SIA Brain Awareness Foundation, Inc.
Tiffany's Story
Tiffany Nichole Morris
7/10/1989 – 11/1/2011
Tiffany was so full of life. She lived the way we all should — with God in her heart, compassion for others, and the most beautiful smile you’ve ever seen.
She was a loyal friend, an amazing daughter and sister, and someone whose presence could light up any room. Tiffany loved music, shoes (of course), making people laugh, and spending time in fellowship with her family and friends.
Tiffany was driven and determined. She put herself through cosmetology school while working two part-time jobs and attending classes full time, six days a week. She was the most independent young woman I knew — strong, focused, and committed to building her future.
She was so excited about going to a Halloween party with her boyfriend. I remember her talking about ordering her costume, finding the perfect shoes, planning her makeup and hair — every detail mattered. She had worked so hard and was ready for a weekend of relaxation and fun.
The party was Saturday night, October 29th.
The morning of October 30th, her boyfriend realized she wasn’t breathing. He immediately called 911 and began CPR. Paramedics arrived quickly and were able to restore her heartbeat. Tiffany was rushed to the nearest hospital and then transferred to another facility with the specialized equipment needed for her condition.
Seeing Tiffany in the ICU, surrounded by tubes and wires, we quickly realized the severity of her condition. She was on full life support — only her heart was beating on its own. The doctors initially believed she had aspirated, thinking she may have vomited in her sleep, cutting off oxygen to her brain. We were told her brain was swelling and there was no activity.
Tiffany was declared brain dead. The doctors said there was no hope.
The next step was an apnea test. They would turn off the oxygen support to see if Tiffany could breathe on her own. If she could, there would still be a chance.
We refused to give up hope.
That morning, we asked for prayers through Facebook. Nearly a thousand people — maybe more — were praying and believing for a miracle. I stood in her hospital room with her pastor, waiting for my strong-willed daughter to take that breath. I truly believed she would. I could already picture her beautiful smile and us walking out of that hospital together. But she couldn’t breathe on her own.
One of the hardest moments of my life was walking into the waiting room to tell our family and friends that we had lost our Tiffany. Two physicians had to confirm she was legally brain dead before life support could be removed. And so it was.
If you ever think your life — or one person’s life — doesn’t matter, think again.
Tiffany’s service was held on November 8th. Over 300 people attended. As a mother, I was overwhelmed to see how many lives she had touched. She was deeply loved. In her passing, she donated her major organs and helped save the lives of six people. Even in death, Tiffany gave life.
For months, we believed aspiration was the cause. Three months later, the Medical Examiner’s office called. Tiffany’s official cause of death was Methylone intoxication from a designer drug known as “Explosion.” It was described as having effects similar to ecstasy. Tiffany was not a drug user, but she and her boyfriend decided to try what they believed was ecstasy that night.
It was a fatal decision.
No one else at the party had complications. The medical examiner said, “Something in that drug caused Tiffany’s organs to shut down.”
Every time someone “tries” an illegal drug, they are taking a chance. There is a reason these substances are illegal. You never truly know what you are putting into your body.
Please — just don’t do it.
Tiffany,
We will miss you always and love you forever.
Love,
Mom, Brooke & Kyle
In Loving Memory of Frank Perkowski
Frank Perkowski shared this powerful testimony with the Sia Yorker Brain Awareness Scholarship Foundation during his lifetime. Frank passed away in 2025, but his story of faith, perseverance, family, and overcoming the odds continues to inspire us. We are honored to preserve his testimony in his own words and celebrate the life and legacy of a remarkable brain tumor survivor.
Hi, my name is Frank Perkowski. In 1977, I was diagnosed with an Astrocytoma brain tumor. I had been experiencing severe headaches, dizzy spells, and double vision. After numerous tests and eye surgery that did not help, a neurologist told me about a new CAT scan that could provide better images than the tests previously available.
The CAT scan revealed abnormalities in my brain. A biopsy was performed on the astrocytoma located near the brain stem, but the surgeon was unable to completely remove the tumor. A shunt was placed to help the ventricles drain.
I was scheduled to begin radiation immediately, but life had other plans. Parts of the shunt were either being rejected by my body or causing infections, which meant undergoing additional surgeries. Thank God, the shunts eventually began working properly.
Because of the radiation treatments, I lost the hair on the sides of my head near my ears. I also experienced memory loss and problems with my equilibrium and balance. Still, I must admit, I have come a long way.
Doctors gave me a life expectancy of approximately five years and told me I probably would never father a child. That kind of news could break any person, let alone a couple.
But decades later, my wife and I became a stronger, closer, more compassionate, fun-loving couple, blessed with two healthy children and three healthy grandchildren. Although I continued dealing with some of the lasting effects of everything I had been through, I remained grateful.
Being alive to love and enjoy my family, grandchildren, and wonderful friends—my extended family—was more than I could ask for.
As my wife would say, we must be doing something right.
Loving God, loving others, and living life to the fullest is all that one could ask for.
God Bless!
Frank
Frank’s testimony reminds us that a diagnosis does not define the fullness of a life. We remain grateful that he entrusted his story to the Sia Yorker Brain Awareness Scholarship Foundation. His words, faith, love for his family, and perseverance continue to speak.
In Loving Memory of Frank Perkowski 💜