Tiffani Berthold

Welcome to our CaringBridge website.  We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place.  

This part of our story began in the Spring of 2018. After a three-month road trip across the country, our small family chose to settle down in Greenville, South Carolina. Her husband discovered a lump in her neck on New Year's Eve 2017/2018, while giving her a back rub (not the kind you're thinking). Tiff was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma a few weeks later. 

Since then, our family has seen many things. In particular, we've seen how much good exists in the world. Strangers have become dear friends. Dear friends have become family. Our family has grown closer and relationships are stronger than ever. The one thing we haven't seen is the finish line. 

In the last few months, Tiff has received her second round of radiation, a stem cell harvest, her third concoction—and almost innumerable round—of chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, and three-weeks in the hospital. After she was discharged, Tiff spent two-weeks at home in the highest of spirits. Making plans, discussing dreams, and even helping paint and re-decorate her toddler's bedroom. Unfortunately, things took a turn. 

Symptoms raged, nearly out of nowhere, and for another two-weeks we watched as Tiff began to feel worse. Low-grade fevers, low oxygen levels, intense headaches, and a heart rate between 110 and 160 bpm. Her incredible oncologist accelerated testing and began ruling out different possibilities. In the end, we all decided Tiffani needed to be re-admitted to the hospital in order to get to the bottom of what may be happening. That was Thursday, May 14, 2020. 

Tiff had a biopsy the next day. In post-op, they removed her breathing tube but Tiff wasn't able to breathe on her own. After replacing the oxygen tube, she vomited and the medical team rushed to prevent aspiration and further complications. Since then, Tiffani has been off the breathing tube for only a few hours. Even then, she still required significant oxygen support and it simply wasn't working. The medical team opted to re-intubate. Tiff has been heavily sedated for comfort since Sunday afternoon, May 17th. Many are asking how they can help and this site is one avenue. The other thing we've done is to start a social media campaign.

We are baseball people and baseball people know the power of a little light-hearted superstition. When your team is down and you need to catch some breaks, you don the Rally Cap. Your baseball hat, inside out, standing on end (brim straight up), or multiple hats stacked atop one another are all forms of Rally Caps. We are asking people who also want to help, but don't know how, to post a picture of themselves wearing a Rally Cap with the hashtag #Rally4Tiff. Then tag three friends and ask them to do the same. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are the main channels we're using. 

Sign up to this website, or download the mobile app, to receive updates. We will do our best to provide updates and give the most current information we can. 

We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. We love you and we can feel your love.