Dorothy: [00:00:00] In this episode, I talk with Brandi Blankenship. She is the manager of the Tennis Pro Shop at Willow Fork Country Club, and that is the country club that puts on Pretty in Pink. It’s a golf tournament and tennis tournament that raises tens of thousands of dollars every year for The Rose. Brandi shares how her routine mammogram turned into a inconclusive scan, an abnormal follow-up, and then she was scheduling her biopsy when she learned that it was gonna cost her $5,000. Then a club member, who had faced breast cancer herself, told Brandi, “You need to go to The Rose.” Brandi talks candidly about fear and faith, that a tiny benign mass could turn into something so scary, and how her view of fundraising changed once she understood that Pretty in Pink doesn’t just make a great day at the club, it makes care possible for [00:01:00] women who would otherwise walk away.
If Brandi’s story makes you think of someone who’s putting off their mammogram or a biopsy because of how much it’s gonna cost, share this episode and consider making a donation so another woman gets the care she needs at therose.org.
Welcome to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts, a podcast brought to you by The Rose Breast Imaging Center of Excellence and a Texas treasure. I’m Dorothy Gibbons, your host and co-founder of The Rose. During this season, you’ll also be hearing from co-host Roxann Hayford and others as we bring you stories from survivors, physicians, caregivers, researchers, employees, and supporters. These are real people sharing difficult times, celebrations, and personal stories of hope, despair, and faith.
Brandi, thank you so much for being with us [00:02:00] today. It’s just a delight to have you here.
Brandi: Oh, well, thank you so much for having me.
Dorothy: I know that your story’s a little bit different than a lot of our guests here on Let’s Talk About Your Breasts because you were insured, and, you know, so many of the women that we take care of really don’t have the insurance. So tell us, tell us how all that started. How did you get to us?
Brandi: Well, um, so I went and had my mammogram last year. And it came back, the first time, inconclusive. So through my doctor, um, I went and had a second one. And then that one came back abnormal, so then they scheduled me for a biopsy Well, after they checked with the insurance and everything and they called me back, they said my part was gonna be, like, almost $5,000.
Dorothy: Oh, my gosh.
Brandi: And so-
Dorothy: And this was in a regular hospital. We don’t have to say who, but a regular hospital, right?
Brandi: Well, just a doctor’s office.
Dorothy: Oh, okay.
Brandi: Well, I guess it was a hospital. Like, the biopsy was gonna be out at-
Dorothy: Yeah, yeah …
Brandi: a different [00:03:00] location. Yes. So I was like, “Well, you know, I can’t really afford $5,000,” you know?
Dorothy: Right.
Brandi: So, um, I mean, I talked with, you know, my family and my husband, and then I spoke to a couple of people at work. And we have always done an event every year, Pretty in Pink. And we, all the proceeds always go to The Rose.
Dorothy: Yes.
Brandi: And so one of my dear friends there who’s a member, Dina Russell, she got me in contact with, um-
Dorothy: I think it was Shannon
Brandi: Shannon. Yeah, that’s right, Shannon. And it just went from there. And when I came in, I mean, you know, I went through a couple of phone calls and, and stuff to verify the insurance and see how much it would cost. And I mean, it was under, under $1,000.
Dorothy: Wow, what a difference.
Brandi: So it was a big difference.
Dorothy: Yeah.
Brandi: Yeah.
Dorothy: Now, let’s go back to where you work. How the heck did you become the manager of a tennis pro shop? I mean, that’s, that’s amazing. I know. Okay. Long- [00:04:00] Tell us where you work, start- Long story … and then tell us about that.
Brandi: Well, I was in accounting, um, for auto dealerships for about 16 years. Um, but I just was not wanting to do it anymore. Um, the money was good, but it just was a lot of stress, a lot of hours- a lot of late nights, and, you know, it was just very demanding. Um, so I, I don’t know. My husband works at the, um, country club. And the position came up, and so we talked to, um, one of the pros there- one of the tennis pros, and he hired me.
Dorothy: Oh, and this is Willow-
Brandi: Willow Fork Country Club.
Dorothy: Yes.
Brandi: Yeah.
Dorothy: And it’s out at, in Katy.
Brandi: It’s in Katy. Yes, ma’am.
Dorothy: Yeah. And have been great supporters of The Rose-
Brandi: Yes …
Dorothy: for many, many years. In fact, I think this last year they raised something like $22,000?
Brandi: Correct.
Dorothy: How?
Brandi: So we do a lot [00:05:00] of, um, silent auctions.
Dorothy: Oh.
Brandi: We also do raffle baskets. Um, they also have, uh, you know, people donate money. And then we do a 50/50 raffle also, to where the winner gets half of the pot- and then the other half goes to The Rose.
Dorothy: So this is your members, your country club members.
Brandi: Yes, members and guests, ’cause guests are allowed to attend as well.
Dorothy: Oh.
Brandi: So it is all members and guests, and that includes the whole club, so golf and tennis. Oh, I see.
Dorothy: Yeah. Do you know how it got started?
Brandi: No, I don’t. It was, they were doing that before I started working there.
Dorothy: Right. Oh, I know it’s been many, many years. I, I, uh, remember going and accepting checks and things like that. You know, it was, it was just such a, oh, I don’t know, it, like community thing.
Brandi: Right.
Dorothy: Yeah, everyone was on board, everyone cared, everyone-
Brandi: Yeah, it’s a very fun- [00:06:00] Yeah … event. It’s my favorite one.
Dorothy: You do it all through October or all year long?
Brandi: It’s just one day.
Dorothy: Oh.
Brandi: Yeah.
Dorothy: $22,000 in one day.
Brandi: Yes, ma’am.
Dorothy: My goodness. We need a whole bunch more- … of these Pretty in Pink.
Brandi: Yeah.
Dorothy: Yes.
Brandi: The, the auctions sometimes, you know, they, uh, they’re fun. People fight over them a little bit.
Dorothy: Oh.
Brandi: But, uh, it’s- it’s fun and, you know, people just buy raffle tickets and, um, for the baskets and for the other things and it’s-
Dorothy: So this is around an event?
Brandi: Yes. So they do play golf in the morning, and they play tennis. Um, so and then they all come over, we all have lunch, and then we all have, like- Ah … everything. And we have speakers and, you know, ev- it’s nice.
Dorothy: Well, it sounds like it. So, so how long have you been there?
Brandi: I’ve been there almost three years now.
Dorothy: Okay. So you’ve, you’ve had several experiences with it-
Brandi: Yeah, that was my [00:07:00] third one …
Dorothy: and watching it.
Brandi: Yeah. So very fun.
Dorothy: So was your friend there or your boss there or a coworker that said, “Why don’t we call The Rose?” Is that how that came up-
Brandi: Um …
Dorothy: when you were having your issue?
Brandi: Oh, Dina, she’s an actual member there.
Dorothy: Ah.
Brandi: Yeah, so and she’s gone through breast cancer, and several of the ladies, um, at Willow Fork. There’s a lot of members there that have gone through breast cancer and reconstructive surgery and-
Dorothy: Ah …
Brandi: and everything, so.
Dorothy: Yeah, so she kinda knew what you were worried about-
Brandi: Right …
Dorothy: what you were thinking. Yeah.
Brandi: Yeah. So they’re big supporters of me, and I, I love that. I love that for-
Dorothy: So, I’m gonna… Do you play tennis?
Brandi: I do not.
Dorothy: Oh, okay. Well, that makes me feel better. I thought, wow.
Brandi: No. You know. I do not play tennis.
Dorothy: Oh my goodness, but you manage that whole area.
Brandi: Yeah, it’s mostly the retail shop, and then- you know, just I do a few other things, but.
Dorothy: Right. So now, Brandi, [00:08:00] here you are, someone who has insurance. You weren’t worried about having a mammogram. You weren’t worried when you had to go back, but now you need a biopsy, and, and it’s gonna be… How did you feel?
Brandi: Scared. Mm. Very scared. Um, I mean, all kinds of things were running through my head, you know? Yeah. Like, what if it is? You know, what if it’s not, you know? And then I kept telling myself, “It’s gonna be okay.” You know, and I talked to my husband, and he supported me, you know, 100%. And, you know, my mom, my dad, um- Mm … a few of my, you know, closest friends, and they all support me and told me it w- you know, it was gonna be okay whether, you know, it was or it wasn’t.
Dorothy: Right. So. Well, $5,000 is a chunk of money for anybody.
Brandi: Right.
Dorothy: Yes. And that was the price you would have to pay.
Brandi: Correct.
Dorothy: Right.
Brandi: Yeah, the insurance was only gonna cover 2,600.
Dorothy: Ah. Really?
Brandi: Yeah.
Dorothy: Whoa. Not even half. [00:09:00] Well, I’m so glad that she thought to have you call us, because, you know, the, your story is unique, but it’s not the only one that we’ve heard like that.
Brandi: Right.
Dorothy: You know, many times when women end up going back to the hospital, for a number of m- m- many, many reasons, that cost will be so much more than in an outpatient-type setting like us. And, and, uh, yet it’s so ironic, because the biopsy’s the only thing that’s gonna tell you yes or no.
Brandi: Right.
Dorothy: I mean, that’s… no one can just look at a mammogram and say, “Oh, that’s definitely cancer,” or, “Oh, that’s not cancer.” I mean, it takes that biopsy, so.
Brandi: Right.
Dorothy: How frustrating.
Brandi: Very, yeah. But when I came to The Rose, I had an amazing experience here.
Dorothy: Oh, well, tell us.
Brandi: So I was so nervous, you know, about- doing the biopsy, [00:10:00] um, because I watched a YouTube video. Don’t ever do that.
Dorothy: Oh.
Brandi: That scares you more than anything, I think.
Dorothy: Oh.
Brandi: Um, but as soon as I got into the room, the nurses were just amazing. They made me feel so comfortable.
Dorothy: What kind did you have, ultrasound or stereo?
Brandi: No. Uh, it wasn’t a ultrasound.
Dorothy: It was with the mammogram machine.
Brandi: Correct. Yes.
Dorothy: That’s-
Brandi: Yes.
Dorothy: That is a different kind of biopsy.
Brandi: Yes. Yes. And so I felt very comfortable. They made me, you know, feel like, you know, a person and not just a thing, you know? That they’re ha- or, uh, I don’t know. I’ve kinda lost the word I was trying to say, but-
Dorothy: You weren’t a number to us. Uh, ex- You weren’t.
Brandi: Yes exactly, I wasn’t. And, um, that made me feel more relaxed, I think. And then when Dr. Trevino came in, you know, he asked me, “Is it okay if I put some music on?” I was like, “Yeah, of course,” you know? And he was very friendly, very nice. He talked me [00:11:00] through every single step, and everything that he was gonna do, and what it was gonna be like.
And it just, that made me feel comforting. You know? And I didn’t feel anything. It was, I didn’t feel anything. He was- truly amazing. He even sang to one of the songs. And, you know, and I was like, “You’re kind of a good singer.” So, you know, just trying to get my mind off of- you know, what was going on.
Dorothy: Right.
Brandi: You know, I just kinda blurted out, and everything ended up being great, so.
Dorothy: S- so do you remember… I’ve, I, I don’t know what kind of music he plays in there. I’ve heard this
Brandi: often. I don’t know what song it was.
Dorothy: Upbeat, slow.
Brandi: He did put on, like, some Christian music.
Dorothy: Ah, ah.
Brandi: So yeah. Yeah. But I listen to all kinds of music.
Dorothy: Oh, yeah.
Brandi: So anything was okay with me.
Dorothy: He, he is an amazing doctor.
Brandi: Yes.
Dorothy: And has a way of putting people at ease. Um, I mean, he just does. So-
Brandi: Yeah … yeah. So between him and the nurses, it was just fantastic.
Dorothy: Yeah.
Brandi: So I don’t think I would’ve… [00:12:00] Even if I could afford to go to my doctor to get it done, I don’t think I would’ve felt like I did when I came here.
Dorothy: Well, that is good to hear. But, you know, that’s all we do. I mean, it’s kinda like… I, I’ve heard this analogy so many times. You wanna go to someone who’s doing a lot, you know, because they, it’s just a different way of doing it- to begin with. And, um, he’s certainly been doing it for a long time, and he has such a great personality.
Brandi: Yes.
Dorothy: Yes, yes.
Brandi: Yes, he does.
Dorothy: So when you… You had to wait a few days to get the results.
Brandi: Yes.
Dorothy: And?
Brandi: Felt like forever.
Dorothy: Yes.
Brandi: But it did come back benign. And Dr. Trevino did tell me that it was so small that even if it was cancer, that all I would have to do is take some medication and a- maybe have a small procedure, and that would be all.
Dorothy: Oh, well, that was good news.
Brandi: Yeah. Yeah. So it was very, very small.
Dorothy: But it was [00:13:00] benign.
Brandi: It was benign, yes.
Dorothy: And you’re gonna stay on top of your mammograms, for sure.
Brandi: Yes, absolutely.
Dorothy: Yeah. Well, you know, one of the things we know is when our breasts m- make these little things, they have a tendency just to keep making them. And you, it… One of the fears, especially in the medical wor- world, is a woman comes and has a biopsy, and it’s nothing.
Brandi: Mm.
Dorothy: Has another biopsy, and it’s nothing. It’ll be that third time, you know, that she goes, “I’m not gonna do that again.”
Brandi: Yeah.
Dorothy: But it’s just so… Breast cancer, particularly, is just so unusual. It can go so many different ways.
Brandi: Yeah.
Dorothy: And as women, we know our hormones and everything else that we go through. The breast is the first, first organ to get it, any kind of change in our bodies. So it’s just, uh, kind of fascinating how it’s become the temperature- … of, of where you are. Yeah.
Brandi: Yeah.
Dorothy: Yeah. So did you, did you find yourself [00:14:00] thinking differently about this fundraising that you help with?
Brandi: Yeah, absolutely, because now I know e- what it really means.
Dorothy: Mm.
Brandi: You know, um, the first year, I mean, it was just, “Oh, okay, you know, we’re helping this organization out.” I didn’t really know what The Rose was. I had never heard of it before. And so now it’s like, it’s, it’s great. It’s great to, um, you know, do fundraisers and, and support you guys-
Dorothy: Oh …
Brandi: For all you do. And I’m thankful for what you did for me.
Dorothy: Oh, yes.
Brandi: And I know you do it for hundreds and thousands of other women, and that’s, that’s awesome.
Dorothy: So help our listeners understand, who’ve maybe not been to The Rose, you know, m- there’s a misconception that, oh, if they’re a non-profit, then facility might not be as nice or th- you know, the staff might not be as trained.
Brandi: That is-
Dorothy: You didn’t pick any of that up.
Brandi: No, not at all. That is not true. Um, the [00:15:00] facility is great. Um, the people are great. The, even the front desk, you know, checking me in- they were very sweet, very nice. You know, d- didn’t treat me, like you said, like a number. You know, I was a person. Um, and the nurses and the doc- just everybody was fantastic.
Dorothy: Was it obvious you were scared?
Brandi: Yes.
Dorothy: That may have been a clue there that-
Brandi: Yeah …
Dorothy: people need to-
Brandi: Yeah …
Dorothy: well, any time you’re having a biopsy, though, that’s a serious procedure.
Brandi: And even, even the, the women that were in the second waiting room with me- they could tell, ’cause I was fidgeting. I fidget when I’m nervous. And so one of the ladies was like, “Are you okay?” And I’m like, “Yeah.” Yeah. I said, “I’m just really nervous. I have … you know, I’m getting a biopsy.” And she’s like, “It’s okay. You’re gonna be fine. God has you.” And that just, that was like- Oh … oh, my gosh, you know? And it was like, thank you so much, you know? I b- didn’t say anyth- I just, you know, said, “Thank you,” but you know, inside I was like, wow, you know, that, that [00:16:00] means a lot. Thank you so much, ’cause-
Dorothy: Oh …
Brandi: she could just tell, I guess.
Dorothy: But you know, it just again stresses how sometimes one word- one person telling us it’s gonna be okay can make such a difference.
Brandi: Right.
Dorothy: And especially when you’re in a high-stress situation or something that you’re worried about. Yeah. Well, what a gift she was.
Brandi: Yes. She was.
Dorothy: Yeah, that little waiting area, you can get real intimate, can’t you?
Brandi: Yes, yes, yes.
Dorothy: Yes.
Brandi: It’s very small.
Dorothy: Yes.
Brandi: Very close together, so.
Dorothy: Right. And you’re all there for s- same reason.
Brandi: Yes.
Dorothy: Yes. Oh, interesting. So what else did you … Now, tell me, you did have family history though, right?
Brandi: Um, a little. So I had an aunt who had breast cancer, um, but I’m not sure- w- what time, like her, uh, what age she was when she had it.
Dorothy: Oh, okay.
Brandi: [00:17:00] Um, and then I had a cousin that I’d, I’d, I’d never met-
Dorothy: Hmm …
Brandi: that had it as well. They lived out of state. So, um, but that’s the only two, um, that I, breast cancers in my family. We’ve had other cancers, but not breast cancer.
Dorothy: Right. But, you know, so many times people don’t even know they have a relative with breast cancer.
Brandi: Right.
Dorothy: And they don’t find that out until afterwards, you know.
Brandi: Yeah, see, I-
Dorothy: They’ve been through a procedure or something, then all of a sudden, “Oh, yeah.”
Brandi: Yeah, I didn’t even know-
Dorothy: Hmm …
Brandi: my aunt had breast cancer until after-
Dorothy: Oh …
Brandi: I, you know- they found that small mass in mine, and I was asking my other aunt, you know, “Hey, is there anybody in our family that had breast cancer?” She’s like, “Oh yeah, well, Aunt Judy had it back, you know, blah, blah, blah.” You know-
Dorothy: And I’m like again, that, that just emphasizes the importance of us being able to talk about it.
Brandi: Right.
Dorothy: You know, and there was a time when women certainly weren’t gonna be talking about having breast cancer.
Brandi: Yeah.
Dorothy: I mean, you, you didn’t talk about having any kind of [00:18:00] cancer because people would then…
Brandi: yeah, I think it was, I think she had it, like, maybe 40 years ago.
Dorothy: Yeah, yeah.
Brandi: But she just recently passed, not of cancer- just of old age.
Dorothy: So, so that’s another message we need to be sure our listeners hear. Don’t be afraid to ask your family if there’s any unusual diseases or breast cancer or any kind of cancer.
Brandi: Correct.
Dorothy: Yeah, we need to know that. It-
Brandi: Yes …
Dorothy: it puts us at a little different risk. And what else did you learn during this time?
Brandi: Um, I, I learned that no matter what you’re going through or how hard of a situation you’re going through, that your family is always gonna be there for you, is always gonna support you. Um, because I didn’t know how, you know, my husband or my mom or- my kids were gonna react. I [00:19:00] didn’t wanna tell my kids until after I found out, you know, if it was cancer or not.
Dorothy: Right.
Brandi: But I, I did end up telling them. Um, they’re older, so- they, you know, understood.
Dorothy: Before you came in or after?
Brandi: Before.
Dorothy: Oh.
Brandi: Yeah, I did tell them before I came in. So, um, I just learned that, you know, you just have to talk to your family. Don’t be scared to talk to them about it, ’cause they’re gonna support you. They’re gonna be there for you.
Dorothy: Interesting. And what, did you have any inkling that you had something going on, or was this all routine?
Brandi: No, it was all routine. I had been, um, I should have had my mammogram two years ago, or I’m sorry, three years ago, and I just never did it. And my doctor is like, when I went in to have my physical, she’s like, “You need to go do your mammogram now.”
Dorothy: Well, good for her.
Brandi: So, yeah, so.
Dorothy: Yeah, I mean-
Brandi: And that’s why I had it done If you’d waited another
Dorothy: three years, it, it would’ve had-
Brandi: Right …
Dorothy: a very different outcome.
Brandi: Yeah, so I did it the same [00:20:00] day, so, that she told me I needed to do it.
Dorothy: Oh. Well, good.
Brandi: Yes.
Dorothy: Yeah. Yeah. So have you talked about this experience, not particularly with Rose, but with having a situation come up where you have a biopsy? Have you talked about that with your friends or…
Brandi: Um, a, a few of them. One of them, actually, um, her mom passed of breast cancer.
Dorothy: Oh.
Brandi: So she goes in, um, yearly and does her mammograms, and then she’s also had to have a biopsy as well.
Dorothy: Mm.
Brandi: Um, so we can talk about that together, you know?
Dorothy: Mm.
Brandi: And, and then, you know, we just, we, we’ve been friends since we were 12 years old, so we talk about-
Dorothy: Oh …
Brandi: everything.
Dorothy: Yeah.
Brandi: So that’s one thing-
Dorothy: Yeah …
Brandi: that I can talk to her about more than anyone. So yeah.
Dorothy: So often when we have these kind of experiences, that sharing even with our friends or colleagues or- you know, [00:21:00] those around us, might just be the spark someone needs to go and have it done also.
Brandi: Right.
Dorothy: You know, I’ve, I’ve had so many people sitting in this chair saying, “And you know my, my friend went in and found out she had something going on.” I mean, it’s, it’s not that we ever wanna find anything.
Brandi: Right.
Dorothy: But it’s that encouragement to go get it, get it done.
Brandi: Mm. Right, yeah.
Dorothy: Yeah. So I’m also thinking about the funds that Willow Fork raised, how many times we have in d- groups that come together and have no idea of that final impact. What y’all raise is a lot of money, you know, but every bit of it is so important to what we’re trying to do.
Brandi: Right.
Dorothy: And it just, um, we can’t thank you, your company enough, you know, and we can’t thank our community enough. It, it, no one person can do it all, but boy, when everyone’s [00:22:00] together with it- we can do a lot.
Brandi: Well, the Ladies Tennis Association is the one that puts this event on every year.
Dorothy: Really?
Brandi: Yes.
Dorothy: Okay.
Brandi: So they have a whole, like, Pretty in Pink crew that just gets everything ready and just does the all-
Dorothy: They’re all volunteers.
Brandi: Yeah, they’re all members at the club.
Dorothy: Yeah.
Brandi: And so they just, they decorate. You know, we have food, and they, you know, get everything ready for the auctions and the, the raffles, and they do an amazing job with the event.
Dorothy: Oh, do I need to get someone from, from that group here to talk too?
Brandi: You could.
Dorothy: Well, that’s an idea.
Brandi: Yeah.
Dorothy: I mean, I’m c- I’m, I would be very, uh, interested to know how they were able to generate that kind of money- and that kind of interest. I mean, that- That’s a lot of work.
Brandi: Yeah. Yeah. It’s a lot of work, but it’s a lot of fun, too. We all enjoy it.
Dorothy: Oh, well, that i- that is so good to hear.
Brandi: Yeah.
Dorothy: Yeah. What other [00:23:00] message would you want someone to hear listening to your podcast today?
Brandi: Just don’t be scared. Don’t be scared to go get your mammogram.
Dorothy: Mm.
Brandi: Um, don’t be scared to talk to your family. Um, you know, I don’t know. I mean, that’s…
Dorothy: but, you know, you had to do that extra step. You had to find a resource.
Brandi: Right.
Dorothy: And I think that’s, many times we’re, especially women who don’t have insurance, they’ll give up at that point.
Brandi: Yes, so even when if you don’t have insurance, you know, if there is a cost at all, I mean, The Rose, they actually work with you, too.
Dorothy: ‘Cause
Brandi: I didn’t have to pay all that money up front either. I was-
Dorothy: Well, and that’s important.
Brandi: Yes.
Dorothy: Yeah.
Brandi: I was able to make it in, you know, I put a s- a down payment down. And then I was able to make the rest in three payments. Which really, you know, helped me out, too-
Dorothy: Oh, yeah …
Brandi: and my family. And, you know, not [00:24:00] everyone can, can do that. They’re willing, you know, to even make it, you know, smaller amounts in a few more payments, too.
Dorothy: Right.
Brandi: So just, you know- So.
Dorothy: That’s a, that’s a very important message though, Brandy.
Brandi: Yes, very important message.
Dorothy: Because, uh, we’re gonna find a way. You know, when you, when you need a biopsy, we’re gonna find a way to get you in.
Brandi: Exactly.
Dorothy: And I don’t see it in you as much, but it’s hard to ask for help.
Brandi: Yes.
Dorothy: It’s hard to admit you don’t have the money or whatever and-
Brandi: Right …
Dorothy: you know, that’s the part we wanna be very easy- for our, our patients. We think that’s, that’s the biggest barrier we’ve gotta get through first.
Brandi: Yeah.
Dorothy: And then if the results are positive, then we’re gonna be there to walk through that treatment, whatever, with, with our patients. We, we know you can’t concentrate on recovery if you’re worried about money.
Brandi: Right.
Dorothy: Yeah.
Brandi: Exactly, so if you don’t have insurance, just, you know, hopefully those women out there will contact The Rose and get the [00:25:00] help they need.
Dorothy: That’s what we hope.
Brandi: Yes.
Dorothy: I mean, it, it would just be so sad if there was someone out there who we could’ve helped that didn’t know about us, so that’s why you sharing your story here or in your community really makes a difference. You know, The Rose has never had much of a marketing budget, but we’ve always had a lot of women willing to use that word of mouth marketing-
Brandi: Yeah …
Dorothy: that, in lots of ways, has more credibility than many other kinds.
Brandi: Yeah, I’ve told a lot of people about The Rose.
Dorothy: Yeah.
Brandi: And half of them didn’t even know what it was.
Dorothy: I know.
Brandi: And so, you know, I told them my story and told them, you know, how y’all helped me so much and what y’all do. And, uh, how amazing y’all are, so.
Dorothy: Oh, thank you. We appreciate that. No, seriously, that, that’s how people found out about us. It is-
Brandi: Right …
Dorothy: it is so important that we have patients that are willing to share, and share the hard stuff, like, “I couldn’t have [00:26:00] gotten this done-
Brandi: Right
Dorothy: if I hadn’t had a way to get, to get it done.”
Brandi: Yeah.
Dorothy: Yeah. I’m still amazed at how much it was quoted to you. Ooh.
Brandi: Yeah.
Dorothy: Yeah, that’s-
Brandi: It’s a lot … gosh.
Dorothy: You know, when you were worried about, what was it, did you worry about your children, and how, what would happen with them? I know they’re older.
Brandi: You know, I worried more about being here for my grandchildren.
Dorothy: Oh, true.
Brandi: Yeah. Um, I mean, my children, too. But more of, like, you know, my grandchildren. I, I wanna, you know, see them grow up.
Dorothy: Yeah.
Brandi: ‘Cause I loved my grandmother, and my grandmother was, like, the, you know… She kept all the family together, and we always would go to her house, and that’s what I want for me. I want all my grandkids to always come to my house.
Dorothy: Now, you already have grandchildren.
Brandi: I have four.
Dorothy: Four?
Brandi: Yes.
Dorothy: Oh, my goodness. Wow.
Brandi: So I have, um, a seven-year-old, and his little brother is one and a half. And then my daughter has two. [00:27:00] She has a three, almost three-year-old, and then an eight-month-old.
Dorothy: Oh, well, you’ve got them at the right ages, then.
Brandi: Yeah.
Dorothy: Wow.
Brandi: So.
Dorothy: And that, that is what usually keeps us going. Staying for someone that we love.
Brandi: Exactly.
Dorothy: Wanting to live-
Brandi: Yeah …
Dorothy: for that. Yes.
Brandi: ‘Cause I wanna be like my grandmother.
Dorothy: Yeah.
Brandi: I wanna, I wanna have all that family at my house all the time.
Dorothy: You’re a brave person.
Brandi: All of those kids-
Dorothy: Yes …
Brandi: and all those grandkids, so.
Dorothy: I bet Christmas or, or holidays are really fun at your house.
Brandi: Yes.
Dorothy: Yeah. So. Well, thank you, Brandi, for being with us today. It’s a great story.
Brandi: Oh, well, thank you.
Dorothy: And it’s, it’s one that I hope our listeners will share, and, um, and recognize that, you know, there’s times in life when we all need a little bit of help.
Brandi: Right.
Dorothy: Yes.
Brandi: We all need a little bit of help sometimes.
Dorothy: That’s right.
Brandi: No matter.
Dorothy: No matter. Thank you again.
Brandi: Oh, you’re very welcome. Thank you.
Post-Credits: Thank you for joining us today on Let’s Talk About Your Breasts. This podcast is [00:28:00] produced by Speke Podcasting and brought to you by The Rose. Visit therose.org to learn more about our organization. Subscribe to our podcast, share episodes with friends, and join the conversation on social media using #Let’sTalkAboutYourBreasts. We welcome your feedback and suggestions. Consider supporting The Rose. Your gift can make the difference to a person in need. And remember, self-care is not selfish, it’s essential.
