Alexa Brandt’s Fight Against Ovarian Cancer

This is the fundraiser I never dreamed I would have to create for my beloved sister, Alexa Brandt, to support her in her fight against ovarian cancer. Let alone to do so only nine months after the unexpected loss of our younger brother Kirk - may he rest in peace.

On Saturday, July 8th, Alexa went for a CT scan following many months of various tests to solve her escalating health issues. The following morning, at 7:20 am, Alexa received an alarming call from her doctor. The scan now revealed solid masses which led to the diagnosis of a very aggressive and fast-moving ovarian cancer - which had also spread to her abdomen. Remedying this scary diagnosis required immediate and heartbreaking action. Surgery occurred the following morning, which included a full hysterectomy and the removal of the additional cancer spread. Unfortunately, this meant that Alexa would no longer be able to fulfill her lifelong dream of biological motherhood. But her focus quickly turned from "motherhood" to "survival." Thankfully, her open surgery was a success and her doctor is confident he was able to remove all of the cancerous masses.

While we are grateful to be past the surgery, this marks the beginning of a long journey ahead - and Alexa will need all of our support along the way. Once she heals from her procedure, the next step is chemotherapy - six rounds of treatment over five months. Additionally, she will need to undergo a number of treatments and therapies, many of which will not be covered by her health insurance.

In times of crisis, our family has found the support of others to be a powerful source of strength. I am hopeful and confident that this time will be just the same.

We kindly invite you to show your love and support for Alexa in one of these ways:

+Prayers & Positive Thoughts - Send your prayers and good thoughts to Alexa on her path to healing, with an emphasis on visualizing her full recovery to good health.

+Recommendations – Recommendations or advice on resources that may help Alexa, ranging from doctors, wellness therapies, and healing retreats, to connections with other people who have battled ovarian cancer, to inspiring content, books and podcasts. To help us track these in one place, please use this Google form to share your valuable suggestions: https://gforms.app/VgpskQw

+Donations - Financial contributions to this GoFundMe fundraiser to help cover the costs of everything the next year will entail. This may include things such as meals and groceries, chemo care, medical costs and insurance deductibles, wellness treatments and supportive therapies, hair preservation and/or wig, mental health care, and beyond. It will also help cover expenses on her future road to motherhood via surrogate or adoption given her hysterectomy. We have received many generous requests to send a meal or flowers. But with this being so early in her cancer journey, a donation to Alexa’s GoFundMe would be the most impactful. Donations of any size would help ease the burden of this trying time, so Alexa can stay focused on healing without added financial pressure. 

Thank you for any support you can offer. Alexa is lucky to have such a supportive community of caring friends and family…one we know will play a critical role in getting her back to full health.

With love and appreciation,

Mariah

Mariah Brandt

Alexa’s Sister