My name is Brandy Brown, I am 22 & also a 16 year cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma (a bone cancer, tumor) when I was 4 years old. My mom had me enrolled in dance, I took tap, jazz, ballet, and a little cheerleading. Well over a period of time I began to complain that my back, legs & stomach hurt a lot. My mom took me to my pediatrician & he claimed there was nothing wrong with me, I was just wanting attention from my family, well that would have made since, but I was the only child & grandchild at this time, I was very spoiled & had too much attention. So over a period of time the complaints continued & I eventually stopped walking. I was having other problems with my stomach-- but my "wonderful" pediatrician insisted I was making everything up, just being a typical kid. Take note, this doctor never performed a single test on me, not an X-ray, blood test, CAT scan.. NOTHING! My grandmother was furious & knew that something was wrong and she wasn't going to stop. She took me to a local orthopedic clinic here in Columbus, and basically said, "Tell me whats wrong"! The doctors examined me, and called for an ambulance to take me to Scottish Rite in Atlanta. They said they knew there was something very wrong, but did not know what it was, and Scottish Rite would find out. So my hysterical family drove up to Atlanta, and they admitted me, and immediately began a lot of tests, scans, poking and things that scared me & my family to death. On November 29, 1989 (Thanksgiving Day) Dr. Hudgins performed a biopsy on my lower back, and discovered the problem. I had tumor literally oozing from my back as soon as the incision was made. After they took enough out to perform the test they told my family the worst news any parent wants to hear. "Your child has a tumor & it is bad. I advise you to plan a funeral."

Test results came back and determined I had Ewings Sarcoma, stage IV, terminal. Doctors told my family they would try everything they could, chemotherapy & radiation, but they did not expect me to make it past 6 months. Being four years old, I do not remember too much, thank God, but I do remember how painful it was to sit still during test and even lay down to sleep. I probably do not remember too much due to the nurses and doctors knocking me out so I could be without pain. But the chemo and radiation started. Wow-- rough stuff. I had beautiful blond, straight, thin hair-- and my mom would rub my head to soothe me & chunks of my hair would fall out in her hands, so my dad shaved my head. Gosh, I was devastated. Well after 11 months of treatments my tumor shrunk tremendously! I shocked everyone! So I had made it past the "deadline".

My tumor was wrapped around my hips, spine & tailbone. Then the doctors said I would probably never walked again. I started kindergarden at a private school, I was still undergoing treatments so missing school there was not a big deal. But I went to the first day of school bald & being pulled in my little red wagon. I made friends with everyone-- trust me I was terrified. Throughout the year I was determined to walk, and I began walking with a walker, then eventually crutches. On the day of my kindergarden graduation I had ditched the crutches during our ceremony practice. My big suprise was to walk down the isle infront of everyone and walk on my own for the first time. And I did. No one but my classmates and teachers knew, so when I came down the isle, I literally thought my entire family had fainted, passed out, but my grandad ran & picked me up-- yeah not a dry eye in the church!

Well over time I had to deal with all the side effects of my treatments. I have 2 screws in each hip due to my hips "falling" off my pelvis, the radiation zapped all of my "female parts", and now after all these years, at 17 I was diagnosed with Conjustive Heart Failure, Cardiomyopathy, due to one of my chemotherapy drugs. I believe this heart condition has been the only serious side effect I have. And I battle with it daily. I will eventually in my lifetime have a heart transplant, and I take numerous medications a day-- but I am not complaining. I am so thankful everyday of the things I have overcome. I had a lot of support. I am so lucky I was able to be apart of Camp Sunshine, I spent 9 amazing summers with AMAZING friends that knew exactly what I have been through. I hope one day, as soon as I am done with school I can give back to camp, and become a counselor & give the love & friendship I was given. Everytime I see someone with a "that" bald head or watch St.Jude's, I cry, not because I am sad, but because there is hope. People who are diagnosed now a days are so lucky for all the new technology and treatments that are available. Just remember NEVER give up, there is always hope!