Join Brad's Fight: Donate for His Chemo Journey

My little brother started chemo today in his fight against breast cancer.

These are not words I ever expected to hear myself say, but unfortunately, they represent the current reality that my brother finds himself in.

As some of you know, Brad was diagnosed with breast cancer about a month ago. After many weeks of testing (mammogram, ultrasound, biopsies, CT, genetics, MRI, bloodwork, and more), today he had his port placed in his chest in the morning, and then headed over to the cancer center for his very first chemo treatment. I am still shaking my head in disbelief, but Cancer is here and it is all too real.

My sweet little brother, who finally had recently found his way to his dream of working for the railroad as a train conductor and engineer after so many years of dreaming and months of training, spent his day today shuffling between home and the surgery center and the cancer center and then back home again. Because he has cancer. Breast cancer. Of all things. Yes, men, too get breast cancer. Young men. Brad is only 46.

Brad will be doing chemo for the next 4 to 6 months. And unfortunately, being on a chemo schedule of Day 1: Blood Test, Day 2: Chemo treatment, Day 3: Shot to boost white blood cells, REPEAT every two weeks (while feeling lousy in between), doesn't lend itself to continuing to work on his beloved railroad. Though he would love nothing more than to be back on the rails, the conditions can be rough (outside in the snow walking up and down the miles of train when conducting, or apparently literally hanging off the train when it goes to the yard - something I try not to think about), and the schedule is unpredictable (being on call and needing to get to work within a few hours notice). Given this, he is no longer doing the job he loves for the time being as he has been placed on disability.

I am so grateful he has his railroad job with railroad health benefits and disability, but at the same time, the disability only covers a portion of his wages. As his big sister, this terrifies me. Especially when I am aware of the many medical bills he has already incurred and will continue to incur in the coming months as he fights his battle.

I am creating this GoFundMe to help Brad cover medical costs not covered by his benefits, as well as to help him stay afloat and be able to pay his bills including rent, basic living expenses and care for his dog Miracle. Again, the disability is great to have, but anyone who has been on disability painfully understands the gap that it doesn't cover. The last thing I want Brad to have to worry about as he goes through this journey is how he will pay for mounting medical bills and other expenses with only a portion of his normal take home pay.

I am sure that many of you, like me, were in shock when you heard the news that Bradley Broadbeck has breast cancer. I feel pretty helpless in general around this whole thing beyond telling him I love him 50 times a day and reminding him that he's "got" this. But I do think I can help bring him some relief around his expenses, and so that's what I am doing here. If you would like to contribute to that relief, please do. There is no obligation of course, but if you can help, this is a time in Brad's life where I know he would gratefully accept the helping hand. And either way, please reach out to him and let him know you are thinking of him from time to time. This cancer thing is pretty terrifying and lonely. I know he will be grateful to hear from you.