Brandi’s Story

Site created on July 6, 2019



On the morning of Tuesday, June, 18, 2019 I went to work as usual, knowing I needed to call my GP and see why I was having such horrible abdominal pains. The pain had been going on for a little over a week, but seemed to have gotten worse and had started making my breathing a little off. I couldn’t take deep breaths without having shooting pain right at the top of my stomach under my ribs on my right side.  My GP immediately thought I might be having issues with my gall bladder and admitted me to DCH Hospital. It began with a CT scan and ultrasound of my abdominal area. They found out that my liver was enlarged but didn’t know why.  They called it a "lumpy liver".  A biopsy of my liver was done and on June 22, my sweet angel GI doctor came to my room and told me I had liver cancer. My liver was doubled in size and covered in metastatic small cell carcinoma. Metastatic means it can move within the body to other organs. They explained that my liver looked like Swiss cheese and is completely covered in lesions.  They put me on morphine and anti nausea medications around the clock. As for now, the doctors will continue tests and keep looking for a source. They believe that liver cancer always has a source, beings somewhere else and goes to the liver but as of now, we have no source. There is no cure, the word they used is Lifelong. I will start chemo treatments that will consist of 3 days worth of outpatient treatment, what 21 days and do 3 more days until I have had 6 rounds. The doctors will retest after so many treatments so see how much progress has been made. One of my oncologists, Dr. Bostick says we will hope and pray we see nothing on the next sets of tests. 

Newest Update

Journal entry by Shelby Sartain

This has taken me a minute but it is with a heavy heart I have to update you.  Brandi went to be with our Lord on October 24, 2020 at 11:55 am. She was a true fighter, one who never gave up and believed she could beat this cancer.  She touched so many lives and was determined to share her Journey with all the details good or bad.  About a month ago she told us "I don't want anyone to ever say I lost my battle with cancer" Because I have won!" I know it will be hard on my family but always know I am with our Lord, I am healed and my body is new, I am gonna be fine".  Brandi could light up a room with that amazing smile and her spunky attitude.  She was a Christian, Mother, Daughter, Granddaughter, Niece and Friend. She Loved the Holidays, the decorating, planning and all that goes with it,  so this year will be tuff. I was so blessed that Sharon & Robbie was kind enough to share their kids Brandi & Chase with me.  Brandi was many things to many people and what you seen was what you got, she never sugar coated anything.  Hailey was her greatest accomplishment!  She was so proud of the hard work she put into making TCHS Color- guard.  I am so Thankful she got to go to one of her games to see her perform in person. We think they're will be a lot of things she will miss, but she wont because we will have a little piece of her with us always.  So for now I will not say goodbye to Brandi, I will just say see you later. And just know the world was a better place for having you in it.

I Love  you Much!

Shelby

 

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