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Tammy Naramore McDaniel

@tammymcdaniel_

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CMLeukemia Warrior -1 Loving husband
3 beautiful daughters 1 granddaughter, Mila Capri 3 grandsons, Maks Bruce, Kevin Ridge, and Callan Grey

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**CML Awareness Day - My Birthday, September 22nd**
*CML Is a Part of My Journey, Not My Destination*

In late October 2024, I received unsettling news about my elevated white blood cell count. After a referral to a hematologist oncologist, I was diagnosed with BCR/ABL-positive Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) on January 6, 2025. While I may need long-term oral chemotherapy, the disease is treatable, and I aim to reduce the “bad” cells within 12 to 18 months.

CML has three phases, and the Chronic phase is manageable. Starting Scemblix on January 12, 2025, I’ve learned to accept support from others while focusing on staying positive and working toward remission.

Facing this diagnosis has shifted my perspective, prompting me to connect with women sharing similar experiences, leading to the creation of **Heart2Hive Cancer Support**—a community for women facing cancer.

Please wear orange on CML Awareness Day, September 22, my birthday, to help raise awareness. You can also follow my CaringBridge page to support Heart2Hive. #noonefightsalone🧡 #cml #chronicmyeloidleukaemia #heart2hive #cmladvocates #cmladvocates #noonefightsalone🧡 by @tammymcdaniel_

Happy 37th Anniversary KevMac! I love you forever! It’s incredible to think back to when we first fell in love as young kids. I can vividly recall the conversation Kev and I had just a few days before our wedding. I had just turned 19, and Kev had recently turned 21. He said something that has stuck with me all these years: “you know Tammy, if we could see into the future, it would probably scare us to death. The pain, the fears, the tragedies, and all of the mistakes we would make would scare us to death because we are human and fallible. But with God at the center and you by my side, we will make it.” His words have proven to be so true. Here we are, 37 years married and 38 years together, since 10/10/87. by @tammymcdaniel_

Grandson, you exhibit such strengths and integrity that make me so proud to be your grandparent. by @tammymcdaniel_

“Thirty-nine years ago today, we stood before God and promised to love each other ‘in sickness and in health.’ Today, This Saturday, October tenth, I am celebrating the greatest man I could have ever been blessed with, who embodies those sacred vows every single day. Through my leukemia diagnosis and this latest severe health crisis, Kevin has truly carried me through the deepest valleys and heaviest storms with his unwavering strength, selfless love, and protective heart! Happy Anniversary to my husband, forever Valentine, my Puddin, my Sparky, my absolute rock, and my everyday shield—I love you more than words can ever say! 🧡🙌🥂✨” #chronicmyeloidleukaemia #truelove#collegesweethearts #39thweddinganniversary @brynamcdani @clay.w_ @_ericatatum @kaybholliday @christiaanholliday21 / Kevin McDaniel/Trevor Tatum by @tammymcdaniel_

🧡 MY STORY IN 5 POINTS: WALKING IN FAITH ON MY 58th BIRTHDAY 🧡

•The Diagnosis and the Silent Disease:
In January 2025, my world changed when I was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML). It is a rare blood cancer caused by an accidental genetic swap between chromosomes 9 and 22, acting like an internal light switch stuck permanently in the “ON” position. Because it builds slowly behind the scenes, it is truly a silent disease that most people know nothing about.

•The Daily Invisible Battle: To keep that cellular switch taped down, I take a daily targeted therapy pill called Scemblix. While I am profoundly grateful for this life-saving medicine, processing it every single day forces my body through deep bone pain and severe fatigue that you cannot see from the outside.

•A Hard and Fast Wake-Up Call: This birthday weekend, the harsh reality of being immunocompromised hit me like a runaway train. COVID-19 hit hard and fast, leading to consecutive emergency room visits at ECU Health for an acute febrile illness and severe tonsillar ulceration. It has been a frightening valley, but I am going to be fine.

•Down But Absolutely Not Defeated:
It is always tough deciding how much to share on here, and you worry about being dramatic when everyone else is carrying their own heavy issues. But I am sharing my truth today because awareness is everything. I may be down right now on the couch, but through the grace of God, I am absolutely not defeated!

•My Birthday Wish (Join the Hive!): Today, September 22nd, is World CML Awareness Day (9/22, named after those trading chromosomes) and it is also my 58th Birthday! Sharing my birthday with this global movement is a beautiful reminder that my life is intentionally held by my Heavenly Father. My biggest praise is for my incredible husband Kevin—who has been my absolute shield—my daughters, grandbabies, family, and loyal friends.

Please wear ORANGE for me today to help bring light to this silent disease! 👑🙌✨🌿🍂
#chronicmyeloidleukaemia #noonefightsalone🧡 #cml #cmladvocates #iamthey
P.S.. the song Scars by I Am They has been my anthem leading up to my diagnosis and everyday si by @tammymcdaniel_

“🎉🎂 Happy Belated 60th Birthday to my absolute rock and the answer to my prayers, Kevin! 🎂🎉

I am so incredibly sorry this is late, but I was hit by a train called COVID for the very first time this weekend, and 10/10 would not recommend lol! It certainly hit out of the blue.

Ever since my Chronic Myeloid Leukemia diagnosis in January 2025, my world changed, but because of you, I have never had to face one single minute of it alone.

We have celebrated 39 birthdays together, and I know there are many, many more to come. You truly walk out our marriage vows daily, showing me the deepest meaning of loving ‘in sickness and in health.’
You are the most selfless man for me, our girls, and your grandbabies. If you could wrap the world up and give it to all of us, you would. You are truly my shield. You spent your entire milestone 60th birthday yesterday completely selflessly taking care of me, driving me back and forth to the ER, and making sure I was safe and comfortable.

Even when fear takes over and my emotions feel completely vulnerable, your beautiful spirit finds a way to make me laugh in the most not-so-funny times, lifting the weight right off my shoulders.

Thank you for being the best pop pop, father, and husband around, and my absolute safe harbor. I thank God for your life, your selfless heart, and your protection every single day.

Cheers to 60 years, my sweet puddin! I love you more than words can say. 🕊️🧡✨ by @tammymcdaniel_

Jason Aldean said it best—there’s nothing like the roots that raise you. Remembering the beautiful family times from years ago and missing the ones who have passed. Sending all my love across the miles to my wonderful kids and precious grandkids today. 🌅🤍trevotatum / Kevin McDaniel by @tammymcdaniel_

September is Craniosynostosis Awareness Month 💜In 2004, when she was just 9 months old, our baby girl Bryna underwent major surgery for metopic craniosynostosis.For those who may not know, metopic craniosynostosis is a condition where the joints between the bones in a baby’s forehead fuse together too early. Because the skull can’t expand normally as the brain grows, it often creates a noticeably triangular forehead. Surgery is required to reshape the skull and ensure the brain has plenty of room to grow properly. We will never forget the raw ache of handing her over to the nurse that morning. Walking away from your 9-month-old baby as they head into a major operating room is a pain only cranio parents can truly understand. But in that exact moment of complete helplessness, our faith grew tenfold. We had to surrender our control and trust completely. We weren’t alone in that valley. Bryna’s sisters, Kayla and Erica, were there, and we had a waiting room completely full of loving friends and family lifting her up. Grandparents, paw paw Mac, aunts & uncles, friends and church family. Her grandmother, Jojo, took a 16-hour Greyhound bus ride all the way from Alabama just to be by her side. That incredible circle of love and prayer carried us through. Bryna proved from day one just how strong she is. Today, we are looking back at how far she has come. She went through so much at such a tiny age, and she has grown into an incredible, resilient young woman. She is, and always will be, our beautiful warrior. 💪✨#CraniosynostosisAwarenessMonth #MetopicCraniosynostosis #CranioWarrior #FaithAndFamily #BeautifulWarrior /kevinmcdaniel /trevortatum @kaybholliday, @brynamcdani, @_ericatatum @christiaanholliday21 @clay.w_ by @tammymcdaniel_

🍁 SEPTEMBER GRATITUDE: 🧡🐝Even in the middle of a health storm, there is so much sweetness to celebrate. Today, my heart belongs entirely to the ones who call us Yaya and Pop Pop—our precious grandbabies, Mila, Maks, Ridge, and Callan.Throughout this past year of navigating CML, these four sweet souls have been my ultimate sunshine. On the heavy days when my bones ache and the treatments exhaust me, their laughter and smiles completely refills my cup completely. Distance doesn't matter when your hearts are connected. Whether we were playing, sharing sweet cuddles, hunting crabs on the beach, or just watching them grow, they remind me exactly what I am fighting for every single day. They are the absolute heartbeat of our family hive, and being their Yaya is a gift from God that I cherish with all my soul. Pop Pop and I are so deeply blessed!👕 Save the Date: Please remember to wear ORANGE on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 for my 58th birthday and World CML Day!#chronicmyeloidleukaemia #heart2hive #noonefightsalone🧡 #cml #cmladvocates @kaybholliday @_ericatatum @christiaanholliday21 @brynamcdani /kevinmcdaniel/trevortatum by @tammymcdaniel_

Happy 11th Birthday to our beautiful Mila Capri!

Where do we even begin to express what a remarkable light you are in our lives? You are the precious angel who blessed us with the title of grandparents and filled our hearts to overflowing! ❤️❤️❤️ You are the bright sunshine that lights up our days, and we are endlessly grateful for the joy you bring as our daughter, granddaughter, niece, and the most wonderful big sister to your two brothers.

Your thoughtfulness shines through in everything you do, and your intelligence is evident in the way you approach the world with curiosity and creativity. You possess a unique blend of artistic talent and imaginative spirit that never ceases to amaze us. Each day, you remind us what it means to be truly original. This quality—being original—means you carve your own path without relying on the ideas or expectations of others, and we are so incredibly proud of that.

As you stand on the brink of your teenage years, we are filled with excitement and anticipation for the beautiful journey that God has in store for you. Never forget to embrace your true self, to continue being the wonderful Mila you are, and to stay true to your originality. Keep shining, keep creating, and above all, keep being YOU! by @tammymcdaniel_

Lately, my life has felt measured by charts, lab results, and the ticking clock of medical appointments. Navigating CML and liver disease often feels like a full-time job of advocating for myself in a system where I sometimes feel like just another file on a desk. It is exhausting to feel unseen by the very people I am trusting with my health. But yesterday, God sent me a reminder that I am not invisible. When my friend called, despite the rush of our workdays and the pressure of time, he chose to stop. He didn’t just ask “how are you” as a formality; he stepped into my world. When he asked to pray, and I gave him my “yes,” I felt the atmosphere shift. His prayer wasn’t scripted or hollow—it was authentic and genuine. In those few minutes, the “patient” labels fell away. I wasn’t just a diagnosis or a set of symptoms; I was a person being carried to the Father by a friend. Through his words, I felt the Lord saying, “I see you. I know your struggle. You are not alone in this lobby or this exam room.” That prayer was a lifeline. It reminded me that while I may have to fight to be heard by doctors, I never have to fight for the attention of my Creator. I am seen, I am loved, and I am covered. My Prayer of Gratitude Lord, thank You for the “God-wink” you sent through my friend’s phone call. Thank You for his willingness to be your hands and feet during a busy day. I praise You for being the God who sees me when I feel invisible to the world. Help me carry the warmth of that prayer into my next appointment, knowing that Your presence goes before me. Amen. by @tammymcdaniel_

Happy Birthday to the most beautiful soul! ❄️ On this chilly day, January 11th, with a blizzard swirling around and wind chills dipping to -70, we can’t help but think back to the best day of our lives! Despite the freezing temperatures, Dad and I were filled with so much excitement and joy that we hardly felt the cold. Since day one, you’ve been the warmth in our hearts, and we couldn’t be more proud and grateful for the incredible woman you’ve become. Love you to the moon and back! 🎉❤️Mom and Dad @kevinmcdaniel by @tammymcdaniel_