Totally Taylor: Team Brandi

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Team Brandi

Yesterday I was home with the little one who was suffering from a 24-hour virus and I pondered writing this post all day long. But never got to it. Why? Because I'm just angry about the whole situation. You're probably asking 'what situation?'

Well, let's rewind about three years...

Dave and I have some good friends, Tim and Brandi Shelton, who we hung out with a great deal when we lived in Belton. Our girls are 2 weeks apart and went to the same daycare. They ADORE each other. Dave and Tim went to college together and have always maintained a friendship. (Well, until we moved to Waco but, thank God, that's all been rectified now.)

Anyway, three years ago Brandi - at age 34 - was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a double mastectomy, found that it was already in all of the lymph nodes, and followed up with chemo and radiation. She went through he** and back, from what I understand, but was then given a clean bill of health.

Until December of last year, that is...

Now Brandi is 37. She has three children - ages 14, 9 and 6. She has a husband who adores her. She has more friends than I've ever seen any one person keep close ties with. She has an extended family who love her to pieces.

And she has cancer. Again. It is in her bones. In multiple places.

So Tim called Dave and invited him to a benefit held in Brandi's honor last Saturday night. Brandi has seen doctors at Scott & White in Temple but hasn't been given many options for treatment. Or much hope, from what I heard that night. She wanted a second opinion (who wouldn't?) at MD Anderson in Houston and this event as to raise funds to make that happen. Her friends rallied and surpassed their fundraising goal. She will, indeed, be able to get that second opinion. Hopefully soon.

We, of course, attended and were able to catch up with lots of old friends. It's amazing that no matter how much things change, they remain the same. We are absolutely heartsick at this turn of events. Having a daughter the same age that Brandi does, I cannot fathom being in her position. And I an in awe at her strength.

She has spunk. She has God. She has support. She has a lot of fight left in her. And, I pray, she still has many more years on this Earth.

Please pray for this family and, if you'd like to know more about them click here.