My name is Brianna, and I’m a 41-year-old single mom who has been through a lot in my life. My journey began in 2014 when I decided to get tested for the BRCA gene. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001, and during her battle, she learned that she carried the BRCA gene, which can be passed down to children. When I was old enough, I made the decision to get tested, and unfortunately, I found out that I carry the gene too. Faced with this knowledge, I made the difficult but necessary choice to undergo preventative surgery, including a radical double mastectomy and a hysterectomy. I am so grateful that pathology revealed early stages of breast cancer, which confirmed I made the right decision.

Then, in 2017, I began experiencing numbness and tingling in my hand. After many tests, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. By 2021, I developed foot drop and became disabled, and that’s when my world really turned upside down.

Through everything I’ve faced, I’ve learned how important it is to find hope and humor, even in the darkest times. I wanted to use my experiences to raise awareness, but also to bring a little laughter and lightness to a serious topic. It’s my way of showing that even through the toughest challenges, there’s always room for a little joy and connection.