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THE WHY!!!! Brooke and Tyler (Brian too)!

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THE WHY!!!! Brooke and Tyler (Brian too)!

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Tyler, Brian, Tara and Brooke!

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Our Tara grew up in Rockaway, NJ and attended Morris Knolls High School.  She played softball and basketball and was fierce on the field and the court.  She was reserved and studious which helped ensure a smooth transition to Lehigh University.  Here she joined Delta Gamma, met an amazing group of girls and left that reserved personality behind!

After graduation, Tara headed to Baltimore.  She played softball, broomball, flag football and more.  She made a ton of friends which all shared her passion for sports, the gym and mostly socializing at local watering holes.

In 2010, Tara met Brian and in October 2016, Brian and Tara got engaged! Although it was 6 years of time well spent before the engagement, 2017 came in hot and wedding plans were, well… in the plans.

On January 5, 2017, Tara and Brian welcomed Brooke.  Brooke was ready to show them who was boss and started with a trip to University of Maryland Children’s Hospital.   Here Brooke had a stay in the NICU and recovered from Esophageal Atresia surgery (repair of the esophagus and trachea).

As life began to settle, wedding plans started to be discussed, but suddenly one baby was just not enough. On April 17, 2018, Brian, Tara and Brooke welcomed Tyler.  A newborn, a one-year-old, a beach place and wedding plans were making life quite exciting.  Plans were coming to fruition for November 2020.

Just after Brooke’s 2nd birthday and before Tyler’s 1st, Tara was diagnosed with invasive lobular breast cancer stage one.  On March 28, 2019, Tara had a bilateral double mastectomy.    Fortunately, Tara has an amazing support system and help with the kids and daily functions were all set in place.  However, Brooke did not want her mom to be the only one in the hospital and decided RSV and other breathing concerns would gain her a stay as well.   Brooke was admitted to the ICU on March 29 and stayed for three weeks!  Although Tara could not lift the kids immediately, we all know Tara and her determination, it was not long before she was lifting the kids and the weights!

In April, Tyler turned one and the summer was split between the beach and Baltimore.  Things were calming down (thank goodness), and wedding plans were getting serious! A wedding date was set for November 6, 2020.

As a family of four, 2020 was  welcomed with exciting ideas for the new year.  Along with the rest of the world, life changed yet again quite quickly.  Everyone began to navigate the new expectations and limitations set forth by the Corona Virus.    The wedding planned for November 6, 2020, would need to get postponed and a new date was scheduled for May 21, 2021!

Becoming accustomed to living in 2020 was just the new normal – “pivoting” became a household word.  However, in Tara’s world it has been used way too frequently!   In late September, Tara had an ultrasound of her lymph nodes followed by a biopsy in October.  “Pivoting” occurred yet again! It was then that invasive lobular breast cancer stage three in the lymph nodes was found.  A removal of lymph nodes was quickly done on November 6 (the original wedding date) and this was rapidly followed by another surgery on November 18th.

As if the lymph node removal and surgery were not enough, in less than a month, chemo began.  December 17th marked the first dose.  Due to Covid-19, Tara had to go alone.  Fortunately, her support system rose again, and a video was made to let her know everyone was with her!

For the next five months, Tara will receive chemotherapy.  We are hopeful that we will be able to go with her, enjoy popsicles and talk like we are in an episode of “🤬 in the City.”  But in the meantime, please join us in showing solidarity for Tara by purchasing a #Team Tara shirt or hoodie!  Of course, you will need a koozie to raise a toast to our strong friend!  Take a picture or video showing your support for #Team Tara and send it to Jimmy at (303) 524-4366.  He will include it in a video for Tara to watch during chemo – we know she truly appreciates this – thank you Jimmy!  Please send it to him within a week of getting the apparel (I hate to commit to specific dates – especially after 2020).

Wearing the swag will let her know how truly loved and supported she is.  Please follow this link to leave a message, picture....for her to view (eventually - hoping to keep this a secret for now) https://tinyurl.com/TEAM-TARA-Messages
In the meantime, wedding plans are on for 2022.  Maybe St. Patrick’s Day and we all wear our #Team Tara apparel?