Brooke and I (Shanna) met in Austin nine years ago and quickly became “running partners” in life. We purposefully met for several months to encourage spiritual and practical accountability with each other and the people around us. When I moved to Colorado eight years ago, we didn’t see much of each other for a long time except on social media. Then, over six years ago, within months of each other, we both began what would be a fight for our lives.
Brooke developed a brain tumor in an inoperable part of her brain, underwent months of radiation to shrink the tumor, underwent treatments in Germany, had to re-learn how to walk and how to re-claim her life, knowing the tumor will likely be present throughout her lifetime.
I developed Lyme disease and two associated co-infections, underwent years of treatment, and also had to re-learn how to walk and how to re-claim my life, knowing the diseases will likely be present throughout my lifetime.
Several months ago, we re-connected, sharing battle-stories of our journeys into healing and how chronic pain has changed us through the last six years. While our stories and experiences are very different, we have developed a bond of “me too” and share the same united heart in moving forward. Our purpose in creating this page is this:
- To demonstrate a reality in which we can walk in victory before we achieve the victory for which we are praying, and to teach others to do the same.
- To encourage people to find beauty, even in the darkest of nights, cultivating resiliency as we do.
- To work toward this goal in healthy community, not isolation, as God intended.
We will share our stories and encouragement here. We hope you share yours too. We hope this will be a community for you in which you can find beauty and hope. Fair warning: there will be a bit of Jesus talk here. We both believe we wouldn’t be where we are without him.