Just wanted to say Hello!

Hello Folks! Hope y’all are doing well!
Just wanted to touch base with everyone and update, encourage.
I had a check up last March(2025) and was released from yearly  CHECK UPS after 10 plus years.
What a wonderful feeling! I remember when this journey began and they said you want to get to that 5 year mark! Well folks I made it! 5 years in October in 2019 ! Now its 2026. There has been so much amazing things happen during my cancer journey. Looking back after TWELVE years I think some days it was so long ago. 

I know it's been year since my last posting but I know this blog still gets shared often. I have been meaning to turn this Blog into something so much more after all these years. God has been laying on my heart to share this blog into a book. So after a year of prayer, its time to obey my calling and get this Book in order for publishing. Exciting and Overwhelming at the same time. Please be in prayer for this book, I want this to be uplifting and encouraging to others. 

Stay Tuned and God Bless,

Brandi Maige

Today went well. I have been super groggy today. Which made me irritable this time around.
Spencer would say I was snappy. I think it was due to Nashville Traffic on the way home and he we picked up Izabella from school(insert Fairview traffic and car rider line), had to go BACK to Publix to get my pain meds. 😫
Well it’s 3:35AM, and  I have been up off and on since 12:00AM to take meds or pee! Now I have another  30 mins until the next time to take it and Spencer just walked in the house from playing #LosersNashville.  Pain only on the left side! Right side got a new implant too. I also got a lesion( skin tag/mole) removed above my right ear and I don’t have any pain on that side. Super weird! I am think it might be they scrapped scar tissue on hat side more. Who Knows! I just know I am up and counting down the minutes to take a pain pill. I can’t take bandages off of my chest and get a shower until Friday so i will Post those pictures then. For now here is a picture of my ear. 

Blessings,

Brandi Maige

“ weeping will last but a night, but JOY will come in the morning”
Psalm 30:5

It’s been awhile! What’s new in the Fight like a girl world!

Hello! It’s been awhile! Please forgive me! Since my last post I’ve had GREAT checkups! Still cancerfree and praising the God Lord for His mercies! Just had my 3.5 year check up with my Oncoligist and all is well. I had a checkup with my surgeon that did my Expanders and my second implant surgery(Jan 2016)  in February and discovered that my LEFT implant had turned sideways. Super bummed about that, but it’s something that can and will be fixed. Actually it will be fixed tomorrow 4/11/2018  I will have an Implant Exchange and  Capsulectomy in both breast tomorrow. The Doctor hopes it will help with the rippling I have on the RIGHT side where the tumor was. 

It will be outpatient as usual. Surgery starts at 11:00AM central time. Please be in prayer with me for the surgery to go great, implants will be repaired and work well with my body this time and I heal quick! This will be my 4th surgery after treatment. Thanks for your prayers in Advance! 

Side Note: 

I have several friends that have been diagnosed with cancer or their family member has! Please be in prayer for everyone going through some kinda battle of their own! We need cures! We need healing. We need to never take our health for granted! 

Blessings,

Brandi Maige

 

Pictures from Today's Surgery

Hello Again! I am doing pretty well since its been over 12 hours since surgery. It was fairly easy. The surgery center is always so quick at the registration. They get you taken care of and very efficient. They even remembered me from my reconstruction surgery. Waking up today I was a sore of course. I got Spencer to take a few pictures so I could share with you tonight. 

I have 4 sutures in my Breast! This was the first time for that. It's to help hold the mesh in place while it heals. I have to keep them in for 1 week. I have a sling on my arm this time to help me NOT move it. 

I am posting a picture so you can see it. I hope it doesn't offend anyone. This is part of me being transparent about my journey. 

The others picture are just me starting to wake up in recovery. It was such a blessing to have my Best Friend there beside me. He's the best! Even if he calls me Little Orphan Annie and Betty Boop. :) 

As I close this post I want to thank you again for your prayers and kind words! 

I leave us with this verse:

“Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

Proverbs 16:24 NIV

Brandi

01/05/16 :4th and hopefully final surgery.

It's been several weeks since I updated you guys interested in my journey. So I figured I should update. So here we go. :)

My last 3 month check up went well. Praise the Lord. Hearing "See you in another three months" is always a relief. I made an appointment in November to meet with my Plastic Surgeon that did my reconstruction and shared a few concerns I was having with my right side Breast(same side the tumor was on) and we came up with a solution to correct the problem areas.  Sad part it was one more surgery. So the best available time to schedule it was Jan. 6,2016. Yep that is tomorrow. So I have to be at the surgery center at 7:30 in the morning. Surgery starts at 9:30 should last an hour or so. So please if you remember to lift me and the Doctors and nurses up tomorrow. Pray for wisdom and safety. I hope this will correct the problem boob once and for all! The Dr. will go into the same incision as before and adjust the placement and add more Alloderm Mesh to help hold it in place and give me a batting like barrier to help with the rippling that I have. The right side has very thin tissue. They had to be so aggressive on that side due to the Cancer was on that side. He had to get clear margins. So of course it would be the side causing all the trouble. Well that's the skinny on what I have next up on the Cancer journey! So glad this will all be behind me soon enough. God has been so faithful every step of the way. I know tomorrow is no different. I will be on the mend one more time. I have an amazing support system. My husband, family and friends! My mother in law(Mrs. Angela) is here to help us out for a few days while Spencer travels this weekend. We will be playing lots of Farkle!  

I pray as I type these words that someone reading this blog will get something out of it. I pray it might help a sister that is about to face the same thing, maybe even a family member preparing for their love one to go through this journey. Just remember to take heart and know Jesus is right beside you ever little step! Nothing is too big or small for the one that created us. Blessings to you and wishing everyone a healthy and joyful New Year! 

Just a little piece of God's Plan. 11/11/15

As I am sitting outside enjoying the beautiful afternoon, I am being filmed. Media Share came today and filmed me and my family. We have talked about what amazing service Media Share was during this journey. Since day one of going to the Doctor they have been such a blessing. Everything has been so easy to ask questions and get things paid. They call me on surgery follow ups. Ask how they can pray for us. I even had a sweet lady mail me a card and had the office ladies sign it to wish me a speedy recovery after my Double Mastetomy. 

Today I have been interviewed about me experience with Medi-Share, and got to share a few highlights of my journey. They took a few pictures and highlights from this blog.  I think it is pretty amazing to get to share. 

I can remember the first day I was told I had Cancer, Spencer said to me" Baby I can not wait to see how God is going to use you." Its amazing how it has worked out. I am sharing in a National level and I got to share at our community event: Fields of Faith with a few other brave souls! :) It's funny God already had this day planned. I just had to be available . Many times in our lives with our crazy hectic schedules and life happen moments I like to think we must miss out time and time again to be recipients to God's blessings in our lives. I truly believe  if we would surrender daily to Him. We would have a peaceful more meaningfully life. One that encouraged and lifted others up. Now don't get me wrong, life isn't all rainbows and lollipops. We have storms pop up in our lives to help us grow and not be stagnant. But if we would look for the good in everything what a different world we would live in. 

Well I will keep you updated when the clip will be ready and aired or put in Medi-Share's website for you to see. 

10-31-2015(Late Posting)

Today marks 1 year since my first Oncology appointment. I learned what Triple Negative Breast meant. I learned I wouldn't just take 4 or 6 rounds of chemotherapy it would be 16 rounds. 12 of them would be weekly ones and then 4 of them would be every other week. 20 long weeks! I learned I would be put in a trial study through Sarah Cannon Research Institute. I would either take a study drug or a placebo pill. For 12 weeks 2 times a day. I grew to love  some amazing nurses and I met some amazing Cancer patients and their families. We've become friends. Sometimes in life some of the hardest things you must do become such blessings. If you told me a year ago I'd be going to dinner with my Nurse and her family. I don't think I would believe you. I am so blessed I got to experience all of this. I am not the same person I was. I've grown on so many levels this past year. 

I leave us with this verse:

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Hebrews 4:16 NIV

Brandi

 

October: Susan G Koman Race for the Cure 2015

Hello, It's been a busy 2 months since I posted last. I just wanted to give you a overview of whats been going  on. Surgery went well. I am all healed up. I was able to start running. That has been nice. I got to run my first official timed race on October 24, 2015. I had a team that came and ran and some that walked. This was the Susan G Koman Race for the Cure run. We had a fun time wearing our pink and getting to see all the Survivors in their special shirts. It was such a blessing to get to run with Braxton. He skipped going to a RA campout. He said he didn't want to miss my run! That boy melted my heart when he told me that. I was surprised when we went to see the official time. I came in 3rd place in the Survivor Catagory for 30-39. I metaled my first run. 38 minutes for my 5K. Not very impressive for most runners. But for me its great. I have lots of room to improve. I can not wait to run another one. Two ladies on my team came in 1st and the other in 3rd in their age category. They were awesome 7 minute miles. I did that in High School but well 1997 was a long time ago. Haha! I guess

Just curious if anyone was been keeping up with my hair? WOW... I have an Afro now. Or so Izzy says! Its super thick, dark and Um, very curly. I might even call it kinky! I call it a Hot Mess. I've been wearing my wig a lot more lately. One reason being its been cooler out and the other reason I just can't stand my hair stage right now. I won't cut it, I am just letting it grow and its wild and untamed. Most people love it. I say thanks but I cringe at the thought they are even looking at my hair. I tend to change the subject really quick. I know this is just a phase and another step during this journey but man it really stinks the things one most go through. I never really thought about the awkward phases I would encounter. I am trying to embrace it all. Some part are harder than others.

Here are a few pictures of the HOT Mess! 

Update that never posted! Sept Post 3 week post surgery!

I can't tell you how excited I am that I reached that finish line! The last surgery.The last part of this journey. It took 10 months to complete it. 10 long scary, dreaded months. As I reflect on all that's happened All I can say is God. God Thank You! Thank you for carrying me when I could not walk this journey. So many days when I just needed you, you were Faithfully there. You were there through friends and family. I am so honored and blessed to have the wonderful people you placed in my life. I have seen the hands and feet of Jesus in the last 10 months that I pray I will be able repay each and everyone one of them. 

As I heal physically it also has mental challenges too. So many things to process. Trying to get into a "New Normal" sure doesn't feel so normal. :) 

Oh..... Let's talk beauty or the lack there of. My hair is coming in but it looks like a Hot Mess! Curly hair might be my new look. Not to mention the light color it's coming back in. I get asked often if it colored or highlighted. To the inquiring minds sorry it's not colored or frosted. 

8/12/15 Dear Cancer,

Dear Cancer, 

I have always heard of you and hated you! You cause so many loved ones to leave us. You aren't prejudice. Young, Old, Rich or Poor you come in and invade our body. Some it happens with no warning until it's too late! I can't believe as I type this I can even think this way but I do! You picked me and I am glad you did. You've made me into such a different person. One that I have become to love. My eyes don't see the world as I did. My outlook on life is so more precious. My family and friends mean even more to me than they did before! Most of all My relationship with God has grown so much more deeper than I ever thought it could. Trusting God and Depending on God on a whole new level. I trusted but not like I do now. My faith has always been strong. But now it's stronger. Through all the test, waiting for results, treatments, surgeries and recovery time I knew I to surrender to God. I knew everything I was facing was OVERWHELMING. It was like if I took every part of you in at one time I would be consumed. I might give up. I might not try. God's word promises He's with us and we must trust. But to trust we must surrender. Surrendering isn't easy. I had to do this daily. Sometimes more than once a day. As a person I am not perfect, I sin daily. So when I gave you over to God I didn't want you back! Most times when we pray we ask God to handle XYZ in our lives but they are all sticky hands we lay it down at the alter and then when we get up it all comes right back. We never surrendered it. We think we got it and you God can't handle it. 

You weren't going to be my sticky note! You were going down and stay at the feet of Jesus. So thank you Cancer you helped me. You saved me from the inside out. 

The part I want you to know Cancer is that you didn't win! I did! 

Brandi

16 weeks. Wow!

Hard to believe it been 16 weeks since that last Chemo Day! Time Flies! Well here's the latest update on the girls. They have had their final fill. These things will be coming out on August 12. Yay! These Hard Bricks will be out. It will be a quick surgery. It will be outpatient and sent home with meds. Hopefully this will be a breeze. No tubes coming out my sides and no milking the tubes. I sure hope I can bath and dress myself. That was tough having people to do that for me.

<3 

Well, I am in the Mts. this weekend enjoying a much need quiet family time. We plan to eat sweet potato pancakes at Joey's Pancake House! Then play in the river on tubes in Cherokee! Go to my favorite thrift store and General Store in Waynesville. Going to visit with my Aunt and cousin too! Hopefully have a visit from my Aimee and her kiddos. Sing songs around the ol' campfire. Soak in those last few summer days before my next surgery and kids go back to school! I will snap a pic and post for you a few highlights from our trip next week! 

Love Ya! Be a light in this dark and broken world! 

Brandi

I leave us with this: 

 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

Romans 10:9-10 NIV

http://bible.com/111/rom.10.9-10.niv

13 Weeks Post Chemo

Hello! Hope you've been loving summer as much as I have! It's so great to spend time with my family and not be on a crazy schedule! We have been doing VBS, went with Spence to Panama City for work and a vacation. Then continue our trip with him in Alabama for the weekend as he played in a Casino. We took a little drive on July 4 to see the battleship. Today we are on our way home to reality! 7 Full Day away from my bed has been long enough! We are somewhere in Alabama headed North on 65 and it is stop and go! So I decided to snap a pic to show my hair progress and blog a bit! 

It's might not look much different to you it its longer on the sides and I can run my fingers through my hair and see lines in it. 

Well here is the latest info on the "girls".

Went to the Doctor and they wanted me to wait a week. I told them I would be on Vacation so it would have to wait another week! July 16 I should either get a final fill or set a surgery date for a few weeks out! 

Either say it's a win win! I am ready to close this chapter. I am ready to put this in the past and focus on the future! I will never take a day for granted again! Life is too short and priceless!

Blessings to you! 

Brandi

Psalm 118:24

"this is the day the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it".

10 Weeks Post Chemo

Here is a pic of week 10 of my hair growth! It's coming right along. :)

It's already thicker than the picture I took last week. 

I leave us with this beautiful verse:

"This is the day the Lord has made. Rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalms 118:24

Brandi 

Pretty in Pink Fashion Show

What a fun day at the Fashion Show! I wanted to post you a few pictures.

These ladies our my survivor sisters! I am so blessed to have gotten to know them and to hear their courageous stories! 

This is Sarah! She is also a TNBC survivor! She is almost 7 years Cancer Free! I love love love her hair! I hope to look as beautiful as she does when my hair grows out. 

Fancy Dresses! These ladies looked amazing. I had to snag a pic of us in these beautiful dresses! 

This was such an amazing day. Getting all dolled up was such a treat. Not only was it a day to celebrate Survivors but a great fundraiser! Thanks to all my friends that came to celebrate with me and all that requested a calander. If you still would like a calendar message me and  I will send you a link to purchase yours. 

I also have a #TeamBrandi for the Susan G. Koman race here on October 24,2015. You can donate to our team if you can't make the run! 

Brandi

12 Days diffrence

Take a look at this collage. The left side of the pic is from May 30 and the right side is from today June 11. 

That's a lot of hair growth! 

Just wanted to give you a quick update! 

Cha- Cha- Chia!  :)

<3

Brandi

2nd Fill and a message from my <3

PT started today. Hopefully I will get back to putting my arms up and over my head.  I knew it would feel tight as I was having to do it. But after my 2nd fill today, I am not feeling to well. Bummer.. I don't like feeling under the weather. I am pretty tight this time. I went ahead and took a muscle relaxer and rubbed some EO by YL:Panaway on my back. I hope it helps with the discomfort I am having. I go again next week for another fill and see my Plastic Surgeon. From there we will see how things are going. Nurse B says the "girls" look great. I will take her word. She sees way more of them then I do. 

On to other updates. My hair is still coming in and it's so soft. We can not tell the color of it yet. My scalp looks dark but when you get up close it looks so light. I was blonde when I was younger and it got darker the older I got. So maybe we should take a poll and see what everyone thinks it will be. 

Blonde VS Brown? Cast your thoughts . 

Eyelashes and brows are still coming in . Shaving legs and armpits isn't any fun! I didn't miss shaving. That was a perk from the chemo. See found a blessing in it. :)

Well, on a serious note I want to share something with you. The recovery process is still hard as the journey of chemo and fighting to rid myself of cancer. Recovery is just as tough. I still am limited on things and hurt in other ways now. But I keep my eyes focused on Jesus. I remember this too shall pass. I must endure this season like I did the last. I still need your prayers. I really feel them and was so encouraged! I pray that  I am a light for those that need to see this journey that I am on. I pray this is beneficial to all that read this blog. I pray it makes that one lady go get checked, That one lady feel her breasts for the first time and understand what to be on the look out for. The one lady entering this journey to put their trust in Jesus and hold tight to His every promise. Because there will be ups and downs! Mountains and Valleys. But our God IS faithful!

From my heart:

Spence was in the room with me as I was leaving the PT appointment and he told her that I really haven't complained during this. It made my heart so happy. Because I feel somewhat as a BIG burden right now. Really for the last 8 months. Tons and tons of Doctor appointments, 2 biopsy surgeries, 2 hospital surgeries and just being limited to taking care of him and my kiddos. As a Mom we do so much for our families. So having to step back and get help and relying on others to help out is tough. So I am a glad I wasn't such a slacker in Spencer's eyes. You know we think we are Wonder Woman or something! :) 

Have a blessed week! Smile as you pass by that person. You never know what battle they are facing! 

I leave us with this verse today:

Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. (Proverbs 12:25 NLT)

Brandi

Fill'er Up

Well today was the first expander fill! It was weird watching your Breast being inflated like a tire. I must say never thought I'd type these words. Ha! The things you never think of. Anyways I am posting this pic that Spence took today. I wanted my die hard bloggers to see what  I was talking about when I describe what went down today. Or should I say up! :)

They take this tool that has a magnet on it and it finds the magnet inside my expander which is under my skin. It stands up straight when it locates it. They press the tool down on my chest and it makes a X (marks the spot). That shows them where to insert the needle. As shown in the picture above. Yes it hurt! Going in and coming out. After the needle is in they push the saline through and you see your chest grow before your eyes. They did this for both sides. 50cc is what went in each Breast. I am still lope-sided for some reason. The right side is smaller than the left. I go again next week and the nurse mentioned they could possible just put some in the right side and even it out. 

Pretty cool they can do the things they do. It blows my mind. 

I am so blessed to have great quality care here in Nashville. 

I want to leave us with this quote I found today! It's a reminder as I look at myself each one is a part of something that happened in my life and I healed from it.

 Battle wounds. 

Brandi

Hair. Hair!

That's right I am getting Hair! Which is
growing everywhere on my body. I had to shave my legs and armpits! Which feels really weird by the way. My skin feels so rough. It's been smooth as can be these last 7 months. All the tiny peach fuzz on my body is coming back. As you can see in the pic I took today(5.30.15) I am getting eyelashes and brows too! I am so excited to have my lashes back so should I say growing again. I would be SUPER stoked of they would come back so full and super long! I did get my eyebrows waxed the other day. Yep! I sure did. They are growing crazy in all the places I don't want the to grow. But at least now it's easier to pencil them in instead of drawing them on blindly. 

Well I leave us with a quote today! I so agree with this. I will never view this side of Heaven the same again!  #foreverchanged #iamaSurvivor

Brandi

Post Op Week #3 Update

This picture shows the part that was inside of me. Spencer said it was like a French Drain. The picture above you can see the little channels the fluid moved through. Pretty cool! Not so cool when they are yanked out of you at the count of 3! Man I could of slapped somebody! No Joke! 

Hallelujah! I had the last and final drain removed on Tuesday. I am no longer Octo-Girl! Think about that... I had 4 drains and 2 arms and legs! Haha! Now I feel better. No measuring and milking. The fluid level was finally down enough to take the last one out. So I still have been taking sponge baths! Sponge baths since May 4th. I need a huge scrubing! Oh and tonight is the night! I can't wait. I wish I had one of those water heaters that NEVER run out of water! I feel like I might be in there awhile! I promise I will splurge and use all the hot water tonight only. 

Today 5/28 I went and had a 1 month check up with my Oncologist. All good news! Blood counts are looking good! She said I had more RBC than I have had in almost 6 months! I have enough fighters to fight now if I got an infection. Heart was good. BP was 98/62  They said see you in 3 months. That's kinda exciting since I have been there so much in the last 6 months. I am so grateful for them though! They had a right plan of action to rid me of Cancer. I will be forever thankful for them and God's healing powers. I do believe God gives them the tools to heal us. Chemotherapy was what fixed me and with all your prayers and God's mercy! So onto chatting with you all about Reconstruction of my breasts! Sorry if this offends anyone. This is all medical mumbo-jumbo! The implants are in. They were filled slightly during surgery. I do believe 180cc. I will be going on Tuesday to have my first fill. They will do 50cc at a time here on out until I get to the desired look I am going for. I will post a pic of that  on Tuesday. It will be to show you the progression. PLEASE don't freak out . It's all for the knowledge of the aftermath of Breast cancer! I wish there was a blog for me to follow to get great tips and pics of what's to come. I sure hope this blog helps someone. I feel God has given me this to help others be brave and to show that leaning on Him instead of our own ways is best! See here is an example of what I didn't know. Most women have radical mastectomies. I had nipple sparing. The Physicians Assistant said WOW. Those look great. You got to keep your nipples. I don't normal see a lot of ladies with nipples. Let's end on that note! Let's talk Summer Time. :)

Well my kids are out of school and we aren't staying home. We have lot of fun time to make up! We are ready for the pool, the beach, river, boat rides, late nights, movies, games,trips, cook outs, and family/friends! 

Have a wonderful Summer! Take nothing for granted and find the beauty in EVERYTHING! 

YOLO :) 

I leave is with this verse:

I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 

(Genesis 12:2 NLT)

Brandi

2 Weeks Post-Op

Hello! I hope everyone is having a great week! I just felt I need to catch you up about surgery and recovery! NO RADATION! Node was clear!! They only ended up needing to take 1 of them. That's super duper news! I am 100% pathological and clinically Cancer Free! Thank Jesus for your healing powers! 

Now for recovery:

I am better than I was a week ago! Pain has gone down. Pain pill about 6-8 hours. None needed through the night. 

My chest area has looked like a rainbow these past 2 weeks. Drains are changing to a more clear color. Which is great news. I hope this Thursday I will get 2 out. Or even all of them. The right side I still has 2 drains and the left just 1. The right side has more work done so it's healing slower. Over all the Dr's are pleased with recovery. That makes me so happy. I still have minimum movement. I say I have T-Rex arms. I can't reach very far at all or lift my arm. Being dependent on someone else to help you pull up/down your pants and bath you is frustrating. It is reminding me to "Be Still". God has shown me so many things this part of the journey from the Chemo part. 

I feel like this part of the journey is the renewing part! Pressing forward from the old to the new. The reminder that we  have to suffer sometimes to see the beauty on the other side. That through pain comes joy. Everything is not easy. But it's worth it! And with that comes a different view of the world on so many levels. That what I thought was important  in something doesn't seem that way now! Also the unknown is scary but if you keep your eyes on Jesus and surrender the issue to Him and trust Him to get you throught it. 

Oh let's talk updates! 

Hair....Its growing! Everywhere is starting to get peach fuzz! Looking at myself in the mirror I can see a faint shadow of hair  on my head. Eyebrow hairs are coming in. But go figure they are where I usually PLUCK. Really? Come on hair work with me! :) 

Have a great week! Thanks for your prayers! And please continue to pray recovery keeps on going as planned. I leave us with this verse:

O LORD, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone! (Jeremiah 17:14 NLT)

Brandi