediately admitted to the Oncology floor at Children’s Hospital. 

• Tatum had a CT scan on May 10 where the radiologist confirmed that Tatum had cancer. The tumor was about the size of a nerf football. It stretched from his lung to his abdomen.  

• Tatum underwent an emergency surgery to relieve pressure on his spine from the tumor. 

• The scariest day.  Post-surgery, a breathing tube was put in because of difficulty breathing. Tatum went into cardiac arrest during the procedure. For almost an hour, Tatum needed machine assistance and chest compressions. Family rushed to the hospital to be with Megan, Jack, and Tatum.

• After this near-death experience, the doctors determined there was damage on the right side of Tatum's brain’s frontal lobe, which means the left side of his body was weakened. 

• The long stay.  Tatum spent four months at Children's hospital in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and Oncology floor. He underwent two rounds of chemotherapy and a major surgery to remove the tumor.  

• Things are looking up.  On September 13, Tatum went home!  

• The family loves being home together, and they adjust to their new normal. Big brother, Teagan, helps out and plays with baby Tate! Grandpa from Madison quits his job and moves to Minnesota to help out with Tatum's 3-5 day a week appointments and allows Megan and Jack to start the school year.

• Tough news. Unfortunately, within days of Tatum's first birthday, the doctors found signs of cancer and discovered the tumor growing around his spine. 

• Keep moving forward.  Due to the risk involved with the surgery (spine would have to be taken apart to get at the cancer and then put back together again), the doctors determined the best course of action is another two rounds of chemotherapy. 

• Tatum has remained strong through both rounds of his chemotherapy treatments. Results of the impact these treatments are not known yet. 

Please visit the GoFundMe page to support the family: //www.gofundme.com/5j6dkmg


You can also support the family by providing meals! Feel free to sign-up  in the Task Planner under the Ways To Help section of this page.   

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