Hi, everyone. Emily Brewer here. For our friends the Bradshaws, 2022 has decided to issue a new round of health trials that have conspired to keep both parents out-of-work for the next four+ months (Mary Ann) and another four+ weeks (Tim). Instead of summarizing their situation, I'd like to share the description sent to me from Tim and Mary Ann:

We want to thank each one of you that has walked alongside us & our family recently. In early September, Tim’s life was literally saved as his left cardiac cath

showed an 80-90% blockage in his LAD artery (asymptomatic--i.e., we had no idea this blockage was there). Gratefully, it was fixed with a stent - plus - the other two unknown blockages were smaller, did not require stents, & can be controlled by meds along w/ lifestyle changes.

It has been frankly quite sobering to fully grasp since that time that this LAD artery is the one commonly known as “the widowmaker” as its demise can & often does strike without any foreknowledge….making us even more grateful that Tim has been gifted with additional life now!

He will have his Cardiac Rehab orientation on October 6, followed by 3x weekly intensive rehab. We expect his MD will want to keep him out of work at least until the latter days of October to give his body time to adjust to this therapy--if not longer, as I will likely begin Radiation Therapy (read below) in late-October.

On September 30, Mary Ann will have a lumpectomy for the still-hard-to-believe recent diagnosis of breast cancer. Actually, she will have another invasive procedure on Thurs., Sept. 29 (very similar to the yucky biopsy), which places a type of reflector to guide the surgeon during surgery the next day, on Fri, Sept 30. It is our understanding that she will require one-to-two weeks of fairly complete rest after the lumpectomy while waiting on the pathology report due Oct. 7 that will determine whether additional surgery or chemotherapy is needed. We pray that the path report will show the DCIS cancer is still contained (i.e., non-invasive/not spreading). After a month of healing, she'll begin 4-6 weeks of radiation therapy--likely beginning in late-October and stretching as late as mid-Dec.

We remain very grateful that this unwelcome diagnosis was caught early and that Mary Ann's body has benefitted from her own Cardiac Rehab, which ended the same week as Tim’s cardiac procedure!

Even with all that we are grateful for, the reality is that the timing of all this is quite inopportune as she had begun applying for jobs, had an interview, and was looking forward to getting back to work to get the family’s finances caught up after being out since November of last year with her several cardiac issues & procedures. Her breast cancer treatment is forcing me to postpone resuming my job search for a minimum of four additional months. My doctors project I'll be in treatment through the first part of January to finish the post-radiation therapy effects.

In addition, with Tim’s having been out-of-work since mid-August with his own cardiac issues & projected to be out until sometime in either late-October or even into November, our precarious situation is further complicated. We were fortunate to receive a one-time Critical Illness payment recently (though none is available for Tim), but that payment has already been utilized fully for past-due bills. Mary Ann will hopefully be eligible for some small breast CA foundation grants to go towards a utility bill or two; however, these will not be available until after she begins “active treatment” (i.e., Radiation Therapy) at the end of October/1st of November. She is thankfully still receiving ST Disability payments monthly via her former work as a Clinical Social Worker at UNC (ironically primarily working in both Adult & Peds’ Oncology!); however, this is still only half of her usual salary.

Even though Jacob has been willingly helping the family’s finances thru his summer jobs, we have opted to stop his work for this first semester of his senior year as both his courseload and all of the extra work involved in the college prep department--Who knew this much was involved these days vs. when we were seniors?!--is quite enough.

Emily’s SSA benefits continue; however, because she worked some PRN hours this summer at EV (Extraordinary Ventures: a wonderful place in Chapel Hill that provides employment for young adults with IDD--Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities), her SSI is being reduced for the next three months to equal the amount she made. (There was an eye-opening article recently on NPR online news about this very thing. We are still so fortunate in our family despite all of the above, while so many are not. Much more national advocacy is needed here!)

So many persons continue to ask, “what can we do, what do you need, let us know,” etc. This month has been a blur of medical appts, preparations, plus some grieving & introspection. It has been very difficult to be ready to be back to some degree of better financial footing only to realize that’s still several more months away now. The answer to people's sincere questions means being on the receiving end again, as the reality is our family will need some additional financial supports once more.

Our church family & community have been extraordinarily generous during this last year which helped our family survive the months from November until my ST Disability actually, finally, began and until Tim could return to work in the spring following his heel surgery in December, complicated recovery, then mother’s death in AL in April followed by both kids having COVID. The support helped with Christmas; with car maintenance & repairs for both our family’s vehicles (including a needed set of tires); with the trip to AL for Tim’s mother’s funeral; with his quarterly non-insurance-covered brain injury HBOT (Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatments) & RX supplements, etc., etc.

We do not like being here again; yet, we have learned over the years that it’s ok (however uncomfortable) to let the needs be known, so that is the reason for so much detail.

Currently, there are quarterly life & other insurance payments due; annual appliance maintenance needs; Tim’s quarterly HBOT treatments (prices recently doubled); non-insurance covered RX’s plus new orthotics or shoes (also likely not covered) for Tim’s cardiac rehab; likelihood of car & truck maintenance, etc. soon; stocking up of groceries & supplies; the regular bills; and a few more college visits & open houses -- life as it is right now -- all of the Wonderful life God continues to give us!! While my SH Disability Payment will cover a bit of these things, the listing is meant to show examples of other needs in the wings.

We remain humbled at being able to be honest & vulnerable & open with our church & community as you all have literally been our family over this past year for which we are so grateful. We do not want to presume anything here as we are mindful that much has already come our way this year; however, we do want to respond honestly to all of those who are asking what we do need. Just as importantly, we continue to covet your prayers & thoughts for our family as we know without a doubt that these have made a huge difference & have carried us thus far.

With much love & gratitude,

Tim & Mary Ann & Emily & Jacob