In Loving Memory of Brandi "Boo" Mills

My name is Celeste Lewis I have lived in Shelby County most of my life. I am married with 3 children and raising 2 grandchildren. I wanted to tell you about our battle with Breast Cancer. On February 16, 2015 my oldest daughter Brandi, "Boo" was a nickname she was given early in life, was diagnosed with Stage IV Inflammatory invasive ductile carcinoma. A very rare form of breast cancer that affects around 200,000 people each year. There is a 1-5% chance that if you develop Breast Cancer it will be inflammatory! It is a cancer that makes the breast red, swollen, and tender often times its mistaken for Mastitis because it blocks certain vessels in the skin covering the breast. I knew people in my life that had Cancer but no one in our family. 

Our battle with cancer began, she was a single mother raising two children on her own who had no health insurance. She faced the battle head on and worked as a CNA up until July 2016 when she had a mastectomy.  Our Friends and Family got together and decided to help with expenses by doing fundraisers. After each fundraiser she wanted to help others in our area fighting cancer like her., so she would give to each family that she knew was battling cancer! She started radiation in August 2016 after masectomy surgery. In total she had 59 chemotherapy treatments and 54 radiation treatments from May 2015 until June 2017! In December 2016, after testing, they found the cancer had spread to her brain, which we knew was so bad but she took it like a champ never wavering in her faith, even though times she got discouraged she would continue fighting until on June 27, 2017 she got her ultimate healing and Jesus decided it was time for the battle to end! Brandi told her sister and me how she had long talks with God and whatever his decision was she was fine, and she wanted us to know. Issaiah 41:10 the scripture that came across her doctor's phone when he was doing her biopsy and he read it aloud to us. "Fear not for I am with you be not dismayed for I am your God. I will help you I will uphold you with my righteous right hand!"

 In October of 2017 our Friends and Family got together and decided to create the non-profit Boo's Battle Support Fund to continue doing something she started during her battle. Our First fundraiser was in March of 2018 and since then we have helped over 100 families in our area fighting the ugly disease, Cancer! One hundred percent of our proceeds goes back in the fund for families! We have dedicated committee members who work alongside family to host fundraisers each year. This organization we pray continues on for generations to come. 

I urge each of you to get yearly mammograms, do your self exams, and if you feel something is not right get it checked! 

First, I would like thank God for giving me the strength to do this. We never imagined the love and support from our community and surrounding areas that Boo's Battle Support Fund has received. Thank you to everyone who comes and supports our benefits by sponsoring, buying tshirts, baking goods, etc  and coming to our events.

 If you are currently battling cancer and need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us and always remember YOUR FIGHT IS OUR FIGHT!!!