Light Up MBC Live 2024

This is a link to a recording of our show. I have so much to say about the events of this past weekend, but I am too tired to string many words together well.

It is a 2 hour video. My story comes around the 1:30 mark. I urge you to watch the whole show. I’ve heard some comment that it is too sad to watch. The point of our stories is to show what it is really like to live with MBC, yet to make people aware that we are just like the rest of you – trying to live full lives. You will learn so much about MBC and see all the amazing research.

There are so many new treatments on the horizon. It makes me wonder how much more there would be if more than 2% of all breast cancer research dollars was focused on metastatic breast cancer? Even if we could tip the scale slightly and get 10%, I cannot fathom all the marvelous things that could be extending our lives and making them better.

I’ll end with this: You’ve heard me say or write that around 115 people in our country die every single day from metastatic breast cancer. Did you know that number has held steady for well over a decade? That means the equivalent of a small jetliner full of people die every day from a disease and we are not making any progress on stopping it.

I have so many people to thank for their donations and support. I will get to that soon. For now, please know that your encouragement helps me on some of my darker days. I was so moved by seeing State Farm Center lit in pink, teal and green. I told Dave I wanted to spend the night down there so I could keep watching it. 🩷💚💙

https://www.youtube.com/live/RQQVtZIpFGs?si=FimkefGYPodD5CBu

But here’s the truth.

National Metastatic Breast Cancer 2024 is here. I’ve got a lot going on today. The first and most important thing I will do today is church where I am playing piano and also delivering the message. It’s based on Job 23 and I will share more on that another day.

I want to show you what metastatic breast is.

Preparing for my 2nd round of gamma knife

Today, 117 people in this country will die from metastatic breast cancer.

The five year survival rate stands an 22%. It’s been five years, 2 months, 20 days for me.

Despite the dire facts surrounding the disease, for each $1 million spent on breast cancer research, only about $20,000 (2%) goes toward metastatic research. A number of leading metastasis researchers believe the stage IV patient situation could be significantly improved if the research were more fairly funded, but at 2% this will not happen.

We need research dollars.

I had never heard of metastatic breast cancer until I was diagnosed. We need awareness.

A Story Every Woman (and Man) Needs to Hear

https://youtu.be/pl99JVESqak?si=fwj6Y4Da_55qJJXz

Wednesday, Oct 9

https://videopress.com/v/qVL8afk6?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

How you can help

On Sunday night, I have 2 minutes to share my story on #LightUpMBC Live. It’s only 2 minutes. The best way to support me is to watch the event on your own or with a group of people. If you are local, my friends at Power Planter are hosting a watch party. I will share my 2 minutes story around or after 7:45 pm. You will also see and my friends from Creekside Nursery and Power Planter in a 1 minute video promoting our auction item.

We want everyone to understand what metastatic breast cancer is and that less than 5% of breast cancer research dollars are dedicated to metastatic breast cancer. I also hope you share my story or other information about breast density and why it matters so much.

You can direct people to My Density Matters. Their website is full of information on dense breast tissue. That organization works hard to get the information out and to influence the legislation we need. Recently they met with a large class of medical students so that all those future doctors will know what their patients with dense breast tissue need.

https://mydensitymatters.org/

Check out the LightUpMBC auction site that is already live. You will see the Creekside Nursery Signature Event listed.

https://e.givesmart.com/events/txu/

Please consider donating to LightUpMBC on my fundraising site. All proceeds go to Metavivor to fund research grants for MBC.

https://donate.metavivor.org/fundraiser/5554408

How to watch #LightUpMBC Live

TUNE IN TO #LIghtUpMBC Live On October 13th at 8 p.m. ET

HERE’S HOW TO WATCH (as we stream live from HILTON SHORT HILLS)

Locate the YouTube app on your Smart TV and find the @Metavivor YouTube Channel to view on the big screen!
For a dual viewing experience, follow along on your phone on @METAvivor Facebook Live to engage with other viewers.
Or… Visit www.LiveOne.com/LightUpMBC on your computer to watch the show!

To learn more, please visit www.METAvivor.org/LightUpMBC and follow @lightupmbc social channels

IMPORTANT

Your support is overwhelming and I am so grateful for all of you. I am also still a person dealing with metastatic breast cancer and I’ve been pretty fatigued lately. I’m trying to preserve enough energy to make it through Sunday and then I have some days of rest planned. It still hurts to tell my story, even though I’ve done it so much over the last 5 years. And I will definitely keep doing it as long as I can so that MBC gets the research dollars and so all women with dense breast tissue get the scans they need to detect cancer at an early stage when it is still curable.

Thank you all so, so much for helping me do this. It means the world to me.

89

Today is my 89th treatment. Science is so cool.

I live over 3 hours from my cancer center, but if you have one close to you, please consider donating your time and talents.

There is a library with donated books and magazines. There are carts with art supplies people can use while they are stuck in the chemo pod. Groups knit hats and sew port pillows for the seat belt. Often an organization donates chapstick or moisturizer.

Light Up MBC has a live auction site that opened today. One of the items is special to me. It is a Signature Creekside Nursery Experience. It includes 2 tickets to Creekside Nursery’s very special annual event. Each ticket sells for $1000 and the auction package includes 2 tickets. Power Planter created an exclusive 32” pink auger, signed by Jenny Simpson of Creekside Nursery. White Rose Manor, an absolutely gorgeous bed and breakfast near the nursery, donated a two night stay for the package. So you can stay at the White Rose Manor while you are enjoying the Signature Creekside Experience.

Dave and I visited Creekside Nursery in September with our friend, Greg Niewold, from Power Planter. We recorded some videos. Creekside is utterly gorgeous. Check out their website site to see!

https://e.givesmart.com/events/txu/

Please check out the auction. All proceeds benefit Light Up MBC and Metavivor.

What you need to do

https://videopress.com/v/cop0UTwH?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

Bracing for a sea of pink

https://videopress.com/v/baqM4tS1?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

Bold Journey

I was recently interviewed for the online magazine, “Bold Journey.” Here is a link to that article:

https://boldjourney.com/meet-heidi-punke-brown/

New Friends

Dave and I had the pleasure of spending 2 days in Dallas, NC with our friends at Power Planter and Creekside Nursery. Greg Niewold owns Power Planter, based in Loda, IL, a few miles from our farm. Jerry and Jenny Simpson own Creekside Nursery in Dallas, NC. We have something exciting in store to help raise money for Metavivor and to spread awareness about Metastatic Breast Cancer and breast density. I will share details soon! For now, please enjoy some photos from our trip and check out the website for these 3 family-owned companies.