Bless the Brantzi's

My name is Katie; on behalf of all their friends and family, I am honored to introduce our dear friends, Sara & Andrius Brantzi.

Sara is an amazing wife, a loving mother to Kayla (19) and Kiernan (14), the sweetest friend, a faithful believer in Christ, and wears her heart on her sleeve. She lights up the room immediately with her beautiful smile and contagious laugh, everyone who knows her has been blessed over and over with her positive spirit.

Her favorite phrase is "_____ is so cute!" always followed by her charming laugh. Witnessing her even in the hospital setting, she naturally referred to her doctors as " Dr. ___ is so cute," the neighboring patient sounds she'd hear through the walls were "So cute." And let me clarify, the word "cute" she uses is adoring and a compliment of character from Sara. If you meet her, you most likely will be told, "You're so cute," or after you leave, she will say, "They were so cute!" Little does she know; SHE is the cutest of ALL.

Sara has been a School Psychologist for 17 years, pouring guidance and love into the young students she so passionately cares for. She puts her heart and soul into everything she does, and this new journey will be no different.

Over a year ago, Sara was diagnosed with an extremely rare skin disease, Prurigo Nodularis. It has been life-debilitating as it has brought constant pain with no relief. Painful sores surface the skin while creating excruciating itch, leaving her bruised, inflamed, and to the point where water hitting her skin during a shower is unbearable. Clothing hurts, sleep is minimal, and doctors were at a loss.

She has always felt like something else was wrong, but it wasn’t until the last several months that her health and body rapidly started deteriorating. After a recent 12-day hospital stay, Sara had her team of doctors working day and night trying to figure out the mystery within her. Sara endured a TON of blood work, tests/imaging, a bone marrow biopsy, a marble-sized lymph node removed from her armpit, and the removal of 2 large golf ball-sized lymph nodes, one in her stomach the other in her groin. Yesterday, the doctors finally delivered the long-awaited answers.

Sara has stage 3 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The same exact cancer that took her sister’s life at the age of 34, almost 21 years ago. Though Sara is beyond fearful of what lies ahead, she is abundantly grateful for the team of doctors who have been fighting and will continue to fight alongside her.

She is beyond blessed with the most incredible support system; her community of friends and family have already stepped up to rally around her, Andrius, Kayla and Keirnan. She knows that she will not be fighting this battle alone!

"My story will not end the way my sister’s did. She was a fighter, and I will fight just as hard, but I will beat this disease for the both of us." - Sara

Due to Sara's diagnosis and the extensive treatment plan ahead, she has been advised not to return to work. This Go Fund Me page will help subsidize the significant loss of income for the Brantzi's during this time. PLEASE consider supporting our BLESS the BRANTZI'S mission to relieve the stress on their wonderful family.

Pray for her endurance, peace as she enters the unknown, comfort for her husband and children, and for God's will to reign over this new wilderness she is entering.

These pictures were taken a couple of weeks ago while she was still in the hospital; they depict her painful skin disease and rapid weight loss. Below is a picture taken when she returned home from her hospital stay, her pup was so happy to have her Mama back too!