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Cementing cyber friendships and a Bri update
September 15, 2008 | 64 Comments
We just returned after a weekend in California spent with dear online friends we were meeting in person for the first time. We stayed at Shankari and Rajesh‘s beautiful home. From there, the four of us went to Santa Rosa to meet our beloved Briana.
The months since the return of her breast cancer in April have been dark, daunting times for Bri and her loved ones. The cancer has metastasized to her lungs, her lymph nodes, spine and several areas in her bones.
Cancer debilitates the body and wounds the soul. It has destroyed her appetite, sapped her strength, beat her down and punched and kicked her some more. For the past few months, her world has been a haze of tests, scans, diagnoses and doctors’ appointments. Her husband Marc and her loving parents-in-law Cynthe and Bill have tried to stay on top of assorted crises – major and minor – that the severe illness of a loved one brings in its wake. Yet, they graciously invited Shankari, Rajesh and the two of us over for what turned out to be a wonderful, memorable afternoon.
Just when Bri thinks she has a minor respite from one health crisis, another surfaces. The protracted rounds of chemotherapy weakened her lungs and she has continuously grappled with pneumonia, bronchial infections, a racing heart and bouts of painful breathing. This was made worse by the poor air quality from the wildfires in northern California this summer. Now, she gets breathing support from an oxygen tank.
Her neck is in a cast because of the hairline compression fractures caused to her spine after the cancer metastasized to her bones.
This is a disease whose onslaught on one’s physical and psychological resources is enduring and relentless. No one deserves this. Grasping through the fog for those rare moments when she can take an easy breath or enjoy a meal with her family, Bri remains her serene, beautiful, gracious self. In her, one sees no trace of bitterness – just calm, dogged resolve.
I’ve got dreams in hidden places and extra smiles for when I’m blue. ~ Author Unknown
She expressed her gratitude to well-wishers – friends and strangers – from around the world who gave their time, energy and monetary contributions to make the fundraiser for her treatment a huge success. The outpourings of love and concern she has received over the past few months have encouraged her to fight cancer with all she’s got. She hopes to regain enough energy to be able to post on her site soon.
Please send positive, healing thoughts her way. Stay strong, stay gorgeous, Bri. We love you.
- the Jugalbandits
Filed Under: Briana Brownlow, Defeat Cancer, fundraiser, MUSINGS
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64 Comments
Sending massive positive thoughts right now.
Good Luck Bri!
Thanks B & J for the update! u guys rock!
I have an award for u over at my blog, I do hope u will accept it.
Thank you for the update. She seems like such an amazing person, and she’s very lucky to have wonderful friends like you two. I’m sending her all my best thoughts.
May the good GOD give all the required mental and physical strenght for her and let her heal fast! My prayers! Thanks Bee and Jai for visiting her as I was thinking to inquire about her but hesitating!
May GOD give her strength and confidence to endure all the pain and let her heal fast. My prayers for her. Thanks for updating us and I am sure your visit has boosted her a lot.
I can’t help but wonder about the injustice prevailing around our lives.Immoral people walking hale and hearty,without any fear,and some innocent ,benevolent person going through such a trauma…..Bri just be as you are….There is one proverb in sindhi ….Hee bhi guzri vendoh…Which means This too shall pass….I can’t take away your physical pain or sufferings,but can surely include you in my prayers and pass on few words of encouragement…hope that will make u feel a little better!
Thank you for the update. She, and her family, must have great strength to be able to laugh and smile in the face of all this. May you heal well and fast, Bri!
Nice that you met Shankari and Rajesh.
Thanks alot for the update,…
hugs to Bri.
Its great meeting cyber friends for the first time.
And good to know about how Bri is feeling. Wishing her and her family all the best.
I have seen people close to me living with cancer and can appreciate to some extent what they’re going through.
Jai and Bee, it is so great that you got to see Bri on your trip. It is so sad that she has to go through such trauma. I hope and pray she overcomes the disease soon. She deserves a healthy and happy life! Bri, my thoughts are always with you.
It was really good to read the update.
Our thoughts are with her. She is indeed really brave and a wonderful person.
thanks for the update on bri….wishing her all the very best….
Get well soon, Bri! You are in my thoughts. Thanks for the update.
Get Well Soon Bri..
Thanks for the update…get well soon Bri.
Just said a small prayer for her.
All the best:)
B & J, Thanks for the update
Bri, all our prayers are with you…you have such a nice smile
warm wishes for her recovery and prayers for her pain..
wishing her a speedy recovery and kudos to you guys for your wonderful kind heart!
hugs to u Bri…
Thanks for the update, you guys. She still looks beautiful and radiant – and we’re all sending her lots of love and warmth.
All best energy heading in Bri’s direction today, and thanks to you both for going to visit on behalf of all of Bri’s blogging friends.
Sending you lots of love and best wishes, Bri.
Thank you for the update very nice to see a smile on the face.
She has a beautiful smile. Hugs and prayers for dear Bri. And thanks for the update Bee.
When are you coming to Kansas?
Sending Bri the best of wishes for a speedy recovery.
You are in my thoughts, dear Bri. May God bless you.
It’s so wonderful that Bri has such support and love around her. I wish her the very best and full recovery.
Thank you, Bee and Jai, for making the trip and bringing us an update. Bri, you are never far from my thoughts. I am sending you and your family hugs from Colorado, wishing you health and strength from my heart. xxoo
Prayers and well wishes for Bri.God bless you.
Thanks for the update. Bri, my thoughts are with you. Much love and best wishes to you.
sendin you a warm hug Bri…..
As one who has watched numerous members of my family fight and lose many fierce battles against this disease, I send my prayers.
This kind of camaraderie is only to be found here in the blogosphere. Thank you for representing us when you visited Bri. She is a beautiful person!!!!
she does look positive and I am really happy too see both of them smiling that way……..wishing Bri good health and all the happiness.
Thank you Jai & Bee for the update! Wishing Bri to get heal fast, you are alaways in our prayers.
I have added Briana to morning prayers,here at the temple.
May all my remission be shared with you.
Sending prayers and good times your way Bri. Your smile is an inspiration to me.
J & B thanks for the update and for being such great people and friends. I had been following her story. having lost my mom to this disease I myself how difficult it is to smile during these times and she is smiling… what an inspiration!
God bless her..sending healing prayers your way Bri.
May god bless Bri! Here’s wishing her a speedy recovery! Thanks for the update dear Jai & Bee!
Bee, Jai, Shankari and Rajesh – you guys are all such dear friends to Bri! Bee – that is so sweet of you guys to go visit snd stay with Shankari. Really, what a wonderful world -this blogging world – making friends all over the world – spreading love and positive energy. When you think that there is so much pain, so much depression and so much war and hatred all over – such gestures and posts remind us of a beautiful world with wonderful friends like all you guys! My prayers and good thoughts are with dearest Bri!
Cheers and Hugs
Latha
Thank you so much for the update.
I’m still rooting for you Bri, take care.
It was so nice of you guys to visit her and let us know what’s happening. Truly wish that God’s plan for Bri is the best for her.
I’m going to keep Bri in my prayers and am sending her good thoughts.
Best,
Paz
You are ALWAYS in my mind & heart Bri….always. The update is heart-wrenching Bee; but you guys make a difference to cementing friendships & life. Nothing else matters at the end of the day but positive thoughts & fulfilling relationships.
Bri looks so beautiful..:) sending you all my best wishes and May god bless you. Thanks for the update B&J.
Siri
Bri and Mark,
It has been a long time since Pasadena, however you have always been in my thoughts and prayers. Your struggle is truly inspirational. My husband, Bud, has been recovering from bladder cancer treatment. We are grateful for every day and trust Our Lord for an everlasting future.
Nancy
I’m glad to hear the update from Bri. Sending thoughts and prayers your way, dear Bri.