Brandee Gillman Bean our "Special" Angel

First post: Sep 2, 2016 Latest post: Nov 23, 2016
Welcome to Bean's Bridge!! Times like these are times no one can prepare for. Things are moving quickly and Paula and I  want to be able to provide all of our Loved ones, Family, and Friends with updates as quickly as possible. There will be times texts, emails, and phone calls may drop through the cracks as we carry on -caring, and making memories with Brandee. It isn't that we don't want to talk to each and every last one of you. We do, we just don't have the resources right now. The fact that we are making this page just shows the huge outpouring of support from all of the people who have enriched, enhanced and influenced Bean's life.  It is amazing how this little stinker has roped in some of the most amazing fun people. We all know she has a way!!


It's been a pretty surreal whirlwind for us all from Day Service, to family to even the people at Scooters who know us by name. Brandee started to lose some weight in the last few months. She was a pretty tiny little bug to begin with at 4'11. Needless to say this weight loss was alarming to us all. She began to lose enthusiasm for some of her favorite things... spring pasta salad, stealing any one else's coffee drinks, crab rangoon, pickles, and of course Diet Coke. That too was odd to see. 


We started troubleshooting from the tip of her nose to the bottom of her toes. Med level checks, The Dentist, Neurologist, the ENT specialist and finally the the GI guy. Brandee and fam have endured plenty of false potential causes in this duration, we lowered dosages, treated strep throat, had deep gum cleansing, a CT scan and finally today, sigmoidoscopy. 


Over the last two months we saw flashes of "The Old Bean" where she would take interest in her usual tactics. Laughing until she cries, stealing food stuffs off others plates, sipping multiple diet cokes at once... you know how she does. :) 


Most recently in the last week or two Brandee has shown NO interest in food whatsoever. BIG ALARMS began going off for all of us. Our network of loved ones and family brainstormed every possible issue we could and got Brandee into the GI Guy. The CT scan revealed our worst fears. 
Brandee has two tumors. The largest is 5cm. (The size of a lime.) It is sitting in her colon pressing on everything else making things stop moving... making her lethargic and definitely not hungry. This big jerk of a tumor has metastasized. Five lymph nodes and Bean's liver are also showing signs of being involved. 


Luckily for us we have a Radiologist in the family we trust implicitly. He was able to answer every question we could possibly have Thursday night to prepare us for Bean's Sigmoidoscopy today. This procedure went smoothly the Dr. was able to get a biopsy and we will hear more about that soon. 


Not one of us can predict the future or provide any specific time lines... but one thing we know for sure is- it isn't good. 


We will provide updates as often as possible. We know you all will want to help us as much as you can- having been on the other side of things like this. 
For now, all we need help with is prayers, thoughts, funny stories, pictures, and just good old reflection. It may sound cliche but, time is precious. 38 years isn't anywhere near enough. Our most precious gift is our memories and we are going to spend day and night cramming in as many more as we can. 









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