This past year has brought some devastating information to the forefront of Angie's life. In the summer of 2021, Angie had some preventative genetic testing done and she found out that she has the BRCA 1 gene. BRCA stands for Breast Cancer Gene. BRCA mutation occurs when the DNA that makes up the gene becomes damaged in some way. Throughout the next 6-12 months, Angie will be missing many weeks of work due to the intensive surgeries and recoveries she will need to make. I wanted to help alleviate any stressors of money for Angie and her beautiful family if I could.

Please consider donating so Angie and her family can spend their efforts on her recovery instead of stressing about the financial factors this diagnosis is causing.

Here are Angie's words regarding her diagnosis and how she shared on social media.

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As I reflect on this last year. It has been one of the most difficult years I have experienced. With that being said I would like to share what I have been going through.

I really debated about sharing this because it’s so personal. I want to share this to hopefully create awareness. I hope I can save someone else’s life. In June I had genetic testing done due to a strong family history of cancer in my family. I found out I tested positive for the BRCA 1 gene mutation.

BRCA stands for Breast Cancer Gene. BRCA mutation occurs when the DNA that makes up the gene becomes damaged in some way.

What is BRCA gene mutation…Every human has Both BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. BRCA genes do not cause cancer. In fact, these genes play a big role in preventing breast cancer. They help repair DNA breaks that can lead to cancer and the uncontrolled growth of tumors.

In my case, I have a gene mutation. So these tumor suppression genes don’t work properly. When the gene becomes altered or broken, it doesn’t function correctly. People with BRCA gene mutation are more likely to develop breast cancer and to develop cancer at a younger age.

So what that all means Is I have a high chance of breast and ovarian cancer. My chances are 70% and above of getting both breast and ovarian. Usually, you get these cancers before the age of 45. People with BRCA 1 gene mutation are likely to get triple-negative breast cancer, which can be more aggressive and difficult to treat. Ovarian cancer is known as a silent killer. There isn’t enough early detection and by the time they find it is usually stage three. With all that being said I will not play with my life. I will be doing prophylactic surgeries.

It has definitely been one of the hardest decisions I have ever made in my life so far. The weird thing was before I even got the test results I had made my decision because the easy part was I want to live and be here for Brad, Seely(5), and Cullen(2). This has been one of the most difficult things I have been through but I do feel blessed that I do know. Not everyone gets lucky enough to know before getting cancer. Don’t get me wrong it’s hard to know, like really hard. But I am glad there is something I can do about it. I have met with all my doctors and feel blessed to have all the right people in my corner. I know this will be hard but I can get through it.

On January 21st I will be having a full hysterectomy. Once I am healed up then I will be having a double mastectomy with expanders. Then I will have an exchange surgery and one more surgery for reconstruction.

After all my research and finding women's stories that are in the same position. I had come across the word previvor which I had never heard of before all this. Previvor means someone who has an elevated predisposition of being diagnosed with cancer due to a risk running through their family. The term is meant to explain how many of these people feel about having a higher chance of developing cancer, and the struggles they go through to navigate this distinction.

I’M A PREVIVOR

Finding out your a previvor changes you.

It changes the way you think about yourself.

It changes the way you think of your future.

It changes the way you think about your body, your children, your relationships, your mortality..

It can suddenly and drastically adjust your plans and priorities.

It can overwhelm you. It can show how strong you are.

It reveals inner strength you never knew you had.

It can also show you that some things will never change and life and love are worth fighting for.

“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway” -John Wayne