Tehachapi News

Tammi Easterday, survivor with a mission

Stallion Springs' resident Tammi Easterday is a true source of inspiration to young and old: when she felt a mole on her back she fought to get an answer.

When Easterday first felt the mole in the small of her back, she knew it was not right. Her doctor looked at it and informed her that it was not anything to worry about.

Easterday insisted and told her doctor that if she did not remove it, she would find another doctor that would. The doctor finally relented, removed the mole; three days later Easterday was informed that she had a type melanoma that quickly metastasizes.

Nodular melanoma is a type of cancer that forms in moles. Easterday’s mole was one millimeter short of needing chemotherapy.

“God has given me many miracles,” she said, adding that He guides her life.
Cancer did not slow Easterday down. She has always loved horses and for the last three years, she has been volunteering at the Rise Therapy Facility near Brite Lake. Easterday concentrates on helping autistic children learn to ride horses. Riding helps with coordination and balance.

The goal of the group is to make independent riders of the children and to bring them “back into an activity in the present.”

Most of Easterday’s charges are young children but last year, she helped a 93 year old man who had suffered a head trauma regain some control over his life.

When Easterday moved to Stallion Springs in May 1992, she quickly became involved with the building committee for the new Seventh Day Adventist Church being constructed in Tehachapi.

“The Lord just led us out here,” Easterday said, knowing this area was where she was meant to be.

Easterday’s faith is also expressed in her freelance Christian writing. She was “blessed” to be included in a collection of Christian writings. God’s Vitamin C for The Spirit was published in 1997 and rose to number six on the Christian Best Selling List.

Easterday is currently working on Paws for Reflection, a collection of inspirational devotions for cat lovers that parallels their lives to our relationship with Christ.

In her daily life, Easterday still must monitor her ongoing struggles with the reoccurrence of cancer. Her type of cancer always comes back and she must have regular check ups.

Twice a year, Easterday’s check ups include “mapping and measuring.” Her doctor has a map showing the location of all moles and each visit includes measuring to see if they have changed or grown in size.

Easterday also will not go outside without sunscreen or a hat. She keeps current on any advancements and she is not afraid to question her doctor if her findings disagree with his diagnosis.

“Question your doctor and get another opinion if you disagree,” she said. “I am more aware of my body than the doctor is. We need to stand up for ourselves.”
Easterday said her cancer had already metastasized by the time the doctors removed a four-inch diamond shape from her back.

Easterday will be walking again this year in the Relay for Life Event in June with other cancer survivors. Easterday will one of those wearing a hat, as she has done for the last two years.