Hi, my name is Shelley Hewins Brown. I am 49 years old and I live in Vancouver, Canada with my husband Paul. We have a blended family of six daughters. Three are Paul’s – Lindsay, Jessica & Katrina and three are mine – Alyx, Kenzie and Danika. They range in age from early 20’s to early 30’s. We have two son in law’s as well – Eddy and Tyler, and two amazingly wonderful granddaughters Ruby 6 and Lola 2. Our house is a busy place with family always coming and going. Two and 1/2 of the girls and one son in law still live with us. I say 1/2 because Kenzie spends most of her time at Luke’s place. He is part of our family too. We also have two cats – Boy and Girl, we rescued them from a shelter 10 years ago. Our adopted Dog Mischa is 13 and an angel to our family. We actually have a lot of angels. You will meet many of them on this journey. They show up always at the right time with just what you need to help you through, and they are usually not who you have expected them to be.

I have always said “Life is hard. Life is Beautiful.” It’s really a mantra that has shone true many times in life. It’s funny how life can be what feels like perfect and then in a flash become so dauntingly difficult. I have always wanted to share my story. Not just this story, but all the stories that prove this mantra’s certainty. This story however, is my start. My true, authentic start to really sharing.

My life turned upside down at the end of 2017 and beginning of 2018 when I was diagnosed with two different rare cancers, within days of one another. Two cancers that were unrelated but needed surgical treatments right away. One was called Adult Type Granulosa Cell Tumor Ovarian Cancer and the other is called Ductal Carcinoma in SITU Breast Cancer. This is my strory. An insight into the mind of a healthy person, living a great life who is suddenly stopped in her tracks by the news from doctors that she has that “c” word. My hope is that you will be inspired, touched, educated and that you will be a part of the tribe while reading or following along. I also hope that if you have found my page because you like me were searching the net for a human side to your diagnosis, that you will find helpful answers to some of the questions that may be keeping you up at night. That you will discover helpful links to communities and research papers that give you hope, support and answers.

Mostly, I hope I can make you laugh, cry and smile with me as I come out the other side of all of this better, stronger and disease free.

People supporting people is what this life is all about. I am here for you and I am grateful that you are here for me.