Brandi’s fight against Leukemia

To all of Brandi’s friends, family, and all other caring people.

My amazing and beautiful daughter is only 32 years old.

As some of you already know, Brandi has been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) on September 18,2018.

Brandi was not feeling well for a few months before being diagnosed. She has been to several walk-in clinics with flu like symptoms. After seeing her primary doctor and having blood work done. She received a call from the doctor that evening stating “Not to worry you, but your hemoglobin is low and I believe you will need a blood transfusion”. She referred her to an oncologist for further testing.

On September 18, after meeting with the doctor for more test he came into the room and said she had Leukemia. He wanted her to go straight to NCH to start chemotherapy right away. 

Having a 1 & 1/2 year old son, you can only imagine how hard this was and is for her to cope with. When Brandi called me after her appointment to tell me this horrible news I was devastated. As her mother I could not comprehend what I was hearing. I am thinking in my head that the doctor is wrong and this can not be true. I will never forget that day, and how I started shaking. 

That evening she was admitted to the hospital to start her therapy. The next day she had a bone marrow biopsy to confirm the type of Leukemia, and it came back as intermediate risk AML. They started chemo that same exact day, for the next 7 days to be administered for 24 hours a day. After 28 days of receiving treatment in the hospital, and another bone marrow biopsy showing no evidence of disease remained and she reached remission, she was finally discharged to go home.

She is currently going through consolidation which consists of  5 days in the hospital for more chemo, once every month for 3-4 months. A decision to continue with consolidation or to procedure with a Stem Cell Transplant will be made following the New Year.

Right now, Brandi needs your help, your support, and love from all. 

We will keep you updated as she knows more, and you can be with her and follow her through this long road to recovery.