Brandie's beat down on cancer fund

I am Brandie Roberts a mother of 2, a tattoo artist, glassblower, sewer, painter, artist. 

When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer at age 30 I was ready for a fight! There was no way that their odds were right and I planned to prove every doctor wrong. I had a double mastectomy. I went in strong. I stayed upbeat and brave for quite a while until infection after infection, but surgery after surgery and my 9 year old daughter watching me lay dying while she nursed me was too much.  I was allergic to the chemo and the other medication they were giving me. I let go and stopped the treatments and let god. God answered my prayers and I tested cancer free in 2014.

I met a wonderful man and we decided to add to our family. I was once again blessed and became pregnant very quickly with our Leo. He grew and grew and everything was going great. At about 7 months pregnant I found a new lump in my chest. I had a sinking feeling and was diagnosed with breast cancer again. This time I was terrified. The doctors delivered Leo 6 weeks prematurely and the second I heard his first cry I felt the biggest relief I have ever felt in my life. He was strong and he was healthy. 

I had always said that I would never fight this cancer if it came back. I spent weeks in an incredible depression. I went to multiple doctors hoping for alternatives to the same treatment that almost killed me before. I begged them to save my little girl from seeing the suffering and horror that she had to go through the first time. They all recommended the same thing. I spent a month in depression debating on what to do. My options were nothing, alternative medicine, or chemo, radiation and herceptin. I can't describe how horribly allergic I am to herceptin (treats her2 positive)  My cancer is triple positive with her2 positive at the highest level of aggression. My tumor was removed (again) but my specialists told me that without full treatment it will be back in a vital organ within a year. 

I chose to do my conventional treatment knowing that my family would suffer financially without me working. They all told me that we would find a way to make it work. they love me and want me to fight. My doctors are doing it differently this time. Chemo first (I am in the process of that now), daily radiation for 6 weeks, then a full year of herceptin. In order to do this I have to see specialists including allergists to hopefully allow my body to handle this. 

I worked at my tattoo studio through alot of the first cancer. I am finding that (against my plans) I have been too weak, forgetful, sick and in pain to work through my treatments. We also have a now 3 month old infant at home.  I was the main income for my family. I have held off on a go fund me for several months because I hoped we could make it without help. The sewing and other things I can do at home aren't making ends meet, even though it does help my soul. 
My fiance is working as hard as he can  even working multiple jobs and doing odd jobs on the side but has lost 3 jobs to having to take time off to care for me after surgeries and when I am too sick to care for myself. 

I would really like to go to the block treatment center by Chicago. (Initial visit around $12,000)They specialize in alternative treatments. Any help will go along way towards helping support me and my family to help ends meet. To help with traveling expenses for my many doctors appointments, to help when I can't afford my medications, when the disconnect notices come in. It will help to take some stress off of our shoulders so we can atleast try to enjoy the time we have together. 

The reason I chose to do the treatments is because my doctor said that I have a chance of seeing my son graduate. My daughter grow into a woman.  I might have a chance to grow old. Since I was 30, I never thought that was even a possibility. 

Your donation would mean the world to me. No matter how small. It can help give me the possibility of making my treatments worth it and keep me from having to stop treatments to return to work. 

There are no amount of thanks that would ever be able to show how grateful I am for the support and love my community, friends and family have already shown. I promise to always try to pay it forward. 

I know its not much but every donation will be entered into a drawing for 1 of 3 100$ gift certificates that can be used at my tattoo shop. Don't care for tattoos? I have sewn a ton of awesome items and you can use your certificate for anything you would like. I will also be putting together something very special, all handmade by me with all of my love that will be drawn for. I would like to work with you on this one to make it perfect for you.  And anyone that donates and posts an address will be sent a Monsters Ink Survivor bracelet.