I have met so many awesome people through this project. I want you to know that my 365 will continue but I may only upload once a week or so. After being sick for a year, Friday I ended up in the ER by the pleading of my dad that is recovering from cancer and the recommendation of my Rheumatologist. My Friday photo is of the er room while I waited for the results of my CatScan. I have a mass the size of a Volley Ball that appears to be Ovarian Cancer. It has compressed all of my organs and my Vena Cava. I appear to be 8 mo pregnant by site and this physical visible change has happened quick over the period of about 3 weeks. I have a blog that I have been blogging about the illness over the past year as I went from specialist to specialist. I have to call an oncologist tomorrow and will most likely be having a total hysterectomy this week or early next. Please pray for my family for strength through this. We will not know if it is cancer until the surgery and then if it is I will begin chemo after that. I'll still be doing my project, I am committed to it. For all of you women, please be sure to get your yearly paps and exams. http://notsoaveragemama.com
oh u dear girl , all my thoughts and wishes are with u n ur family . Be positive and everything will be alright . I can only imagion what pain ur going through .. Ive had 2 surgeries on my ovaries due to cyst (endomertriosis).. no where near as big as urs but still hurts . Get better soon , will be looking forward to ur photos .. xxxxxxx
Wow! I am sorry that it has taken me this long to come upon your photos, they are amazing!! My thoughts and prayers will remain with you and your family during this time!
Brandy, you are such a strong and courageous woman to be going through all of this and still continue with being open with your condition and the 365 project. I hope all goes well and will keep you in my thoughts.
Sending lots of love and warm thoughts your way. I pray that everything works out better than expected for you! Be strong and keep in touch with us. *hugs*
You are kind to share your experiences with people - your photo journal for the year will certainly be a challenge, but one worth having. It is obvious-you clearly have a following here so count me in, rooting for you to have a full recovery and batteries in your camera at all times....know that we are looking forward to your upload every day!
Wow, I've really enjoyed your photos and never realized that you were ill. I feel bad about that! BUT I have decided to call my OBGYN and get myself checked out! :-) So that means I can take my lack of realization and turn it into a positive reminder. Thanks. I hope everything turns out well. Please keep us updated on the results.
Oh my. I wish for you all the strength you and your family will need, the comfort of good friends and the ability to remain positive and keep on smiling and laughing through this period. My thoughts are with you and I pray you will only hear good news after your surgery.
I just wanted to take a minute to say that you are all wonderful people for thinking of my friend Brandy during this difficult time. I was with her for several hours yesterday and I can tell you that she is an amazing woman..less than 24 hours after she heard this heartbreaking news and she was still so upbeat!! Brandy is truly a beautiful woman inside and out, she is an amazing mother, friend and wife....she is my best friend and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your continued thoughts and prayers!
Your positive attitude will help. Hang in there as you begin this next phase of your life.
(Ovarian cancer is scary. My mother died from ovarian cancer just over a year ago. She fought bravely for 8 years and we simply adjusted to the "new normal" as each change came our way, but she lived a very full 8 years and made the cancer fight for each cell.)
I've loved your photos and will continue to follow closely as you go through this journey. I'm sending all my positive thoughts out to you and your family.
Now would be a good time to think about the things that have been worrying you, as silly as they might seem... and let it all go. Think about all that you do have and how it's all made your life beautiful. There's always something to learn and pain can sometimes be a wake up call for learning and better understanding the really important things we need to see clearly - which we wouldn't see if the situation hadn't presented itself. My prayers are with you so that you and your loved ones remain in the kind of peace nothing on this earth can give us. God bless you.
Jenny made me cry! I love her :) Thanks everyone! All your well wishes help me be positive. I posted a photo of how the tumor has made me look as my 365 for Sunday.
Oh honey, be brave, I will surely pray for you and my children will too and I have emailed it anonymously to the kids school prayer chain and my church's prayer chain. I have had cervical cancer and had a radical hysterectomy when I was 25. I'm now 31 and have a breast tumour which is incredibly rare (phyllode is its name and it accounts for 1% of breast tumours) and does not respond to radiation, chemo or hormone treatments so I have no idea (nor does my oncologist) as to what is going to happen. They can only cut and cut and cut but so far over a 10yr span clinical trial they had a morbidity rate of 78% of patients with this tumour so that kind of sucks. Keeping up with 365 will be a challenge for you but I think it will be positive too, giving you some sense of normality and documenting your journey to remission (we all hope for anyway). Bless You!!
I'll be thinking of you.. keep strong and positive, Its the most important thing to do, yet the hardest!
I'll also keep my fingers crossed that the results after the op are good. I had an ovarian cyst that was 4kg (pain misdiagnosed for 2 years) but all the cancer cells were contained inside the cyst, was very lucky as these things can burst and then spread the cancer. I hope you have this outcome too.. as it increased in size rapidly towards the end just like yours.
And please look after yourself. A laparotomy is a heck of an operation, and takes a long time to recover. Please dont overdo things and say to hell with chores!
Massive hugs xxx
I hope you get some strength from all our thoughts. It has amazed me to find how many ladies here have been experiencing cancer in one way or another. Look after yourself as well you can, come visit us here and we'll be thininking of you. Feel the positive vibes!!! :-)
Brandy, May the Lord shine His face upon you, and be gracious unto you. May He give you strength, to stay Positive, your Family and friends the strength to support you in every positive way. May His light also shine upon your Doctors, Surgeons and all medical staff who have to be in touch with you. These are my Prayers for You Brandy. Now I hand you over to the Lord My God, He is now in charge of you, I cannot keep hounding Him each day with Prayers I have Handed you over.
I live by this saying "Let go and Let God". That means you get on with life, and let Him do the Healing to your body in His way in His time. When you find the Pain too
much , offer it to the lord for others who are Dying, or who are Soldiers, who need our Prayers, offer up each pain you have so God may use it too.
God Bless I will stand by you in Spirit.
Brandy, our thoughts and prayers are with you - our cyber photo friend - may you find peace and comfort as you go thru whatever treatment is necessary. you are an inspiration to us all ! sending love from a fresh and chilly Cape Town x
I was diagnosed with breast cancer almost 3 years ago, and the first thing I did was have a little cry, and then Brad and I spent the weekend doing all sorts of fun things, which certainly helped to put things into perspective.
Sounds like you have a good attitude and great family and friends who are pulling for you.
Way before I ever heard of 365, I started documenting the process via photos.
just a picture of my face, once a month, for about a year.
It's quite interesting to see the changes, and waves of emotion that crossed my face in those pictures.
I applaud you and think you'll actually enjoy documenting your journey, as weird as that sounds. It will give you a focus, and a creative outlet.
And the one thing that I can categorically say helped me enormously, was to laugh. Loud and often.
You'll find humour in the silliest things.
For instance, I discovered that there was only one cancer sympathy card on the market, because everyone kept sending it to me.
I started signing off of my emails as "cancer babe" and left with this signature: (x) (o)
I'd be talking to Brad at work, and in the middle of conversation, I'd say..."Oh..by the way...did you know I have cancer?"
Well...it made US laugh.
Which you just have to do, because so many people around you will be sad and worried...and it's hard to shoulder THEIR grief and worry, as well.
But people will also take their cue from you.
Rent funny movies, go to comedy clubs, have your face painted, buy toe socks, and rainbow extensions ( as fellow 365-er Lyn WIlkinson gave me ), take pictures of yourself making funny faces and make them into greeting cards.
It IS possible to have fun, and laughter truly is the best medicine.
I don't mean to make light of your situation..I can only tell you what worked for me.
Anyway...bless you and I'll be holding you on my thoughts!
Thanks for sharing with us!
XO
thinking the 365 might be just the remedy for hard days ahead. project a year from now and think about looking back and seeing what you've come through. you're going to feel like a superhero! thinking of you
Oh, Brandy, I'm so sorry to read this news! You're in my thoughts and prayers that the mass will not be cancer. I hope you've found comfort in your community here; it seems a tremendous outpouring and a lot of very concerned people. My very best wishes for a speedy turn-around.
Lord of all power and might, we lift Brandy before Your throne of grace and mercy, beseeching You to reach out and touch her with Your healing love. While she is in the hospital, guide the surgeons hand and grant him the blessings of Luke the Physician. Send Your Holy Spirit to be with her and comfort and strengthen her. Send the Holy Spirit likewise to her family to give them peace of mind and understanding. Dispatch a legion of Your Angels to surround her in the Operating Room and in Recovery so that they may minister to her every need. Finally, Lord God, restore Brandy to the fullness of health and joy that she so richly deserves. In the name of our Savior, Your Son, Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen and amen.
Thank you all! My parents are here but the long drive was hard on my dad. He just got through kicking cancers ass and is still recovering. My mother will be taking me first thing in the morning. I am going to try to get some sleep now. I wish I could respond to each and every one of you. Please watch my blog for updates or ask Jenny!
Rest...rest rest...and let those around you care and support you. Let go of the guilt for all they will do to get you through. Warm thoughts for healing, strength...and courage.
I promise to keep you all posted on how the surgery went...I will open up a thread about it as soon as I can. PLEASE keep Brandy and her family in your thoughts and prayers as she goes through this difficult procedure. You are all amazing!!
Brandy, I'm glad you had a successful surgery. You are in my prayers. Here's a TED talk on eating to starve cancer that you might find interesting while you recover: http://www.ted.com/talks/william_li.html
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Stay positive and keep your sense of humor. And don't be afraid to do anything you want. My ex's mom fought ovarian cancer for 4 years, and her strength and courage were a huge inspiration to me. She unfortunately had it come back in her brain and liver, and she lost her fight, but she never gave up.
So far, in the few short days since I became aware of your story, you have already inspired me with your humor and feisty attitude. Sending you *hugs* and prayers. -Anita
I am standing with you in prayer, and will have my wife and kids join me in those prayers during our family devotion time. God bless you, and may He have mercy on you in Jesus' Name, and heal you completely.
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(Ovarian cancer is scary. My mother died from ovarian cancer just over a year ago. She fought bravely for 8 years and we simply adjusted to the "new normal" as each change came our way, but she lived a very full 8 years and made the cancer fight for each cell.)
I'll also keep my fingers crossed that the results after the op are good. I had an ovarian cyst that was 4kg (pain misdiagnosed for 2 years) but all the cancer cells were contained inside the cyst, was very lucky as these things can burst and then spread the cancer. I hope you have this outcome too.. as it increased in size rapidly towards the end just like yours.
And please look after yourself. A laparotomy is a heck of an operation, and takes a long time to recover. Please dont overdo things and say to hell with chores!
Massive hugs xxx
I live by this saying "Let go and Let God". That means you get on with life, and let Him do the Healing to your body in His way in His time. When you find the Pain too
much , offer it to the lord for others who are Dying, or who are Soldiers, who need our Prayers, offer up each pain you have so God may use it too.
God Bless I will stand by you in Spirit.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer almost 3 years ago, and the first thing I did was have a little cry, and then Brad and I spent the weekend doing all sorts of fun things, which certainly helped to put things into perspective.
Sounds like you have a good attitude and great family and friends who are pulling for you.
Way before I ever heard of 365, I started documenting the process via photos.
just a picture of my face, once a month, for about a year.
It's quite interesting to see the changes, and waves of emotion that crossed my face in those pictures.
I applaud you and think you'll actually enjoy documenting your journey, as weird as that sounds. It will give you a focus, and a creative outlet.
And the one thing that I can categorically say helped me enormously, was to laugh. Loud and often.
You'll find humour in the silliest things.
For instance, I discovered that there was only one cancer sympathy card on the market, because everyone kept sending it to me.
I started signing off of my emails as "cancer babe" and left with this signature: (x) (o)
I'd be talking to Brad at work, and in the middle of conversation, I'd say..."Oh..by the way...did you know I have cancer?"
Well...it made US laugh.
Which you just have to do, because so many people around you will be sad and worried...and it's hard to shoulder THEIR grief and worry, as well.
But people will also take their cue from you.
Rent funny movies, go to comedy clubs, have your face painted, buy toe socks, and rainbow extensions ( as fellow 365-er Lyn WIlkinson gave me ), take pictures of yourself making funny faces and make them into greeting cards.
It IS possible to have fun, and laughter truly is the best medicine.
I don't mean to make light of your situation..I can only tell you what worked for me.
Anyway...bless you and I'll be holding you on my thoughts!
Thanks for sharing with us!
XO
http://365project.org/jennylee/365/2010-05-19
I promise to keep you all posted on how the surgery went...I will open up a thread about it as soon as I can. PLEASE keep Brandy and her family in your thoughts and prayers as she goes through this difficult procedure. You are all amazing!!
So far, in the few short days since I became aware of your story, you have already inspired me with your humor and feisty attitude. Sending you *hugs* and prayers. -Anita