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​CANCER CHRONICLES

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From MD to Dallas

6/25/2018

6 Comments

 
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These are so hard to keep short and sweet. On one hand I want you to come read the cliffs notes and go with your info...but on the other hand If I didn't say what i want to say or explain things it kinda of defeats the whole purpose of why I started this blog in the first place. When I got diagnosed the first thing I did was obviously my own research....for hours. I realized not many people shared their entire story (trust me, it's not at the top of my list by any means). I didn't actually visually see what I could look like (more than just physically), and I'm the type of person that wants to know everything to feel more calm or understanding. After searching the internet for several more weeks I just decided if just one more teacher, or one more young adult my age gets this, they aren't alone, because let me tell you, alone is all you feel.
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Things sure do change within the blink of an eye. Some pictures are during the time the second type of chemo wasn't working, I got to check in then. We then quit the remaining chemo sessions we had left and then started immunotherapy, i would be on Keytruda specifically.

Now for the next round of fun: immunotherapy. This was supposed to be smooth sailing and I'd be done in just a few weeks then only have to come once every 4 weeks because the success rate was so high. Well we started week 1 of Keytruda, wasn't bad until a few days in and then it was almost embarrassing how bad I hurt. I finished my second round and almost immediately the next day thought I was dying, and I don't say that to have a pity party or lightly etc, but just to give you a literal and realistic glimpse. I couldn't breath, nothing, gasping for which then feels like eternity and just starts the anxiety attacks, night sweats yet again but much worse (if even dreamed possible), chest pain the worst I've ever had. Basically, the Keytruda was killing me even though it was helping my tumors (they shrank a little). I was part of that wonderful .01 percentage again that this rare case could happen. 
Now all my levels were screwed up yet again and I ended back in the ER for a week. while there the number one goal was breathing......well and to stay alive obviously. It was beyond hard to breath, or do much of anything. i had a catheter because I couldn't leave my bed. After 4 or 5 days I finally got myself to the chair next to my bed, this was big news guys! On that note, its never been so hard to move in my life! I feel like being bedridden for so long I instantly lost any leg strength...which worried me. 
After multiple doctors worried about letting me go when my numbers still weren't where they should be, I got to go and promise I'd work everyday to continue to move foreward.


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So for the last bit of interesting news, but by far the biggest thing since sliced bread....or at least since I was born. Since so many different types of cancer fighting drugs didn't work, along with obviously many other qualifications, I found out about a a immuno trial that had just got FDA approved only within the last few months....IE they still have no data on it. This is the CAR-T thats $400,000. I was initially supposed to do it at MD, but that was a ridiculous insurance show and they said they didn't take my insurance anymore.....huh? There is only one other hospital in Texas that does this since its so new etc, so I will now be in Dallas....pretty much all summer. ​There is obviously a lot more I didn't get to but I think you have a good enough grasp on whats been going on now since it changes daily and lots of people have been texting and asking since I have been a blog slacker! Now to just wait on insurance and then get the ball rolling....hopefully all in time.....sooner rather than later.

6 Comments
Kathy bridges
6/26/2018 02:02:43 pm

You are in my thoughts all of the time. I’ve been praying for you to receive miracles of healing directly from God! You are the strongest woman I know!

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Donna
6/26/2018 05:42:52 pm

Kaiden and all of us have been continually praying for you Ms Bonnet 💖 We will keep you in our thoughts and PRAYERS 🙏 that your treatment starts really really soon and kicks cancers butt! You are such an example of strength 💪! Thank you for sharing your journey here. Big HUGS! 🤗 ❤️THE PATTONS

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Becky Preslar
6/26/2018 08:22:12 pm

Praying for your healing! Prayers that this new medicine will be the right one!

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Aubrey Shaw
6/26/2018 10:13:02 pm

I love that you're blogging your journey. That takes strength and love. You inspire me.

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Machelle Tatsch
6/27/2018 01:00:51 am

Praying for you every day. Stay strong and hold on tight!

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Pam Toifl
6/27/2018 11:09:51 pm

Brianna, I love you so very much but God loves you even more than anyone & He is there for you if you truly turn to Him & believe in Him!!!

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    "You either get bitter or you get better. It's that simple. You either take what's been dealt to you and allow it to make you a better person, or you allow it to tear you down. The choice does not belong to fate, it belongs to you."
    ​~Josh Shipp

             

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    When Cancer Comes a Knockin'

    Timeline

    On August 2, 2017, Brianna was diagnosed with Mediastinal Large B-Cell Lymphoma. Beginning Monday, August 14, 2017, Brianna will begin chemotherapy treatments. She will be commuting to Austin for 18 weeks to receive treatments. This site is set up as a donation page to help Brianna and her family cover medical costs and living expenses, as well as a one stop shop to get updates on how chemo is going and even buy a shirt or two in support!

    UPDATE:
    After getting her final PET scan to confirm the aggressive chemo did it's job, we got the news that it hadn't and that the tumor was still active when it shouldn't of been. Brianna is now undergoing radiation for 5 weeks, everyday in Austin. 


    UPDATE March 2018:
    Brianna begin having the same cancer symptoms as she did this past summer during spring break, except more painful this time. She was sent to get a CT scan which showed her cancer had returned. She then met with her oncologist who planned the next steps which include to do more chemo (a differnt regimen this time) followed by a stem cell transplant. 
    She thought she was done....she was done.....and now she is having to start the cancer journey all over again...including losing her hair that had just start growing back.


    UPDATE
    END OF MARCH - JUNE 25th
    ​(at the moment....things have yet to even begin apparently.)

    If I didn't feel like I was really dying or truly out of options to live....I do now. Remember  I was basically on our plan F and everything was just getting worse instead of better. I really thought I was done these last couple weeks and being in the hospital for another little week vacay. I finally updated by blog since so many people were asking, so you can read the detailed updates.

    October 2018 Update:
    Insurance has finally approved all of the CAR-T procedure and I will be getting my T-Cells retrieved from my body next week. (Oct 10th if all goes as planned)


    MARCH 2019
    The first post CAR-T pet scan showed the main mass has shrunk in size, even though still active. Hopefully, the CAR-T will continue to work its magic over the next few months before the next scan.


    To donate to Brianna's GoFundMe page, please make sure the donation is made on the GoFundMe Page found here:
    ​
     https://www.gofundme.com/teambonnet
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