Help For: Brandi Aiken

Brandi is a single mother of three...and needs our help!

My name is Kimberly Holbrooks. I am Mom to Brandi Aiken, and Nana to Addie, Reid and Laurel. Here is just a small bit of her story...Not going into great detail...as she is probably going to have my head for this post anyway!!

Due to excess loss of blood, and many years of pain and medicals Issues... another doctor visit, for Brandi, was in order...over the last several years there have been countless visits, many diagnoses, and some of the most well-respected doctors shaking their heads. It seems our family has a history of Atypical medical conditions. This visit though... was a mother's worst nightmare...Cancer is not a word you want to hear when sitting across from a doctor, hoping to find answers this time, especially when your child has three small children to raise....and positive cancer markers is not the results we were hoping for.

Brandi was recently diagnosed with a breast disease, resulting in chronic breast pain and a blue gray discharge. While her mammogram came back clear, it was hard to diagnose the cause of the chronic pain. MRI saw something and Brandi was told she had extremely dense breast tissue and doctors were very concerned. Blood was sent off and came back positive for the cancer markers. Doctors suggested to immediately start her on tamoxifen... in 6-month increments, due to breast cancer history in the family. The side effects of this while raising 3 (extremely active) children, as a single mother, alongside fighting her daily battle of health conditions, was less than ideal.

They were able to remove the tissue and affected ducts as well as reconstruct so that Brandi was not down to only one breast...as both contained tumors, one side had to be mostly removed.

Brandi has also been diagnosed and dealing with desmoid tumors. This has resulted in several surgeries. She had 4 remaining desmoid tumors in her abdomen (these were left behind after her hysterectomy and tumor removal 2 years ago: the results of the large one removed -was a benign (Praise God)

During, the same surgery, they performed surgery on the abdominal area as well... the Doctor stated that she had to use an unusual amount of pressure and force in order to extract the remaining tumors, adhesions and scar tissue that was affecting her abdomen and hips. She said this would result in a longer healing time and to expect her entire back to be black and blue. That was honestly to say the least...my child looked like she had been destroyed by bulldozer.... She has such a great sense of humor, although they fillet her open from one end to the other...she just smiles and keeps saying: I look like Sally from Nightmare before Christmas!

Thankfully they were successful in the reconstruction of her deep abdominal muscles, that have been a full FIST gap since her first round of preeclampsia with miss Addie. Although her surface level abdominals were mostly healed down to her belly button, thanks to years of physical therapy...The birth of Mr. Reid and Miss Laurel wreaked havoc and started her back to square one. Trust me when I tell you.... she has no regrets...and would do it all over again, knowing the outcome, just to be the mother to my three grandblessings.

Since Brandi did not take the approved path by insurance which was the 6 months of an intermitting breast cancer drug, this surgery has become a major medical expense to her and the family, out of pocket. Costing, just shy of 25,000 after recovery.

Brandi must proceed with contrast MRI mammograms every 6 months (covered by insurance). ANd ofcourse annual blood work.

Brandi is slowly recovering but has not been allowed to do anything. Her restrictions are still in place, as I humbly put my pride away, and type this message to those willing to read it.

While we are grateful for the prayers and those who have assisted with meals, staying with Brandi so I can take on many shifts to help keep her afloat... I know Brandi and her children would greatly benefit from any financial relief, from this debt, that occurred due to our failing medical insurance companies. Why would a doctor, who does not perform the surgery, tell us...the best way to get rid of this, is to remove it. Yet insurance states...nope...we won't cover that...we will cover cancer medications .... that will make you sick, keep your children from living with you while you are them, and hope it will cure you! If it doesn't cure you.... then we will consider approval for the surgery. This....This right here will make one think.

I thank God every day...that we caught this in time...and now only time will tell if we made the correct choice.... But for Now, please consider sending a little help her way, or if you can't afford to help... keep her healing in your prayers...in hopes she will test negative in the future and released to return back to work soon.

Thank you for listening

Mom/Nana