Brandy’s Battle: Can You Help?
A fellow blogger, Brandy from Not So Average Mama, was just told this past Friday night that she has a mass the size of a volley ball on her left ovary that was probably Ovarian Cancer {She will not know for sure if it is cancer until it is removed and biopsied, but the ER doctor said it’s sheer size indicated Ovarian Cancer}. She is only 35 years old. She also has no health insurance. She needs immediate surgery and a consultation with a gynecological oncologist. But she cannot get any doctor to see her because she doesn’t have insurance. She is scared, in pain and needs to be treated NOW. This should not be. She should be able to just proceed with battling her illness without worrying about money.
I want to help her. I want to be able to scoop her up, put her in my car, take her to a hospital and DEMAND that they treat her and get this thing out of her. But I can’t. I’m two states away.
Therefore, I am going to hold a fundraiser auction here at Last Shreds Of Sanity to try and help defer the costs of her medical care {Auction date to be announced}.
This is Brandy’s Battle.
Here is a little background on Brandy and her medical issues:
Brandy has seen specialist after specialist trying to find out what is really wrong with her. Each specialist sends her to yet another one. It’s frustrating and costing her a ton of money because she does not have health insurance. She has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, but that diagnosis did not explain the other strange symptoms she was having, including head jerking, loss of balance, inability to hold a pen and slurred speech. All the specialists so far have been baffled. And two weeks ago, her stomach suddenly swelled up to where she looks 8 months pregnant. This did not happen gradually. One day her belly looked normal, the next, she was all swollen for no apparent reason.
So this past Friday night she went to the ER. She had been in pain, unable to keep food down, vomiting and having trouble breathing. And the belly was getting bigger. At the ER, they ran several blood tests and did a dry Cat Scan {She is allergic to the contrast media normally used to detect blood flow paths}. Imagine her surprise and devastation when she was told that she has a mass the size of a volley ball on her left ovary and it was likely cancerous. They gave her a referral for a gynecological oncologist, then they cut her loose.
YES YOU READ THAT RIGHT. Denton Regional Hospital sent her home without any real treatment. Just a piece of paper with a doctor’s name on it and informational sheets about cancer.
WHY? Because she has no insurance.
Brandy has three beautiful little girls. Her husband owns his own construction business and she works from home as a photographer, graphic designer, blogger and web host. She’s doing what she can. But insurance just isn’t affordable for a family of five when you don’t have a corporation paying part of the premium for you. It sucks. Especially when something like this happens. To date she has bills totaling nearly $12,000. The gynecological oncologist she needs to see in order to be evaluated for the surgery will likely cost around $500 and that has to be paid upfront.
Brandy cannot get any kind of help for the cost of the surgery, she has been denied all state help for her medical expenses. Texas does not have any help for their uninsured residents. She was told that for a family of 5 to qualify for medical assistance, they need to make $700 per month or less!! She needs this mass out of her NOW. It is growing at an alarming rate. The ER doctor also told her that a complete hysterectomy is necessary.
I am scared for her.
The longer she has to wait to get proper treatment, the more time this mass has to grow and cause more problems for her health.
I am asking you to help this amazing person battle this probably cancerous tumor. You can bid on the items we will have in the auction or you can donate directly. Either way, I am asking you to spread the word. And if you want to sponsor this auction or know someone who does, you can contact me here. Just put “Brandy’s Battle” in the subject line.
Our sponsors so far are {I don’t have all the items being donated listed yet, so please forgive me}:
($25 Starbucks gift card)
(Rhinestone t-shirt)
(Avon products & necklaces from Little Dots and Pretty Spots)
(Soy candles from black corse and Vado video camera)
(Amazon Gift Certificates)
(1 Ticket To Bloggers On Bourbon
Hosted by BookieBoo & MomDot.com)
(custom twitter background, retail value $30)
Author Charles J. Orlando, The Problem With Women…Is Men
(3 autographed books)
(Target gift certificate)
(TinkerBell & The Lost Treasure Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack)
(6 months 125 X 125 above the fold ad space on her blog sidebar)
(Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook Designer Deluxe for PC, 5 CD Set)
(Wooden children’s toys)
***PLEASE NOTE***
Sponsors will be responsible for shipping auction items to the winning bidder
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Category: Cervical Cancer, Mama's Rants
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Shan and lovemykeiki, Kelly Ward. Kelly Ward said: RT @babyrocasmama Brandy’s Battle: Can You Help?: A fellow blogger, Brandy from Not So Average Mama, was just… http://goo.gl/fb/3TWU0 [...]
Can I donate something to the auction? I want to help!
.-= Jessica (@ It’s my life…)´s last blog ..And the princess turned 5 =-.
Just email me using the contact link in my nav bar. Thank you!
[...] At Last Shred of Sanity is working to set up a auction to benefit Brandy. Once that is up and running you can check her site and I will also post as well. [...]
I am about to email you. I am donating an iTunes gift card.
Gotcha! Thank you Tanya.
[...] to the Brandy’s Battle Auction – or once it’s live start your [...]
Shan I emailed you. Brandy is in our prayers.
.-= Gena´s last blog ..Giveaway Monday May 17,2010 Lots of Giveaways to enter =-.
[...] http://lastshredsofsanity.com/2010/05/brandys-battle-can-you-help.html [...]
[...] from one of my affiliate on my featured product. All money that is made goes to Brandy. Check out Brandy’s Battle Auction and start bidding on items when it goes live. Prayers are always [...]
Hi, my mom is a cancer survivor and also battled insurance companies so i really feel for Brandy and what she’s going through, I would like to donate for the auction from my WAHM store if you are willing to accept , if you would email me ( I dont want to appear as spam by posting on here store link ) I would be glad to help as i can . thanks
Just use my contact link in my nav bar to email me, please.
Shan, I just emailed you…I’d like to donate two gift cards.
.-= Penelope´s last blog ..Delicious Mushroom Barley Soup =-.
Emailed you with a donation shan!
.-= Emilie´s last blog ..Little Tikes Cozy Coupe, Spray & Rescue Fire Truck {Spring Event Review & Giveaway #41} =-.
I had the EXACT thing in 2003-2004!
Same left ovary & the size of a Volleyball!
It was not cancer & I pray Brandy’s is not cancer.
Still, When in surgery they will have to cut the tummor from inside……mine was tangles & attached to my bowels.
She will have chronic problems!
I wish I could donate but I AM SO BROKE.
I will try to help spread the word!
I left some more info for Brandy on Mommy Googles site.
[...] friend at Last Shreds of Sanity is named Shan. She has organized an auction to help me and my family through this time. [...]
[...] to the Brandy’s Battle Auction – or once it’s live start your [...]
I will see what I have to donate tomorrow! Praying for Brandy!!!
If we can post the donate button on our blog I would like to add it to mine too. Please email the code to me at jamnsfld76 at gmail dot com
I don’t know what I have to donate but I am surely going to see what I can come up with .. maybe a make up bag from Room It Up brand new …. Will contact you correctly if I can find where I put it when I moved the bedrooms around here!! I wish I had money to donate, this is just simply NOT FAIR and NOT OKAY!
So happy everyone is chipping in, virtual friendships are REAL friendships! ((HUGS))
.-= Brandy´s last blog ..Saturday Giveaway Link Ups! Enter & Link Them =-.
This is so kind of you to share and try to help her! I see you are having a great response so far!!! I will keep her in my prayers as well as this fundraiser effort. Thank god she has a great blogger friend like you!!!
I will be posting this information on my blog to spread the word but I also wanted to talk to you about setting up a fundraiser for her with a company called MY ScentEssence… We can set up a page specifically for her and all the commissions could be deposited to her funds account. (55% profit, non-toxic products)
I am the national director of the company, I do graphic designs, I blog and I like to talk alot lol SO If there is ANYTHING I can do to help please contact me.
Miracle_Creations07@yahoo.com
817-503-3071
Tara Todd
.-= Tara Todd´s last blog ..Calling ALL WAHM’s – FREE ad incentive =-.
I forgot to mention my donation… This is what I am offering for now. I may be able to do more..
I will do 5 FEATURED POST’s for 5 different winners. You can raise the money however you feel suitable for the winners
http://www.ACreationOfMiracles.com
Tara,
Can you send this info to me in an email? I need to have everything in one place where I can keep it labeled. And attempt to be organized.
I am so sorry to hear about how she was treated and glad she has now had the operation. God bless her and her family. I would like to help. I will see what I can come up with to donate. I will also post it.
Barbara
.-= Barbara Platt´s last blog ..Target recalls storage trunks due to strangulation hazard to kids =-.
This is so kind of you. I will keep her in my thoughts and prayers. Wish I could help in some way but I’m going through some issues as well and I just can’t. I will tweet and do anything else to help spread the word though.
.-= Nichol´s last blog ..CSNLighting.com Foothills Forge Chandelier Review! =-.
[...] from me to help or sent money in for Brandy. Please continue to pass on the link this post. Also, an online auction to benefit Brandy is being organized and I will link to that when it’s up and ready. If [...]
[...] I first came up with doing a fundraiser for Brandy, I hoped it would work. I hoped people would donate. I hoped the interwebz would embrace her and [...]
[...] to the Brandy’s Battle Auction – or once it’s live start your [...]
I know I am responding to an old topic. What is the current status of Brandy’s situation? I haven’t had health insurance since I stopped working and I’ve had no problem getting coverage through my state. Has she tried doing that? If she makes too much money, she won’t qualify but if she has no income, they will surely accept her.
Brandy is still trying to pay off a $60,000+ hospital bill, keep up with her monthly medication bill & find a neurologist that will accept her as a self-pay patient. She does not qualify for any state help at all. Her husband owns his own small construction business and they do not make enough to afford health insurance but make too much to qualify for state aide. If she can get to a neurologist and get properly diagnosed, she could probably get medicare and Social Security Disablilty. She cannot work. Texas does not have much set up to help people that make over $700/month and are a Family of five. If she made less than that, she could get all the health care she needed.
This whole thing blows giant chunks. I started a site just for Brandy, Brandy’s Battle. All her updates will be there, although I do have another update to add in the next couple of days.